n Society of Echocardiography designates this educational activity for of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits  Physicians should only claim credit te with the extent of their participation in the activity CCI recognize the ASE’s certificates and have agreed to honor the credit their registry requirements for sonographers n Society of Echocardiography is committed to ensuring that its educan and all sponsored educational programs are not influenced by the special y corporation or individual, and itsmandate is to retain only those authors ial interests can be effectively resolved to maintain the goals and educaty of the activity Although amonetary or professional affiliationwith a cors not necessarily influence an author’s presentation, the Essential Areas and e ACCME require that any relationships that could possibly conflict with al value of the activity be resolved prior to publication and disclosed to  Disclosures of faculty and commercial support relationships, if any, dicated ience: is designed for all cardiovascular physicians and cardiac sonographers with erest and knowledge base in the field of echocardiography; in addition, reschers, clinicians, intensivists, and other medical professionals with a spein cardiac ultrasound will find this activity beneficial

https://www.asefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Quantification-Methods-During-Pediatric-Echo-Part-1.pdf

Recommendations for quantification methods during the performance of a pediatric echocardiogram: a report from the Pediatric Measurements Writing Group of the American Society of Echocardiography Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease Council.

Background Focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) is a simplified, clinician-performed application of echocardiography that is rapidly expanding in use, especially in emergency and critical care medicine. Performed by appropriately trained clinicians, typically not cardiologists, FoCUS ascertains the essential information needed in critical scenarios for time-sensitive clinical decision making. A need exists for quality evidence-based review and clinical recommendations on its use. Methods The World Interactive Network Focused on Critical UltraSound conducted an international, multispecialty, evidence-based, methodologically rigorous consensus process on FoCUS. Thirty-three experts from 16 countries were involved. A systematic multiple-database, double-track literature search (January 1980 to September 2013) was performed. The Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation method was used to determine the quality of available evidence and subsequent development of the recommendations. Evidence-based panel judgment and consensus was collected and analyzed by means of the RAND appropriateness method. Results During four conferences (in New Delhi, Milan, Boston, and Barcelona), 108 statements were elaborated and discussed. Face-to-face debates were held in two rounds using the modified Delphi technique. Disagreement occurred for 10 statements. Weak or conditional recommendations were made for two statements and strong or very strong recommendations for 96. These recommendations delineate the nature, applications, technique, potential benefits, clinical integration, education, and certification principles for FoCUS, both for adults and pediatric patients. Conclusions This document presents the results of the first International Conference on FoCUS. For the first time, evidence-based clinical recommendations comprehensively address this branch of point-of-care ultrasound, providing a framework for FoCUS to standardize its application in different clinical settings around the world.

International Evidence-Based Recommendations for Focused Cardiac Ultrasound

Background—Fetal hypoxia has been implicated in the abnormal brain development seen in newborns with congenital heart disease (CHD). New magnetic resonance imaging technology now offers the potenti...

Reduced Fetal Cerebral Oxygen Consumption Is Associated With Smaller Brain Size in Fetuses With Congenital Heart Disease

Neurocutaneous melanosis is a rare congenital syndrome characterized by the presence of large or multiple congenital melanocytic nevi and benign or malignant pigment cell tumors of the leptomeninges. The syndrome is thought to represent an error in the morphogenesis of the embryonal neuroectoderm. We review 39 reported cases of neurocutaneous melanosis and propose revised criteria for diagnosis. Most patients with neurocutaneous melanosis presented in the first 2 years of life with neurologic manifestations of increased intracranial pressure, mass lesions, or spinal cord compression. Leptomeningeal melanoma was present in 62% of the cases, but even in the absence of melanoma, symptomatic neurocutaneous melanosis had an extremely poor prognosis. Useful diagnostic procedures include cerebrospinal fluid cytology and magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium contrast. Patients may be aided by palliative measures such as shunt placement to reduce intracranial pressure. Dermatologists in their follow-up of patients with large or multiple congenital melanocytic nevi should be aware of this condition, to aid in prompt diagnosis and because the treatment of cutaneous lesions may be altered in the presence of symptomatic Nurocutaneous melanosis.

Neurocutaneous melanosis: Definition and review of the literature

Luc Mertens, MD, PhD, FASE, FESC, Istvan Seri, MD, PhD, HonD, Jan Marek, MD, PhD, FESC, Romaine Arlettaz, MD, Piers Barker, MD, FASE, Patrick McNamara, MD, MB, FRCPC, Anita J. Moon-Grady, MD, Patrick D. Coon, RDCS, FASE, Shahab Noori, MD, RDCS, John Simpson, MD, FRCP, FESC, Wyman W. Lai, MD, MPH, FASE, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Los Angeles and San Francisco, California; London, United Kingdom; Zurich, Switzerland; Durham, North Carolina; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York, New York

https://www.asefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Targeted-NICU-Echo_Pedes.pdf

Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Practice Guidelines and Recommendations for Training Writing group of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE) in collaboration with the European Association of Echocardiography (EAE) and the Association for European Pediatric Cardiologists (AEPC)

Echocardiography has become the primary imaging tool in the diagnosis and assessment of congenital and acquired heart disease in infants, children, and adolescents. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is an ideal tool for cardiac assessment, as it is noninvasive, portable, and efficacious in providing detailed anatomic, hemodynamic, and physiologic information about the pediatric heart. Recommendations for standards in the performance of a routine 2-dimensional (2D) echocardiogram, 1 fetal echocardiogram, pediatric transesophageal echocardiogram, intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram, and stress echocardiogram exist, as do guidelines for appropriate training in various echocardiographic disciplines. As part of the accreditation process for echocardiography laboratories, the Intersocietal Commission for the Accreditation of Echocardiography Laboratories has established basic performance standards for pediatric TTE, 13 but no other standards document exists for the performance of a pediatric TTE. The pediatric echocardiogram is a unique examination with features that distinguish it from other echocardiograms. There is a wide spectrum of anomalies encountered in patients with congenital heart disease. Certain views are of added importance

http://www.tchp.us/sites/default/uploadedfiles/For_Providers/Provider_Resources/Practice_Guidelines/Pediatric_Echocardiogram_Guidelines.pdf

Guidelines and standards for performance of a pediatric echocardiogram: a report from the Task Force of the Pediatric Council of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Four cases are presented in which hydrocephalus and extensive pigmented lesions of the body coexisted. A related developmental defect is suggested.

Richard A. Humes

Papers

Guidelines and standards for performance of a pediatric echocardiogram: a report from the Task Force of the Pediatric Council of the American Society of Echocardiography.

Melanosis and hydrocephalus Report of four cases