Open Access
ISSN:3071-1738 (online)
Publication Frequency:Bi-monthly
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease (formerly known as Congenital Heart Disease) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the study and management of heart disease across the lifespan. The journal covers both congenital and structural heart diseases, reflecting the evolving landscape of cardiovascular research and clinical practice.
As the official journal of the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, it is committed to publishing high-quality clinical studies, invited editorials, state-of-the-art reviews, case reports, articles addressing the history and development of heart disease, and continuing medical education (CME) materials.
All manuscripts, including invited submissions, undergo a rigorous and thorough editorial and peer-review process to ensure the reliability, scientific integrity, and clinical relevance of published research.
Formerly Congenital Heart Disease[Science Citation Index Expanded (Clarivate Analytics): 2025 Impact Factor: 2.3; Scopus CiteScore (Impact per Publication 2025): 1.9; SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper 2025): 0.461; Journal Citation Report/Science Edition (JCR); etc.]
From Volume 21, Issue 1 2026, the journal formerly titled Congenital Heart Disease will be published as Structural and Congenital Heart Disease.
The journal remains dedicated to high-quality research in congenital and structural heart diseases and continues under the same editorial leadership and peer-review framework.
Read the formal announcement from the Editors-in-Chief, here.
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.082239 - 11 June 2026
Abstract Objective: To develop the Chinese expert consensus on the prevention and management of central venous catheter (CVC)-related thrombosis in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) (hereafter referred to as the Consensus), with the aim of standardizing and improving preventive and therapeutic strategies for CVC-related thrombosis in pediatric patients with CHD. Methods: The consensus was formulated in strict accordance with the principles of evidence-based medicine by a multidisciplinary panel of experts. Evidence was appraised and synthesized using the JBI Evidence Grading System. The initial draft was refined through two rounds of Delphi consultations involving 16 experts and… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077034 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Registries in Congenital Heart Disease)
Abstract Background: Systemic right ventricular morphology is associated with poor Fontan outcomes, but its independent effect remains uncertain due to confounding by atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR). The prognostic role of two adequately sized ventricles is also unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the independent impact of ventricular morphology on long-term Fontan outcomes after adjustment for AVVR, using a large national registry. Methods: A total of 1631 Fontan survivors were analyzed. Death or heart transplantation and Fontan failure were primarily evaluated using inverse probability of treatment weighting. Fontan failure was defined as death, heart transplantation, Fontan takedown… More >
Graphic Abstract
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.081700 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Registries in Congenital Heart Disease)
Abstract Background: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) experience lifelong medical and psychosocial challenges, yet research in this population is limited by incomplete longitudinal data and insufficient incorporation of patient perspectives. Although patient engagement is increasingly recognized as important, structured and sustainable engagement models in ACHD research remain limited. Objectives: The paper aims to describe the development and operational structure of the Congenital Heart Initiative (CHI) Engagement Network and to report outcomes from two annual patient-powered research meetings used to identify and refine ACHD research priorities. Methods: The CHI Engagement Network was established as a multi-stakeholder research infrastructure… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.076628 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease)
Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to malformations of the heart or great vessels that occur during the intrauterine period. Critical CHD refers to heart conditions that require medical intervention or surgical procedures in the early stages of life. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, newborns aged 0 to 28 days who were admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic of our hospital with a diagnosis of critical CHD between January 2019 and September 2024 were evaluated. Results: Among 160 patients, 52 (32.5%) had a prenatal diagnosis. Overall mortality was significantly… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.079590 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Next-Generation Diagnostic Tools for Congenital Heart Disease: AI, Deep Learning, and Beyond)
Abstract Background: Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is an abnormality of the heart arising before birth. CHD diagnosis poses a critical challenge, particularly in resource-constrained settings where access to doctors and skilled radiologists is limited. The maternal risk factors contributing to CHD include modifiable and non-modifiable causes. Very few studies mention about these maternal risk factors for the Indian population to build predictive machine learning models for disease forecasting. The aim is to explore the feasibility of predicting CHD occurrence using maternal risk factor data and machine learning models in an Indian context. Methods: This research utilizes Indian-origin… More >
Open Access
CASE REPORT
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.076771 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Novel Methods and Techniques for the Management of Congenital Heart Disease)
Abstract Background: Many anesthetics suppress atrioventricular conduction and may exacerbate atrioventricular block (AVB), which has led to the establishment of pediatric perioperative guidelines. However, the perioperative management of patients with a history of AVB who have recovered to an apparent sinus rhythm remains unclear. Case presentation: We report the case of a 13-year-old girl who developed complete AVB following surgery for congenital heart disease in infancy and subsequently recovered sinus rhythm. She experienced a recurrence of AVB after anesthesia induction for scoliosis surgery. An implantable pacemaker was inserted in infancy after the onset of complete AVB.… More >
Open Access
CASE REPORT
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.078290 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Special Issue from the 5th Asian Association for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (AAPCHS) Annual Conference)
Abstract Background Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) is a complex congenital heart disease with significant anatomical variations. Patients with atrioventricular discordance have traditionally been managed with univentricular palliation strategies. However, advances in surgical concepts and techniques have enabled biventricular or one-and-a-half ventricle repair in selected patients, even after prior palliation. Case presentation We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with DORV and atrioventricular discordance who successfully underwent conversion to a one-and-a-half ventricle circulation using a combined Hemi-Mustard/Rastelli procedure with preservation of a pre-existing bidirectional Glenn shunt, performed 18 years after initial palliation. Conclusion This case More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077455 - 11 June 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Novel Insights into Congenital Heart Disease: Pathophysiology, Biomarkers, and Future Directions)
Abstract Objective: Cone reconstruction (CR) is the preferred surgical treatment for Ebstein’s anomaly (EA). However, the molecular mechanisms underlying postoperative cardiac repair remain unclear. This study investigated the dynamic changes of plasma exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) in EA patients before and after CR, exploring their association with postoperative cardiac function recovery and potential molecular mechanisms. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 10 EA patients undergoing CR preoperatively, 1 day postoperatively, and 7 days postoperatively, along with samples from 10 healthy controls. Plasma exosomes were isolated using size-exclusion chromatography. Exosomal miRNAs were extracted and sequenced, followed by differential expression,… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.077080 - 11 June 2026
Abstract Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) complicated by severe infection often present with immature immune function and poor prognosis. Evidence supporting the use of glucocorticoids in this population, particularly with dynamic immune monitoring, remains limited. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 183 CHD children with severe infections admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) from 2019 to 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: the glucocorticoid intervention group (n = 92, methylprednisolone + standard treatment) and the control group (n = 91, standard treatment). Immune indicators (Interleukins-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP), procalcitonin (PCT), CD4+/CD8+ ratio… More >
Open Access
EDITORIAL
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.2, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.079410 - 11 June 2026
Abstract This article has no abstract. More >
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