Successful treatment of cardiac haemangiomas with oral propranolol: A case series of two patients

Peer reviewe

Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia in a Patient With Superior-Inferior Ventricles and Dextrocardia Treated With Cryoablation

A 19-year-old female underwent repair of complex congenital heart disease (atrial and ventricular septal defect with a criss-cross atrioventricular relationship) in infancy. Because or recurrent palpitations she underwent an electrophysiology study. Atypical atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia was diagnosed. Catheter ablation was performed successfully using cryothermal energy. The diagnostic and therapeutic approach is discussed

Covered Cheatham-Platinum Stents for Aortic Coarctation Early and Intermediate-Term Results

ObjectivesThis study sought to evaluate the use of covered Cheatham-platinum (CP) stents in the treatment of aortic coarctation (CoA).BackgroundAortic aneurysms and stent fractures have been encountered after surgical and transcatheter treatment for CoA. Covered stents have previously been used in the treatment of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms in adults. We implanted covered CP stents as a rescue treatment in patients with CoA aneurysms or previous stent-related complications and in patients at risk of developing complications because of complex CoA anatomy or advanced age.MethodsThirty-three covered CP stents were implanted in 30 patients; 16 patients had had previous procedures. The remaining patients had complex or near-atretic CoA.ResultsThe mean patient age and weight were 28 (±17.5) years (range 8 to 65 years), and 62 (±13) kg (range 28 to 86 kg), respectively. The systolic gradient across the CoA decreased from a mean (±SD) of 36 ± 20 mm Hg before to a mean of 4 ± 4 mm Hg after the procedure (p < 0.0001), and the diameter of the CoA increased from 6.4 ± 3.8 mm to 17.1 ± 3.1 mm (p < 0.0001). The follow-up period was up to 40 months (mean, 11 months). All stents were patent and in good position on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging performed three to six months later. In 43% of the patients antihypertensive medication was either decreased or stopped.ConclusionsCovered CP stents may be used as the therapy of choice in patients with complications after CoA repairs, whereas they provide a safe alternative to conventional stenting in patients with severe and complex CoA lesions or advanced age

Use of Covered Stents to Treat Coarctation of the Aorta

Transcatheter treatments for coarctation of the aorta include balloon angioplasty and stent implantation. However, balloon angioplasty has its limitations and may be associated with complications, such as, recoarctation, dissection, and aneurysm formation, in adult patients. Bare metal stent implantation has offered an alternative during the last decade or so, but covered stents have been used with increasing frequency more recently, to the extent that covered stent implantation is the preferred treatment in correctly selected patients. Primary stent insertion, whether bare metal or covered, prevents elastic recoil of the aorta and may provide better and more predictable results than balloon angioplasty. Furthermore, stents are preferable for the treatment of complex aortic arch obstructions, but their usage is limited to older patients, because of limitations associated with growth