Usefulness of 3D CT/MRI Fusion Imaging for the Evaluation of Lumbar Disc Herniation and Kambin's Triangle.

Study design: Prospective study. Objective: The aim of this study is to visualize the morphology of a lumbar herniated disc and Kambin's triangle in three dimensions (3D) based on preoperative CT/MRI fusion images. Methods: CT/MRI fusion images of 23 patients (10 males and 13 females; mean age 58.2 years) were used to evaluate Kambin's triangle, which is created between the superior articular process (SAP), exiting nerve root (ENR), inferiorly by the superior endplate of the lower lumbar vertebra and dural canal medially at 60 degree and 45 degree endoscopic approach angles. The percentage of the safe usage of transforaminal endoscopic approach was evaluated to utilize a 5 mm dilater without partial facet resection in the fusion image. The 3D lumbar nerve root sleeve angulation (3DNRA), which is the angle between the axis of the thecal sac and the nerve root sleeve, was calculated. The herniated discs were also visualized in the CT/MRI fusion image. Results: The 3DNRA became smaller from L2 to S1. The L2 3DNRA was statistically larger than those of the other root, and the S1 3DNRA was significantly smaller than the others (p < 0.05). (L2, 41.0°; L3, 35.6°; L4, 36.4°; L5, 33.9°; and S1, 23.2°). The SAP-ENR distance at 60° was greatest at L4/5 (5.9 mm). Possible needle passages at 60° to each disc level were 89.1% at L2/3, 87.0% at L3/4 and 84.8% at L4/5. However, the safe 5 mm dilater passage at 60° without bony resection to each disc level were 8.7% at L2/3, 28.3% at L3/4 and 37.0% at L4/5. The 60° corridor at L2/3 was the narrowest (p < 0.01). All herniated discs were visualized in the fusion image and the root compression site was clearly demonstrated especially with foraminal/extraforaminal herniations. Conclusion: The 3D lumbar CT/MRI fusion image enabled a combined nerve-bony assessment of Kambin's triangle and herniated disc. A fully endoscopic 5 mm dilater may retract the exiting nerve root in more than 60% of total cases. This new imaging technique could prove to be very useful for the safety of endoscopic lumbar disc surgery.

New Comprehensive Reference Values for Arterial Vascular Parameters in Children.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive measurements of vascular parameters can be used for the detection and risk stratification of cardiovascular diseases. Most vascular parameters are influenced by age and body size, but pediatric reference values are scarce and limited to a few parameters. The aim of this study was to develop pediatric reference values and Z score equations for a comprehensive set of vascular parameters. METHODS: A total of 292 healthy subjects aged 0 to 18 years were prospectively recruited. Stiffness index ß, pressure-strain elastic modulus, common carotid intima-media thickness, brachial flow-mediated dilation, radial augmentation index, central and right arm peripheral artery pulse-wave velocities, and pulse-wave velocity ratio were assessed. Normalization for age and anthropometric variables was performed using parametric multivariate regression modeling. Z scores were assessed for heteroscedasticity, residual association with age and body size, and distribution. RESULTS: Multivariate regression models with various combinations of height, weight, and age were used to obtain Z scores that were independent of age and body size. There was no residual association between Z scores and body size, age, or body mass index. There was no significant departure from the normal distribution. CONCLUSIONS: The authors present reference values and Z score equations for a comprehensive set of vascular parameters during childhood. Further studies are necessary to assess their usefulness in detecting the vascular signs of subclinical atherosclerosis and chronic diseases, including congenital heart disease.

Improvement of pulmonary arterial hypertension following medication and shunt closure in a BMPR2 mutation carrier with atrial septal defect.

Mutation of the BMPR2 gene is the most common genetic cause of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Although there have been some reports of BMPR2 mutation carriers among PAH patients with congenital heart disease, there have been few reports of their treatment. Here, we describe a 13-year-old female BMPR2 mutation carrier who presented with heritable PAH and atrial septal defect (ASD). She complained of fatigue, and cardiac catheterization showed a mean pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 56 mmHg, a pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 8 Wood units and a pulmonary to systemic blood flow ratio (Qp/Qs) of 1.3. Following 2 years of medication therapy, the mean PAP had decreased to 30 mmHg, the Qp/Qs had increased to 2.7, and her symptoms persisted. We closed the ASD interventionally, and her symptoms improved after closure. Medication therapy was continued. Four years after closure, the PAH had improved with a mean PAP of 20 mmHg and a PVR of 3.1 Wood units. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of PAH improvement following medication and ASD closure in a BMPR2 mutation carrier with heritable PAH. ASD closure following medication appears to be effective in some ASD patients with heritable PAH. .

Extracardiac Interatrial Tunnel and Atrial Septal Defect Closed With a Single Atrial Septal Occluder in an Adolescent Girl.

In contrast to the atrial septal defect (ASD) as a congenital interatrial shunt, the extracardiac interatrial tunnel is extremely rare. We report the first percutaneous closure of this entity during closure of a secundum ASD after careful investigation of ischemic risk in a 15-year-old girl. The extracardiac interatrial tunnel could entail interatrial shunt, and, if misidentified as an ASD, could result in lethal procedural complications during surgical or catheter interventions. In our case, the tunnel was also morphologically similar to the cardiac arterial/venous system. Therefore, careful investigation of its potential relationship with coronary circulation was required before its closure.

Percutaneous transluminal pulmonary valvuloplasty in a child with tricuspid atresia, ventricular septal defect, and severe pulmonary valve stenosis: usefulness of the femoral artery approach.

Percutaneous transluminal pulmonary valvuloplasty may be indicated in not only isolated pulmonary valve stenosis, but also complex congenital heart diseases. Because palliative surgery for increasing pulmonary blood flow entails a risk of scar formation and immediate postoperative complications, catheter intervention is preferred, if possible. However, an acute-angled, twisted, or tortuous access route or a small valve orifice occasionally makes it difficult for the catheter to reach or cross the target. We succeeded in performing this intervention for such a complex stenosis effectively and safely in a patient with tricuspid atresia, ventricular septal defect (VSD), and severe pulmonary valve stenosis, thereby evading surgery. In previous reports, the catheter for this cardiac anomaly was accessed via the femoral vein. In the present case, the catheter was advanced through the femoral artery via the aorta, left ventricle, VSD, and right ventricle to the pulmonary valve, using a micro-catheter in a telescopic manner, in combination with a coronary balloon dilatation catheter. This maneuver, which has not been reported previously, made it much easier to perform the procedure as compared to the femoral vein approach, despite the acute turn and the pinhole orifice. Moreover, reported complications of the femoral vein approach, including bradycardia, hypotension, and valve regurgitation, were not observed in this case. We conclude that the femoral artery approach can be a safe and effective alternative in patients for whom a more conventional procedure has been unsuccessful.

Anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the proper sinus with acute angulation and an intramural segment.

This is the first report of a coronary artery with an anomalous origin from the proper sinus resulting in ischemic events in a child. Transthoracic echocardiogram, computed tomogram, and coronary angiogram revealed that, although the left main coronary trunk originated from the left sinus, its ostium was displaced horizontally and was located near the commissure between the left and noncoronary valve cusps. Moreover, it was associated with an acute take off angle and an intramural segment, which are known contributing features for ischemia in cases of anomalous origin of a coronary artery from the wrong sinus. Surgical intervention, involving the unroofing procedure, was employed successfully to eliminate the ischemic events. At the latest follow up, no chest pain was reported and the transthoracic echocardiogram showed no stenosis of the neo-ostium. Even in a coronary artery that originates from the proper sinus, an abnormal ostial location could be associated with an acute takeoff angle and an intramural segment. This finding is extremely rare but entails the risk of ischemia and sudden death.

Clinical characteristics of acute mitral regurgitation due to ruptured chordae tendineae in infancy-experience at a single institution.

In infants, acute mitral regurgitation resulting from ruptured chordae tendineae is very rare, but often fatal. There are a few case reports, but the characteristics and etiology of chordae tendineae rupture have not been elucidated. Our aim was to determine the clinical characteristics of idiopathic acute mitral regurgitation due to chordal rupture in infancy. A retrospective analysis was performed on ten consecutive patients, with a mean onset age of 4.6 ± 1.3 months. Despite nonspecific initial symptoms, all patients developed respiratory distress and four required resuscitation within a few days (mean, 1.8 ± 1.8 days). Chest radiographs showed pulmonary congestion with a normal or mildly increased cardiothoracic ratio in all ten patients. Laboratory data and electrocardiograms showed nonspecific findings. Echocardiography revealed ruptured chordae in all patients; locations were anterior (50%), posterior (20%), and both (30%). Surgical intervention was performed within 24 h of admission in eight patients (mean, 3.6 ± 5.1 h). Pathological findings included inflammatory cells in six specimens and myxomatous degeneration in two. No bacteria were isolated from preoperative blood cultures, pathological tissues, or excised tissue cultures. Autoantibody levels were insignificant. Three preoperatively resuscitated patients developed neurological sequelae and arrhythmias occurred in four after mitral valve replacement. Acute onset and rapid deterioration in patients with ruptured chordae tendineae necessitates early surgical intervention to improve outcomes. Though the etiology remains unknown, onset is in infants approximately 4 months of age, suggesting a definite disease entity.

Predicting factors of plural hospitalization with pneumonia in low-birthweight infants.

BACKGROUND: Children with a history of low birthweight (LBW) are often hospitalized with plural episodes of pneumonia after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit. The aim of this study was to clarify the multiple factors predisposing them to developing three or more hospitalizations with pneumonia and whether the factors are related to their own prematurity. We also aimed to determine a predictable numerical formula for three or more episodes. METHODS: Fourteen patients with two hospitalizations with pneumonia were grouped into group A. Fourteen patients with at least three episodes during the same investigation period were grouped into group B. The quantification theory type III was employed to investigate the similarities among the items and the gravity of each attribution in the two groups. To evaluate the items of discrimination of both groups, six items were analyzed by the quantification theory type II. RESULTS: The dominant order of items contributing to the grouping was as follows: methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus detection (partial correlation coefficient = 0.5284), asthmatic attack (partial correlation coefficient = 0.4138), severe motor and intellectual disability, Haemophilus influenzae, accompanying diseases and chronic lung disease. A predicting numerical formula was attained from these results. The success rate of discrimination was 85.7%. The six items seemed to be related to the patients' own prematurity. CONCLUSIONS: The authors emphasize that plural hospitalizations with pneumonia in the patients with LBW might be caused by the combined influence of six clinical factors as well as their own prematurity.