Rheumatic fever
Acute rheumatic fever is an autoimmune disease triggered by a group A Streptococcal pharyngitis. It usually leads to multisystem involvement starting a few weeks after the initial Streptococcal infection. The…
Vascular rings
Vascular rings are congenital malformations characterized by tracheal and esophageal compression due to abnormalities of the great arteries, their branches and remnants. Based on the degree of encirclement of the…
Coarctation of the aorta and interrupted aortic arch
Coarctation of the aorta Coarctation of the aorta accounts for approximately 5%–10% of congenital heart defects and in many cases is diagnosed antenatally. The coarctation shelf typically develops at the…
Kawasaki disease
Kawasaki disease is one of the most frequent childhood vasculitides affecting medium-sized muscular arteries and in particular coronary arteries. The etiology of this condition remains unknown. However, the clinical picture…
Myocarditis
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium that is most often caused by viruses. Bacterial, fungal, or noninfectious etiology is also possible. The inflammatory process is a complex cascade of…
Diseases of the left ventricular outflow tract
The left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) consists of three parts, i.e., the subvalvar, valvar, and supravalvar component. Obstruction to the blood flow can occur at any level but is most…
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and aorto-pulmonary window
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) In utero, the ductus arteriosus diverts part of the pulmonary blood flow to the descending aorta. This leads to an increase in placental perfusion at the…
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tetralogy of Fallot is a complex cardiac malformation characterized by the presence of a multilevel right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, leading to right ventricular hypertrophy, and a malalignment ventricular septal…
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA)
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is a common congenital heart defect characterized by ventriculo-arterial discordance. In this condition, the aorta arises anteriorly from the morphological right ventricle and the…
Normal transthoracic echocardiogram in a child
Transthoracic echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality for the diagnosis of congenital and acquired heart conditions in children. It allows a detailed morphological and functional examination of different cardiac structures….
