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Michele Correale, Riccardo Ieva, Matteo Rinaldi, Giuseppe Rinaldi, Matteo Di Biase, Multidisciplinary approach in a case of successful surgical treatment of a voluminous intracardiac fungal mass in an infant: reply, European Journal of Echocardiography, Volume 9, Issue 3, May 2008, Page 319, https://doi.org/10.1093/ejechocard/jen118
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With great interest we read and appreciate the comments made by Dr Troise with regard to our report entitled ‘Voluminous mycetoma in a newborn with Down Syndrome: role of echocardiography’. 1
He highlights positive collaboration they had set up, at that time, offering cardiac surgical treatment to the patient referred by Hospital OO.RR of Foggia. At that time, a tele-echocardiographic counselling was promptly requested. This opportunity existed thanks to the Italian Ministry of Health research funds, which permitted similar audio–video ISDN-based devices to be installed in the main paediatric institutions in the Province of Puglia and linked in a wide regional network. Today, moreover, the widespread availability of ADSL broad-band PC-based systems allows transmission of data in a more reliable and less complex way.
According to this report, the positive impact of telemedicine on health assistance has confirmed by the possibility to optimize the organization of transfer of the critical neonates, the better management of surgical activity, and the delicate phase of counselling. We highlight the concept, in full agreement with Dr Troise, that surgical ablation of the mass associated with anti-infectious medical treatment has been a winning strategy. But, we would like to comment on the common practice in many Neonatologic Units, due to the chronic lack of available paediatric cardiologists, the neonatologists with experience in ultra-sound practice echocardiogram.
