Introduction: Pulmonary stenosis with an intact ventricular septum (PS-IVS) is one of the common causes of cyanotic heart disease in neonates with diverse morphologies as well as management and treatment protocols. The aim of this study was to evaluate short and midterm results of balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (BPV) for this disorder. Methods: Between 2012 and 2016, Totally 45 neonates and infants under 6 months old were evaluated.The patients had a minimum right-to-left ventricular pressure ratio of 1, right-to-left shunting at the patent foramen ovale or atrial septal defect level, and tricuspid valve Z-scores higher than -4. Results: Immediately after the procedure, the right ventricular pressure dropped to the normal values in 8 (20%) patients. The immediate procedural success rate was seen in 42 (93.3%) cases: the right-to-left ventricular pressure ratio dropped to below 50% or the level of O2 saturation rose above 75%. Of three cases unresponsive to BPV, two of them underwent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting and one procedural death occurred. At 6 months’ follow-up, of 42 patients, this pressure was still with in the normal range in 36 (80%) infants, while it had returned to high values in 9 (20%) patients and necessitated repeat valvuloplasty. After BPV, severe pulmonary valve regurgitation was observed in14.2% patients; the condition was more common when high-profile noncompliant balloons were used. Conclusion: Balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in infants with PS-IVS confers acceptable results insofar as it improves echocardiographic parameters and hemodynamic changes at short- and midterm followups.Balloon selection with sizes more than 1.2 of the diameter of the pulmonary valve annulus and the use of noncompliant high-pressure balloons results in higher degrees of pulmonary regurgitation.
Oral ibuprofen has been known as a conventional treatment for closing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm newborns. Since the use of it might lead to various side effects, other treatments needed to be evaluated. Therefore in a prospective study, we compared the efficacy and safety of intravenous acetaminophen versus oral ibuprofen for the closure of PDA. In this study which was done prospectively and under control, 50 preterm neonates with gestational ages and weights less than 37 weeks old and 2500 grams, respectively, who had PDA, large enough hemodynamically, were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: A (intravenous acetaminophen) & B (oral ibuprofen). The two groups were given at most two 3-day courses of the medication (the second course if necessary) and evaluated at the end of each course by echocardiography so as to determine the response to the treatment at each step. The rate of ductal closure, the need for additional treatment, side effects, complications and the newborn’s clinical status were recorded. The rate of ductal closure in the both groups after one course of treatment was similar and showed no meaningful significance statistically (P=0.306). But that of the side effects was much higher in group B with a P=0.021. Intravenous Acetaminophen is not only as efficacious as oral Ibuprofen for the treatment of PDA in preterm infants, but also is less likely to lead to side effects and complications.
The association between thyroid disease and cardiovascular manifestations is significant
and undeniable. Previous studies have explained several aspects of the effects of thyroid hormone
on the heart and cardiovascular system. Accordingly, both hyper and hypothyroidism can cause important
alterations in cardiac rhythm, output and contractility as well as vascular resistance and
blood pressure. Since treating the thyroid abnormality, especially in its initial stages, could lead to a
significant improvement in most of its resultant cardiovascular disturbances, early suspicion and
recognition of thyroid dysfunction, is necessary in patients with cardiovascular manifestations. In
this in-depth review, we discuss the physiological roles as well as the effects of abnormal levels of
thyroid hormones on the cardiovascular system. We also review the effects of the medications used
for the treatment of hyper and hypothyroidism on cardiac function. In the end, we discuss the association
between thyroid function and amiodarone, an effective and frequently-used antiarrhythmic
drug, because of its well-known effects on the thyroid.
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