[The best of pediatric cardiology in 2002].

This past year has been remarkable for considerable advance in the field of interventional cardiology for congenital heart disease. Ostium secundum atrial defect is by now cured by percutaneous closure with excellent results. Closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in patients with paradoxical embolism is still controversial. Nevertheless, some studies demonstrate the efficiency of this procedure, reducing the incidence of ischemic events. In cases of platypnoea-orthodeoxia syndrome occurring in patients having undergone pneumonectomy or presenting dilatation of ascending aorta, closure of PFO with an occluder gives spectacular results with disappearance of dyspnea and cyanosis. Other more complex procedures such as closure of membranous ventricular septal defect, replacement of an pulmonary or aortic valve are still to be assessed. As the last point let us underline the progress of foetal cardiology, the studies of sudden death in children an adolescents, and the care of adults with congenital heart disease.