Riyadh M. Abu-Sulaiman

Role of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has a major role in detecting residual lesions during and/or after pediatric cardiac surgery. Methods All pediatric patients who underwent cardiac surgery between July 2001 and December 2008 were reviewed. The records of surgical procedure, intraoperative TEE, and predischarge transthoracic echocardiograms were reviewed to determine minor and major residual cardiac lesions after surgical repair. Results During the study period, a total of 2268 pediatric cardiac patients were operated in our center. Mean age was 21 months (from 1 day to 14 years). Of these patients, 1016 (48%) had preoperative TEE and 1036 (46%) were evaluated by intraoperative echocardiography (TEE or epicardial study). We identified variations between TEE and preoperative transthoracic echocardiography in 14 patients (1.3%). Only one surgical procedure was cancelled after atrial septal defect exclusion. The other 13 patients had minor variation from their surgical plan. Major residual lesions requiring surgical revision were detected in 41 patients (3.9%), with the following primary diagnoses: tetralogy of Fallot in 12 patients (29%), atrioventricular septal defect in seven patients (17%), ventricular septal defect in seven patients (17%), double outlet right ventricle in two patients (5%), Shone complex in two patients (5%), subaortic stenosis in two patients (5%), mitral regurgitation in two patients (5%), pulmonary atresia in two patients (5%), and five patients (12%) with other diagnoses. Conclusion Intraoperative TEE has a major impact in pediatric cardiac surgery to detect significant residual lesions. Preoperative TEE has a limited role in case of a high quality preoperative transthoracic echocardiography. We recommend routine use of intraoperative TEE during and/or after intracardiac repair in children.

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy: A new mechanism for mitral regurgitation with distinct clinical, echocardiographic features and pathological correlations.

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy (NCCM) is a primary, genetic cardiomyopathy with variable clinical manifestations that include mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods This study comprised patients diagnosed with NCCM and MR in two cardiac centers (King Abdul-Aziz Cardiac Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Sudan Heart Institute, Khartoum, Sudan), and seen in the period between 2002 and 2013. The study describes follow up, clinical, echocardiographic, and histopathological findings. Results Nineteen cases (85% females) were identified. Ten percent of the cases had relapses and remissions of heart failure. Echocardiographic features included leaflet retraction in all patients, characteristic malcoaptation, and a zigzag deformity of anterior leaflet in 57% of patients. Ruptured chordae were found in 15% of the patients. One patient had pathological examination of the mitral valve which showed myxomatous degeneration, and sclerotic and calcific changes. Conclusion We describe and discuss a new mechanism for MR caused by NCCM with identifiable clinical and echocardiographic features, and pathological correlations.

Dextrocardia, aortopulmonary window with transposition of the great arteries, case report

Transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) in combination with aortopulmonary window (APW) is a very rare entity and carries high morbidity and mortality. Only few cases have been reported with this association. We report the first case of D-TGA and APW with mirror image dextrocardia which was repaired successfully.