BACKGROUND When the left ventricle is unable to sustain a systemic pressure in transposition of the great arteries (TGA), left ventricular retraining is mandatory before the morphologic left ventricle under the aorta is switched. This is currently achieved by creating a ventricular overload through pulmonary artery banding, usually associated with an aortopulmonary shunt in case of a TGA with a...

BACKGROUND Progressive left ventricular (LV) dysfunction can be a major late complication in patients with chronic right ventricular pressure overload (eg, tetralogy of Fallot). Therefore, we examined LV function (serial echocardiography and ex vivo Langendorff) and histology in a model of infant pressure-load right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH). METHODS AND RESULTS Ten-day-old rabbits (n=6 p...

pulmonary arteriovenous malformations are rare clinical entities thai are associated with right to left shunts, and are often clinically presented by the triad of dyspnea, cyanosis, and digital clubbing. currently, transcatheter embolization of fistula is gaining increasing popularity as the superior therapeutic option. in certain situations, however, surgery is preferred. two cases of direct p...

Background: The surgical approach of neonates with a functionally univentricular heart, transposition of the great arteries and excessive pulmonary blood ̄ow remains a challenge. Pulmonary artery banding remains a valuable option, but may induce ventricular hypertrophy, restriction of the bulboventricular foramen and dysplastic changes of the pulmonary valve. These secondary changes might compro...

Congenital pulmonary arteriovenous fistula (PAVF) is a rare disease which causes hypoxemia by shunting deoxygenated blood from the pulmonary artery into pulmonary venous return. Lung transplantation is the most effective therapy to treat severe, diffuse PAVF. However, the availability of lungs for transplantation is limited in most parts in the world. For patients with diffuse PAVF affecting on...

cardiac hydatid cyst (chc) is a rare disease that was endemic in some regions especially in sheep-raising areas. the most commonly accepted theory for the routes of heart involvement in hydatid cyst was infestation by the hexacanthus embryo through coronary arteries. here, we describe a case with the primitive cardiac hydatid cyst located around the pulmonary valve (pv) and main pulmonary arter...

OBJECTIVE The infant with a functional single ventricle (SV) and unobstructed pulmonary blood flow (UPBF) requires early protection of the pulmonary vascular bed to ensure suitability for a subsequent Fontan procedure. Systemic obstruction by aortic arch obstruction, subaortic stenosis, or combination of both, has been widely recognized as an important risk factor for poor outcome in children w...