No abstract

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators effectively reduce the rate of sudden cardiac death in children. Significant efforts have been made to better characterise the indications for their placement, and over the past two decades there has been a shift in their use from secondary to primary prevention. Primary prevention includes placement in patients thought to be at high risk of sudden cardiac death before the patient experiences any event. Secondary prevention includes placement after a high-risk event including sustained ventricular tachycardia or resuscitated cardiac arrest. Although liberal device implantation may be appealing even in patients having marginal indications, studies have shown high rates of adverse effects including inappropriate device discharges and the need for re-intervention because of hardware malfunction. The indications for placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, whether for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death, vary based on cardiac pathology. This review will assist the provider in understanding the risks and benefits of device implantation in order to enhance the shared decision-making capacity of patients, families, and providers.

Introduction: Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is thought to be a delayed reaction to SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) have been described in the MIS-C diagnostic criteria, with many symptoms mimicking Kawasaki disease (KD). Our institution has seen a significant rise in KD-like illness during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Objectives: We sought to describe the variation in coronary artery (CA) involvement between traditional KD and post-COVID-19 pandemic KD/MIS-C cases. Methods: We identified children admitted to our center with KD from April to June 2016 - 2017 and those with MIS-C/KD from April 1 - June 6, 2020, with review of clinical and echocardiogram data. Presence of CAA (any CA z-score ≥ +2.5), z-scores of the left main (LMCA), left anterior descending (LAD), and right coronary artery (RCA), and presence of cardiac and valvar dysfunction were evaluated. Nonparametric Wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare the groups. Results: There were 26 patients in the 2016-17 KD group and 24 in the 2020 KD/MIS-C group; results are shown in Table 1. The groups had similar median age, and 2016-17 KD patients were more likely to be male. 2020 KD/MIS-C patients were more likely to have CAA than 2016-17 KD patients (54% vs 26%, p=0.05). The LAD had larger median z-score in 2020 KD/MIS-C than KD (p=0.017). RCA and LMCA z-scores of 2020 KD/MIS-C patients tended to be larger than 2016-17 KD but did not reach statistical significance (p=0.097, p=0.07 respectively). More 2020 KD/MIS-C patients had cardiac dysfunction, not statistically significant (13% vs 0%, p=NS), with no differences in valve function or effusion. Conclusions: Our spring 2020 cohort of MIS-C/KD patients had higher incidence of CAA, particularly larger LAD z-scores than those with KD pre-COVID-19 pandemic. Coronary arteries should be thoroughly assessed in patients presenting with MIS-C symptoms. Future studies are needed to determine long term outcomes in this cohort.

Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy weakens both skeletal and cardiac muscles, but the rate of cardiomyopathic progression can accelerate faster than that of skeletal muscles. A 14-year-old boy with Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy presented with mild skeletal myopathy but severe cardiomyopathy requiring heart transplantation within 1 year of declining heart function. These patients need frequent screening regardless of musculoskeletal symptoms.