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AimsTo identify risk factors for left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in right ventricular (RV) pacing in the young.Methods and resultsLeft ventricular function was evaluated in 82 paediatric patients with either non-surgical (n = 41) or surgical (n= 41) complete atrioventricular block who have been 100% RV paced for a mean period of 7.4 years. Left ventricular shortening fraction (SF) decreased from a median (range) of 39 (24–62)% prior to implantation to 32 (8–49)% at last follow-up (P < 0.05). Prevalence of a combination of LV dilatation (LV end-diastolic diameter >+2z-values) and dysfunction (SF < 0.26) was found to increase from 1.3% prior to pacemaker implantation to 13.4% (11/82 patients) at last follow-up (P = 0.01). Ten of these 11 patients had progressive LV remodelling and 8 of 11 were symptomatic. The only significant risk factor for the development of LV dilatation and dysfunction was the presence of epicardial RV free wall pacing (OR = 14.3, P < 0.001). Other pre-implantation demographic, diagnostic, and haemodynamic factors including block aetiology, pacing variables, and pacing duration did not show independent significance.ConclusionRight ventricular pacing leads to pathologic LV remodelling in a significant proportion of paediatric patients. The major independent risk factor is the presence of epicardial RV free wall pacing, which should be avoided whenever possible.

Angioplasty is safe and effective regardless of the type of surgery used and the recoarctation anatomy. Older age at the angioplasty is associated with a higher incidence of reinterventions.

The probability of continued epicardial pacing in children was 76% at 10 years after implantation, increased for implantation in recent years, and allowed transvenous pacing to be deferred to a significantly greater age. The use of bipolar steroid-eluting leads and of a beat-to-beat capture tracking feature significantly increased pacing system longevity and decreased the need for surgical reinterventions.

Compared with other sites, LV apical pacing preserves septal to lateral LV synchrony and systolic function and may be the preferred epicardial pacing site in the young.

RV resynchronization carried short-term improvement of haemodynamics in children early after surgery for ToF and might be a useful non-pharmacologic adjunct to the management of haemodynamically compromised patients. Resynchronization effect was maximized when pacing from area of the latest RV activation.

Objective:This study compared groups of patients with calcaneal fractures of Sanders types II and III. One group was treated with ORIF using an LCP (plate), while the second was treated with a minimally invasive method using a C-Nail.Methods:The study included 217 patients in the ORIF group and 19 patients in the minimally invasive nail osteosynthesis group.Results:In the LCP group, the outcomes were excellent for 35.7% of the patients; good, 38.9%; satisfactory, 19.7%; and poor, 5.7%. In the C-Nail group, the outcomes were excellent for 36.9% of the patients; good; 31.6%; satisfactory, 21%; and poor, 10.2%. The mean values of the restoration of Böhler's angle from post-injury were 6.8° to 32.3° in the LCP group and 7.1° to 33.3° in the C-Nail group. After 12 months, there was only a minimal decrease in Böhler's angle to 29.2° in both the LCP and C-Nail groups.Conclusion:The outcomes obtained with C-Nail fixation are statistically identical to those obtained with LCP fixation. We conclude that osteosynthesis with a C-Nail is suitable as the first-choice treatment for Sanders types II and III fractures. Level of evidence IV, retrospective observational study.

c o r e t v a s a 5 6 ( 2 0 1 4 ) e 4 4 9 -e 4 5 5 Children Long-term follow up a b s t r a c t Introduction: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), one of the most serious congenital heart defects, can be surgically paliated using 3 subsequent stages. Long-term results of this approach are reviewed in this study. Methods: Fifty-two consecutive patients (pts.) operated for HLHS from 1999 to 2012 were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Norwood stage I operation was performed at the median age of 6.5 days with a total mortality of 19%. Significant risk factor for death was lower weight at surgery (Cox proportional risk per 1 g increase = 0.997, CI 0.995-0.990, P < 0.001). Between stages I and II, 15 catheter/surgical reintervention had to be carried out in 13 pts. (aortic arch narrowing in 10/13). Forty-two pts. underwent stage II operation at the median age of 6.8 months with a total mortality of 4.8% and 18 subsequent reinterventions in 13 patients. Finally, 26 patients aged median 3.9 years underwent stage III operation (total cavopulmonary connection) with a total mortality of 8%. The probability of survival at 1/5/10 years of age was 77/77/71%. At long-term follow up (median 7.8 years) 37 of the 38 surviving patients are in NYHA functional class I or II. Conclusions: Despite a highly centralized care, surgical treatment of HLHS is still associated with a significant mortality and morbidity. Long-term survivals, however, have an acceptable functional status during childhood corresponding to other groups of patients after surgical palliation for functionally single ventricle.