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Outcome of cardiac surgery
There have been considerable technological advances in the surgical management, medical and intensive care support for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) over the last 50 years. This has resulted in a significant fall in mortality year on year with increased survival into adult life. In an impressive and important publication Knowles et al explore this through period and birth cohort analysis using routinely collected mortality and population data (England and Wales). Absolute numbers of CHD related deaths under age 15 years have fallen from 1460 in 1959 to 154 in 2009 with the greatest improvements being seen in survival in infancy (reducing from 60% to 22% of all deaths) with now 67% (2004–2008) of deaths due to CHD being in adults. The authors predict a continued decline in mortality with further increases in survival into adulthood and relate these changes to the improvements in management through technological advances over the last 50 years. The wider and international relevance is explored in the accompanying editorial. See pages 859 and 861
Enteroviral meningitis without pleocytosis
Non-polio enteroviruses are the most commonly …