Atrioventricular block,percutaneous VSD closure,KONAR-MF (multifunctional occluder)

Introduction: Although amiodarone is traditionally used in the treatment of postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET), the search for new treatments is ongoing. We present our experience with ivabradine at two medical centers.Materials and Methods: Between January 2022 and January 2023, patients who developed JET after pediatric cardiac surgery were prospectively followed up and documented. The diagnosis of JET was made with the support of the electrophysiology team and treatment was based primarily on whether JET disrupted hemodynamics.Results: This study was conducted at two high‐volume centers, which record a total of 1130 pediatric cardiac surgeries within a year. The study recruited 26 patients with median heart rate 180 beats per minute, and 10 (38%) patients had impaired hemodynamics. Out of the 26 study participants, 14 (54%) cases were treated with ivabradine alone, 10 (38%) cases were treated with amiodarone + ivabradine, and 2 patients (8%) with high heart rates and prolonged junctional arrhythmia were treated with ivabradine and flecainide. The median time to ventricular rate control was 12 h, and the median time to sinus rhythm conversion was 55.5 h. No ivabradine‐related side effects were observed in any of the patients, and no patient experienced JET recurrence after discontinuing treatment.Conclusion: Ivabradine seems to be a safe and effective medical treatment that can be used as the primary treatment in patients with stable hemodynamics, as an adjunctive therapy to amiodarone in patients with impaired hemodynamics.

Hemodynamically significant muscular ventricular septal defects in children after the infantile period are a rare occurrence and ideal for transcatheter closure. In cases of severe concomitant pulmonary hypertension, it may be necessary to fenestrate the device. In this report, we present an 18-year old patient with a large mid-trabecular ventricular septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension that underwent percutaneous closure of the defect with a home-made fenestrated atrial septal occluder.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency of persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) and its impact on outcomes in children undergoing congenital heart surgery. The study was conducted retrospectively in cases diagnosed with congenital heart disease who were operated on under the age of 16 years between October 1st, 2021, and October 1st, 2024, at two major tertiary centers. The frequency of PLSVC and its possible impact on surgical outcomes were evaluated in these cases. The results were analyzed statistically. There were 4,000 cases during the study period, with 52% being male. The median weight was 5.2 kg (interquartile range 4.5 - 6 kg). PLSVC was detected in a total of 260 cases (6.5%). Of these cases, 92.3% (240/260) drained into the coronary sinus, while 7.7% (20/260) drained directly into the left atrium. In 251 (96.5%) of the patients with PLSVC, there was a right SVC, while nine (3.5%) did not have a right SVC. Of the 251 patients with double SVC, 105 (42%) had a normal innominate vein. PLSVC was primarily associated with heterotaxy syndrome, atrioventricular septal defect, and vascular ring defects. There is an increased frequency of PLSVC among certain congenital heart disease groups, and raising awareness during echocardiographic examination can facilitate the diagnosis of PLSVC. Preoperative diagnosis of PLSVC can help in managing complications more effectively.