No abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the presenting symptoms, the effectiveness of imaging methods, and the surgical treatment of vascular rings. Data for 44 patients (32 enrolled prospectively, 12 reviewed retrospectively) over a 10-year period in a tertiary referral center were analyzed. These patients comprised 25 patients with a left aortic arch and an aberrant right subclavian artery, 13 patients with a right aortic arch and a left subclavian artery originating from Kommerell’s diverticulum, 1 patient with a right aortic arch and an aberrant left subclavian artery, 3 patients with a double aortic arch, and 2 patients with a pulmonary sling. Respiratory symptoms were found in 25 patients and dysphagia in 6 patients. Atypical symptoms such as reflex apnea, cyanosis, syncope episodes, and exercise-induced wheezing were noted in five patients. Associated congenital heart defects were detected in 41% of the patients. The diagnostic yield was 95.23% for barium esophagography, 54.54% for echocardiography, and 66.66% for computed tomography. The anatomy could be correctly identified by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in 97.43% and by angiography in 90.5% of the patients. Of the 30 patients who underwent surgery, 80% were completely relieved of symptoms during a mean follow-up period of 25 ± 33.5 months. Vascular rings should not be overlooked in infants with atypical symptoms. The authors’ diagnostic procedure of choice is MRI because it is superior to angiography for delineating the relationship between abnormal vascular structures, trachea, and esophagus.

The results of this study showed that SH is associated with subclinical alterations in LV function, and LT4 replacement may improve LV systolic and diastolic parameters. However, since SH is usually a self-limiting process, these improvements in LV functions may simply be associated with the natural course of the disease and/or physiological linear growth of the children.

Objectives. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) with unclear underlying aetiologies. Severe cardiac arrhythmias have been emphasised in a few studies on adult IBD patients. This study aimed to investigate the alteration of the P-wave and QT interval dispersion parameters to assess the risk of atrial conduction and ventricular repolarisation abnormalities in pediatric IBD patients. Patients and Methods. Thirty-six IBD patients in remission (UC: 20, CD: 16) aged 3–18 years and 36 age- and sex-matched control patients were enrolled in the study. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were used to determine durations of P-wave, QT, and corrected QT (QTc) interval dispersion. Transthoracic echocardiograms and 24-hour rhythm Holter recordings were obtained for both groups. Results. The P-wave dispersion, QT dispersion, and QTc interval dispersion (Pdisp, QTdisp, and QTcdisp) were significantly longer in the patient group. The mean values of Pminimum, Pmaximum, and QTcminimum were significantly different between the two groups. The echocardiography and Holter monitoring results were not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, no differences in these parameters were detected between the CD and UC groups. Conclusion. Results suggest that paediatric IBD patients may carry potential risks for serious atrial and ventricular arrhythmias over time even during remission.

Elevated BP loads detected by 24-h ambulatory BP measurements in children with type 1 diabetes are associated with increased BNP levels and abnormal tissue Doppler echocardiography indices, indicating early stage cardiac dysfunction.