New interventional methods of treatment in Reference Center for Pediatric Cardiology in Croatia

Cilj rada: prikazati nove metode intervencijskog liječenja u Referentnom centru. Bolesnici i metode: Prikazani su slučajevi od 1. srpnja 2018. do 1. srpnja 2022. u kojih je učinjena nova procedura, neovisno o dobi i spolu. U analizu su uključeni svi pacijenti kojima je učinjena nova metoda intervencijskog liječenja s prikazom podležeće anatomske/hemodinamske patologije te prikazom nove metode. Rezultati: U navedenom periodu uvedeno je pet novih perkutanih metoda, učinjenih u ukupno 34 pacijenta. Učinjeno je trinaest intervencija umetanja stenta u trinaest pacijenata s koarktacijom aorte. Srednja dob pacijenata kojima je učinjen perkutani zahvat umetanja stenta u koarktaciju aorte jest 13,4 godine. U navedenom periodu u šestero pacijenata stenoza pulmonalne grane liječena je umetanjem stenta. Od toga je troje pacijenata bilo dojenačke dobi, jedno u dobi od šesnaest mjeseci, jedno u dobi od četiri godine te jedna pacijentica u dobi od petnaest godina. U tri bolesnika učinjeno je perkutano umetanje zalistka Melody (kravlja jugularna vena integrirana u prekriveni stent), srednje dobi kod zahvata 17,3 godine. Metodom dilatacije stenta, zbog razvoja restenoze, liječili smo deset pacijenata, kod čega sedam dilatacijom prethodno umetnutog stenta u rekoarktaciju aorte, dva pacijenta dilatacijom stenta umetnutog na poziciji restenoze pulmonalnih grana te jednog dilatacijom stenta u stenotičnoj gornjoj šupljoj veni. Peta metoda koje je uvedena jest zatvaranje aortopulmonalnih kolaterala u djece s univentrikulskom cirkulacijom. Učinjena je u dvoje djece, dojenčeta u dobi od četiri mjeseca i pacijentice u dobi od tri i pol godine, a koji boluju od sindroma hipoplastičnoga lijevog srca. Svi su zahvati učinjeni uz povoljan hemodinamski rezultat, bez akutnih uz zahvat vezanih komplikacija. Zaključak: Uvođenjem novih metoda stekli smo nova znanja, poboljšali razinu dostupne skrbi u Republici Hrvatskoj (RH) te u konačnici i utjecali na smanjenje slanja složenih bolesnika u inozemstvo te tako reducirali troškove.The aim: To present new methods of interventional treatment in the Reference Center. Patients and methods: Cases from July 1, 2018 to July 1, 2022 in which a new procedure was performed, regardless of age and gender, are presented. The analysis included all patients who underwent a new method of interventional treatment with a description of the underlying anatomical/hemodynamic pathology and a description of the new method. Results: In the mentioned period, five new percutaneous methods were introduced in a total of 34 patients. Thirteen stent insertion interventions were performed in 13 patients with coarctation of the aorta. The median age of patients who underwent percutaneous stent insertion in coarctation of the aorta was 13.4 years. During the mentioned period, in six patients, stenosis of the pulmonary branch was treated by inserting a stent. Of these, three patients were infants, one at the age of 16 months, one at the age of four years, and one patient at the age of 15 years. Percutaneous insertion of Melody valve (cow’s jugular vein integrated into a covered stent) was performed in three patients, whose average age at the procedure was 17.3 years. With the method of stent dilation, due to the development of restenosis, we treated ten patients, seven with dilation of a previously inserted stent in recoarctation of the aorta, two patients with dilation of a stent inserted at the position of restenosis of the pulmonary branches, and one with dilation of a stent in the stenotic superior caval vein. The fifth method that was introduced was the closure of aortopulmonary collaterals in children with univentricular circulation. It was performed in two children, a four-month-old infant and a three-and-a-half-year-old patient, who suffer from hypoplastic left heart syndrome. All procedures were performed with a favorable hemodynamic result, without acute procedure-related complications. Conclusion: By introducing new methods, we gained new knowledge, improved the level of available care in the Republic of Croatia, and ultimately reduced the costs of referring complex patients abroad

Report on the work of the Reference center for pediatric cardiology Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia

Cilj je ovog izvješća u proteklom trogodišnjem razdoblju (2019–2022) prikazati: 1) aktivnosti Referentnog centra, 2) postignute stručne rezultate i primjenu novih metoda, postupaka i unaprjeđenje struke, i 3) znanstvenu i stručnu suradnju s inozemnim ustanovama visoke razine. Rezultati: Referentni je centar jedino mjesto u Republici Hrvatskoj koje kontinuirano zbrinjava populaciju najugroženijih i najtežih bolesnika pedijatrijske dobi sa srčanom patologijom. Ima kontinuirano, 24 sata dostupnu kardiološku, kardiokiruršku, anesteziološku, neonatalnu i intenzivnu skrb za djecu sa složenim prirođenim i stečenim srčanim bolestima. Također su dostupne metode nadomještanja funkcije organa u zatajivanju (ECMO potpora, LVAD-BiVAD, Berlin-Heart pumpa, hemodijaliza, program transplantacije srca / drugih organa), a sve zahvaljujući timskom radu i suradnji tima nekoliko Zavoda. Izvode se složene kardiokirurške operacije u djece s prirođenim srčanim greškama uz jasan trend povećanja broja i složenosti operacija, te uz i dalje prihvatljivo nisku smrtnost. Danas smo u mogućnosti samostalno liječiti gotovo sve srčane bolesti u djece. Godišnje se izvede oko 200 kateterizacija srca u djece. Više od 40% čine intervencijske procedure, a više od 50% tih intervencija izvodi se u dojenačkom periodu. Tijekom protekle tri godine uvedeno je pet novih perkutanih intervencijskih metoda: liječenje nativne koarktacije i rekoarktacije umetanjem stenta, liječenje stenoze pulmonalnih grana umetanjem stenta, perkutano umetanje valvule na pulmonalnu poziciju, dilatacija postojećeg stenta te zatvaranje aortopulmonalnih kolaterala u djece s univentrikulskim srcem. Navedeni iskoraci učinjeni su kontinuiranim zalaganjem članova tima uz potporu i mentorstvo, odnosno kontinuiranu suradnju s inozemnim stručnjacima iz triju inozemnih ustanova (DeutschesHerzZentrum Muenchen, KinderherzZentrum Linz, Kids Heart Center Budapest). Zaključak: Naš centar stoji uz bok rijetkih centara u Europi koji su u mogućnosti izvesti navedene procedure. Navedene su aktivnosti rezultirale unaprjeđenjem kvalitete skrbi na razini RH i temelj su za daljnji planirani rast i razvoj struke u okvirima naše zemlje.The aim of this report is to show in the past three-year period (2019–2022): 1)activities of the Reference Center, 2)achieved professional results and the application of new methods, procedures, and improvement of the profession, and 3)scientific and professional cooperation with high-level foreign institutions. Results: The reference center is the only place in the Republic of Croatia that continuously cares for the population of the most vulnerable children with cardiac pathology. It has continuous, 24-hour cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, neonatal and intensive care for children with complex congenital and acquired heart diseases. Organ function replacement are also available (ECMO support, LVAD-BiVAD, Berlin-Heart pump, hemodialysis, heart/other organ transplant program) thanks to the teamwork and cooperation of different Departments. Complex cardiac surgeries are performed in children with a clear trend of increasing the number and complexity of surgeries, with low mortality. Today, we can independently treat almost all congenital heart defects in children. About 200 cardiac catheterizations are performed in children annually. More than 40% are interventional procedures with more than 50% of these interventions performed in infancy. In the past three years, five new percutaneous intervention methods have been introduced: stent insertion in native coarctation and in recoarctation, stent insertion in stenosis of the pulmonary branches, percutaneous valve insertion in the pulmonary position, dilatation of the existing stent, and closure of aortopulmonary collaterals in children with a univentricular heart. The steps were made by the continuous efforts of team members with support, mentoring, and continuous cooperation with foreign experts from three foreign institutions (DeutschesHerzZentrum Muenchen, KinderherzZentrum Linz, KidsHeart- Center Budapest). Conclusion: Our center stands alongside the rare centers in Europe that can perform the abovementioned procedures. The activities resulted in the improvement of the quality of care and form the basis for further development of the profession within the framework of our country

Report on the work of the Reference center for pediatric cardiology Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia

Cilj je ovog izvješća u proteklom trogodišnjem razdoblju (2019–2022) prikazati: 1) aktivnosti Referentnog centra, 2) postignute stručne rezultate i primjenu novih metoda, postupaka i unaprjeđenje struke, i 3) znanstvenu i stručnu suradnju s inozemnim ustanovama visoke razine. Rezultati: Referentni je centar jedino mjesto u Republici Hrvatskoj koje kontinuirano zbrinjava populaciju najugroženijih i najtežih bolesnika pedijatrijske dobi sa srčanom patologijom. Ima kontinuirano, 24 sata dostupnu kardiološku, kardiokiruršku, anesteziološku, neonatalnu i intenzivnu skrb za djecu sa složenim prirođenim i stečenim srčanim bolestima. Također su dostupne metode nadomještanja funkcije organa u zatajivanju (ECMO potpora, LVAD-BiVAD, Berlin-Heart pumpa, hemodijaliza, program transplantacije srca / drugih organa), a sve zahvaljujući timskom radu i suradnji tima nekoliko Zavoda. Izvode se složene kardiokirurške operacije u djece s prirođenim srčanim greškama uz jasan trend povećanja broja i složenosti operacija, te uz i dalje prihvatljivo nisku smrtnost. Danas smo u mogućnosti samostalno liječiti gotovo sve srčane bolesti u djece. Godišnje se izvede oko 200 kateterizacija srca u djece. Više od 40% čine intervencijske procedure, a više od 50% tih intervencija izvodi se u dojenačkom periodu. Tijekom protekle tri godine uvedeno je pet novih perkutanih intervencijskih metoda: liječenje nativne koarktacije i rekoarktacije umetanjem stenta, liječenje stenoze pulmonalnih grana umetanjem stenta, perkutano umetanje valvule na pulmonalnu poziciju, dilatacija postojećeg stenta te zatvaranje aortopulmonalnih kolaterala u djece s univentrikulskim srcem. Navedeni iskoraci učinjeni su kontinuiranim zalaganjem članova tima uz potporu i mentorstvo, odnosno kontinuiranu suradnju s inozemnim stručnjacima iz triju inozemnih ustanova (DeutschesHerzZentrum Muenchen, KinderherzZentrum Linz, Kids Heart Center Budapest). Zaključak: Naš centar stoji uz bok rijetkih centara u Europi koji su u mogućnosti izvesti navedene procedure. Navedene su aktivnosti rezultirale unaprjeđenjem kvalitete skrbi na razini RH i temelj su za daljnji planirani rast i razvoj struke u okvirima naše zemlje.The aim of this report is to show in the past three-year period (2019–2022): 1)activities of the Reference Center, 2)achieved professional results and the application of new methods, procedures, and improvement of the profession, and 3)scientific and professional cooperation with high-level foreign institutions. Results: The reference center is the only place in the Republic of Croatia that continuously cares for the population of the most vulnerable children with cardiac pathology. It has continuous, 24-hour cardiology, cardiac surgery, anesthesiology, neonatal and intensive care for children with complex congenital and acquired heart diseases. Organ function replacement are also available (ECMO support, LVAD-BiVAD, Berlin-Heart pump, hemodialysis, heart/other organ transplant program) thanks to the teamwork and cooperation of different Departments. Complex cardiac surgeries are performed in children with a clear trend of increasing the number and complexity of surgeries, with low mortality. Today, we can independently treat almost all congenital heart defects in children. About 200 cardiac catheterizations are performed in children annually. More than 40% are interventional procedures with more than 50% of these interventions performed in infancy. In the past three years, five new percutaneous intervention methods have been introduced: stent insertion in native coarctation and in recoarctation, stent insertion in stenosis of the pulmonary branches, percutaneous valve insertion in the pulmonary position, dilatation of the existing stent, and closure of aortopulmonary collaterals in children with a univentricular heart. The steps were made by the continuous efforts of team members with support, mentoring, and continuous cooperation with foreign experts from three foreign institutions (DeutschesHerzZentrum Muenchen, KinderherzZentrum Linz, KidsHeart- Center Budapest). Conclusion: Our center stands alongside the rare centers in Europe that can perform the abovementioned procedures. The activities resulted in the improvement of the quality of care and form the basis for further development of the profession within the framework of our country