The early to mid-term outcomes of post-EC-TCPC patients managed with individualized pharmacotherapy were excellent, with low mortality and morbidity rates; however, development of late-occurring morbidities specific to Fontan physiology, including exercise intolerance and liver disease, must be carefully monitored during the long-term follow-up.

Abstract-To investigate if spontaneous ischemic events in mice with severe multi-organ atherosclerosis could adapt to ischemia, apolipoprotein E/LDL receptor knockout mice were fed an atherogenic diet for 7 to 9 months. Signs of spontaneous ischemia occurred. One to two days later, hearts were excised, Langendorff-perfused with induced global ischemia, and compared with mice without signs of disease. In vivo heart or brain infarctions were verified by heart histology and/or increased serum levels of cardiac troponin T and S100B. Hearts of mice with spontaneous ischemic events had improved function and reduced Langendorff-induced infarctions. To investigate the remote preconditioning effect of brain ischemia, bilateral ligation of the internal carotid arteries was performed in C57BL6 mice. Twenty-four hours later, their isolated hearts were protected against induced global ischemia. A possible role of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) was studied in iNOS knock out mice, who were not preconditioned by induced brain ischemia. Cardiac iNOS was unchanged 24 hours after preconditioning, suggesting that NO is a trigger rather than a mediator of protection. These findings suggest that spontaneous ischemic events in the brain and heart adapt the heart to ischemia. This can be mimicked by induced brain ischemia, with iNOS as a key factor of protection. Key Words: ischemic preconditioning Ⅲ remote preconditioning Ⅲ atherosclerosis Ⅲ brain ischemia Ⅲ inducible nitric oxide synthase C ardiac adaptation to ischemia can be achieved experimentally by ischemic preconditioning, transient episodes of ischemia and reperfusion before sustained ischemia.

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Objective: To compare the haemodynamics and perioperative course of initial palliation with bilateral pulmonary artery banding (PAB) and the Norwood procedure. Methods: Between April 2004 and December 2007, 43 consecutive children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) or a variant underwent initial palliation (PAB, n = 18; Norwood, n = 25). Clinical perioperative data were analysed. In the PAB group, lipoprostaglandin E1 administration was continued with hospitalisation until stage 2 palliation with a bi-directional Glenn shunt and the Norwood procedure. Results: There were no significant differences in the age and operative weight of patients who received stage 1 palliation (PAB, 12 AE 9 days, 2.7 AE 0.6 kg; Norwood, 12 AE 8 days, 2.8 AE 0.4 kg). The PAB group had more high-risk patients than the Norwood group (PAB, 83%; Norwood, 48%, p = 0.04). Increased early and inter-stage mortality were observed in patients who underwent the Norwood procedure (early mortality with PAB, 6% vs Norwood, 12%; inter-stage mortality, 6% vs 27%, respectively). Mortality between stages 1 and 2 was 11% for the PAB group and 36% for the Norwood group. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate at 1 year did not differ between groups (77% for the PAB group, 64% for the Norwood group). Ductal stenosis was found in one patient in the PAB group during the follow-up period. Twenty-eight patients underwent stage 2 reconstruction, and the patients in the PAB group were younger at the time of surgery (PAB, 116 days; Norwood, 224 days). There were no significant differences between groups in pulmonary artery index regarding body surface area (BSA) (PAB, 179 mm 2 BSA À1 ; Norwood, 194 mm 2 BSA À1 ) and the incidence of ventricular dysfunction after stage 2 construction (PAB, 21%; Norwood, 21%). Conclusions: Bilateral PAB with continuous lipo-prostaglandin E1 administration may improve early and intermediate mortality in infants with HLHS. Intimate care with hospitalisation may contribute to the results. #

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