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Aim      Comprehensive evaluation of blood flow in the thoracic aorta using a software for 4D processing of magnetic resonance (MR) images of the heart and blood vessels (4D Flow) in patients with aortic coarctation in the late postoperative period.Materials and methods The MR study of the heart was performed for 10 patients (7 boys and 3 girls) aged 8 to 13 years (median, 9.5 [8.3; 10.8] years) who underwent resection with end-to-end anastomosis for aortic coarctation at age of 2 weeks to 10 months. MR tomography was performed on a 1.5 T MR scanner using a multichannel surface coil for scanning, electrocardiographic synchronization, and a specialized package of pulse sequences for scanning of the heart. Blood flow was evaluated with a 4D data handling software for processing of MR images of heart and blood vessels (4D Flow). The following blood flow parameters were analyzed: blood flow volume per second, peak blood flow velocity, peak and minimum blood flow area at the levels of ascending aorta, arch, isthmus, and descending aorta, and pressure gradient at the level of maximum narrowing of the aorta. 3D-MR images were used for evaluation of aortic geometry. Blood flow formation, distribution, and trajectories were analyzed by maps of vectors, particle trace, and stream lines. Statistical analysis was performed with a Statistica (v. 6.0 StatSoft Inc.) package.Results Accelerated flow in the region of residual aortic stenosis in systole was observed in all patients; 4 patients had an additional vortex flow below the aortic stenosis and a spiral flow in the descending aorta. The pressure gradient on the aortic isthmus was directly correlated with the left ventricular myocardial mass index (r=0.65; р=0.04) and indexes of blood flow in the ascending and descending aorta (р=0.03; р=0.026). No significant correlation was found for blood flow indexes and geometry of the aortic arch (H / L). Delayed contrast enhancement MR imaging did not detect any fibrotic changes in the myocardium in only one patient. The fibrosis severity inversely correlated with the right ventricular ejection fraction (r=0.65; р=0.04) and directly correlated with the pressure gradient at the aortic isthmus (r=0.63; p=0.05).Conclusion      The 4D MR image processing software for the heart and blood vessels allows studying the blood flow in detail under natural conditions, provides potential advantages in comprehensive evaluation of patients with aortic coarctation during a dynamic follow-up. For a definitive conclusion about the relationship between the altered blood flow in the thoracic aorta and markers of residual, post-correction pathology, larger studies are required as well as long-term follow-up of patients with documented pathological patterns of blood flow (changes in blood flow velocity and volume throughout the entire thoracic aorta in combination with disorders in the normal flow geometry during the cardiac cycle).

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Transcatheter valve replacement is now widely used to treat high-risk patients. This approach is also expanding to the tricuspid valve, mostly for "valve-invalve" and "valve-in-ring" implantations. Rapid pacing during transcatheter valve implantation is used to reduce cardiac output and minimize the risk of valve dislodgement. Rapid pacing is usually done using the patient's permanent pacemaker or a temporary pacing electrode that is usually introduced retrogradely into the left ventricle or coronary sinus. Here, we describe the use of the tricuspid valve-in-valve implantation super-stiff guidewire for rapid pacing during implantation of the valve. This approach may obviate the need for ancillary steps that may increase procedure time, X-ray exposure, and risk of complications.

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Congenital heart defects (CHDs) have specific hemodynamics due to volume and pressure overloads of the heart chambers. Such hemodynamic disorders contribute to the development of hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis, heart failure, damage and death of cardiomyocytes. Measurement of biomarker levels helps predict the development of these pathological conditions and provides information on the severity of the lesion. Information on the use of cardiac biomarkers in pediatric practice is limited, compared to the extensive data on the practical use of cardiac biomarkers in adult patients, primarily with coronary artery disease. We reviewed the current publications on the use of cardiac biomarkers in pediatric patients with CHDs, focusing on troponin as a biomarker of myocardial injury and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) as a biomarker of heart failure.