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Background: Novel quantification of stroke volume according to mitral inflow and aortic outflow using automated real-time 3-dimensional volume colour flow Doppler echocardiography (3D-RT-VCFDE) is more accurate than 2-dimensional echocardiography and has excellent correlation with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-based flows in adults. This technology is applied for the first time to the right heart and in children., Methods: 3D-RT-VCFDE was performed in 61 image sets of flow through the aortic (AV), mitral (MV), pulmonary (PV), and tricuspid (TV) valves of 34 children. These were compared with stroke volumes of the right (RV) and left (LV) ventricles and ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow determined using the Fick method in 31 children with atrial shunts., Results: The mean age was 8.0 ± 3.3 years, and the mean weight was 27.8 ± 10.0 kg. The mean temporal resolution for flow analyses was ≥ 22 volumes per second. In conditions with no shunt, the correlations were: AV with MV flows (r = 0.98), PV with TV flows (r = 0.96), RV stroke volume with PV flow (r = 0.95), and with TV flow (r = 0.93), LV stroke volume with AV flow (r = 0.87), and with MV flow (r = 0.89). Fick ratio of pulmonary to systemic blood flow correlations were: PV/AV ratio (r = 0.84), TV/MV ratio (r = 0.87), and RV/LV ratio (r = 0.70)., Conclusions: Stroke volume determined using automated 3D-RT-VCFDE is feasible in children and in the right side of the heart. This technique potentially provides a noninvasive alternative to historically invasively acquired hemodynamic data and to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging., (Copyright © 2018 Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Mortality associated with the modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) remains high despite advanced perioperative management. This study was formulated to provide data on (1) current indications, (2) outcomes, and (3) factors affecting mortality and morbidity., Design: A retrospective single center chart review identified 95 children (excluding hypoplastic left heart lesions) requiring a MBTS. Mortality and major morbidity were analyzed using the Kaplan Meier method and risk factor analysis using Cox's proportional hazard regression., Results: Median age was 8 (0-126) days, weight 3.1(1.7-5.4) kg. Seventy-three percent were neonates, 58% duct dependent and 73% had single ventricle physiology. Ninety-seven percent had a sternotomy approach for shunt placement with 70% receiving a 3.5 mm graft. Mean graft index (shunt cross sectional area [mm 2 ]/BSA [m 2 ]) was 44.39 ± 8.04 and shunt size (mm) to body weight (kg) ratio 1.1 ± 0.2. Hospital mortality was 12%, with an interval mortality of 6%. Shunt thrombosis/stenosis occurred in 23% and pulmonary over circulation in 30%, while shunt reoperation was required in 12% and catheter intervention in 8% of the cohort. At 1-year, survival was 82.0% (95% CI [72.7%, 88.4%]), and survival free of major morbidity 61.4% (95% CI [50.7%, 70.5%]). Duct dependency predisposed to mortality (P = .01, HR 6.74 [1.54, 29.53]) and composite outcome (mortality and major morbidity) (P = .04, HR 2.15, CI [1.036, 4.466]) and higher graft index to mortality (P = .005, HR 1.07 [1.02, 1.12])., Conclusions: The commonest indication for a MBTS in the current era was single ventricle palliation. Morbidity and mortality was considerable, partly explained by the higher at risk population. Alternative methods to maintain pulmonary blood flow in place of a MBTS requires further investigation., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Objective: Retrograde aortic arch malperfusion after ductal stenting can be life-threatening after univentricular hybrid palliation. Arch perfusion can be maintained with a main pulmonary artery to innominate artery shunt placed during the stage I procedure: a "reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt.", Methods: A retrospective review of 37 infants who underwent hybrid palliation from January 2004 to March 2010 was performed. The infants were divided into 2 groups, those with (group I, n = 16) and those without (group II, n = 21) a reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt., Results: At the initial palliation, no differences were found in the demographics, systolic or diastolic pressures, or ventricular or atrioventricular valve function between the 2 groups. Group I had more infants with aortic atresia (P < .01) and smaller ascending aortas (P < .01). Before stage II, the retrograde aortic Doppler flow velocity increased in group I (P < .01) and was unchanged in group II. The reintervention rates before stage II were similar between the 2 groups. Before stage II, the ventricular end-diastolic pressure, left and right pulmonary artery pressures and diameters, and mixed venous and arterial saturations were similar between the 2 groups. The complication rates between the 2 groups were not significantly different, although a nonsignificant trend toward more neurologic complications was noted in group I. The Kaplan-Meier survival estimate at 1 year was similar between the 2 groups (63% for group I vs 71% for group II)., Conclusions: The presence of a reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt was not associated with more adverse events than those without. Gradual retrograde arch obstruction occurs commonly in palliated infants with aortic atresia. A reverse Blalock-Taussig shunt might play an important role to address the potential of retrograde obstruction, augmenting arch blood flow., (Copyright © 2013 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)