Fu Guan^1,*, Matthias Gass², Florian Berger², Heiko Schneider¹, Firat Duru^1,3, Thomas Wolber^1,3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 85-92, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.047266

Abstract Aims: Although the application of ultrasound-guided vascular puncture and Z-stitch hemostasis to manage femoral access has been widely utilized, there is limited data on this combined application in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients undergoing electrophysiological (EP) procedures. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ultrasound-guided puncture and postprocedural Z-stitch hemostasis for ACHD patients undergoing EP procedures. Methods and Results: The population of ACHD patients undergoing transfemoral EP procedures at the University of Zurich Heart Center between January 2019 and December 2022 was observed and analyzed. During the study period, femoral access (left/right, arterial/venous) was performed under real-time… More >

Pier Paolo Bassareo^1,2,3,*, Aurelio Secinaro⁴, Paolo Ciliberti⁵, Massimo Chessa^6,7, Marco Alfonso Perrone^5,8, Kevin Patrick Walsh^1,2,3, Colin Joseph Mcmahon^2,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.6, pp. 595-610, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.046229

Abstract Background: Congenital absence of pericardium (CAP), also known as pericardial agenesis, represents an uncommon cardiac abnormality and mostly incidental finding. It can be subdivided into complete and partial (left or right-sided) forms. Because of its infrequency, just case reports and a few case series have been released so far. This paper represents the largest systematic review in the field. Nine features (age at diagnosis, type, gender, clinical presentation, electrocardiography, imaging (ultrasounds, CT/MRI), concomitant cardiac defects, and outcome) were analysed. Methods: The electronic database PubMed was investigated from its establishment up to July 15^th, 2023. Just case reports and case series… More >

Elisa Listo^1,#, Nicola Martini^2,#, Stefano Salvadori³, Elisa Valenti³, Nicola Stagnaro¹, Gianluca Trocchio⁴, Chiara Marrone⁵, Alberto Clemente⁶, Francesca Raimondi^7,*, Pierluigi Festa⁵, Lamia Ait Ali^5,8,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.6, pp. 627-638, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.030312

Abstract Background: The assessment of Fontan circuit’s flow is traditionally evaluated by multiple through-plane phase-contrast MRI acquisitions (2D flow), while recently, a single volumetric 4D-flow MRI acquisition is emerging as a comprehensive tool for the hemodynamic evaluation in congenital heart diseases. Purpose: To compare 2D and 4D-flow MRI measurements in patients after Fontan palliation and to evaluate parameters affecting potential disagreement. Methods: 39 patients after Fontan palliation (23 males, age 22 ± 11 years) who underwent cardiac MRI with 2D and 4D-flow MRI acquisition were included in the study. In all patients, blood flow quantification in the Fontan circuit and aorta… More > Graphic Abstract

Amr Mansour¹, Noha M. Gamal^2,*, Alaa M. Nady³, Amr Ibraheem³, Dalia M. Salah⁴, Khaled M. El-Maghraby²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.6, pp. 679-691, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.020028

Abstract Background: Closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) reduces right-side heart volumes by abolishing shunting with simultaneous improvement of the left ventricle (LV) filling and functions due to ventricular interdependence, thereby improving symptoms. Furthermore, studies conducted on atrial volume changes after ASD closure are limited. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) is considered as the gold standard method for measuring cardiac volume and mass. Objective: We aimed to study the effect of transcatheter and surgical closure of secundum ASD on cardiac volumes and systolic functions as well as the fate of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), using CMR analysis. Methods: We prospectively enrolled 30… More >

Mohamed Ammar^1,*, Hamed Al-Raweshidy^2,*

Journal on Artificial Intelligence, Vol.5, pp. 195-218, 2023, DOI:10.32604/jai.2023.045199

Abstract Despite advances in intelligent medical care, difficulties remain. Due to its complicated governance, designing, planning, improving, and managing the cardiac system remains difficult. Oversight, including intelligent monitoring, feedback systems, and management practises, is unsuccessful. Current platforms cannot deliver lifelong personal health management services. Insufficient accuracy in patient crisis warning programmes. No frequent, direct interaction between healthcare workers and patients is visible. Physical medical systems and intelligent information systems are not integrated. This study introduces the Advanced Cardiac Twin (ACT) model integrated with Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to handle real-time monitoring, decision-making, and crisis prediction. THINGSPEAK is used to create an… More >

Charis Tan^1,2 , Diana Zannino³, Carley Clendenning³, Sophie Offen⁴, Thomas L. Gentles⁵, Julian Ayer⁶, David Tanous⁷, Vishva Wijesekera⁸, Leeanne Grigg⁹, David Celermajer^2,4,10, Mark McGuire^2,4 , Yves d’Udekem^3,11,12, Rachael Cordina^2,4,10,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 507-523, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.028829

Abstract Objective: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and malignant ventricular arrhythmia (VA) are increasingly recognized as important issues for people living with a Fontan circulation, but data are lacking. We sought to characterize the cohort who had sudden cardiac death, most likely related to VA and/or documented VA in the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry including risk factors and clinical outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria were documented non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, resuscitated cardiac arrest or SCD > 30 days post-Fontan completion. Results: Of 1611 patients, 20 (1.2%) had VA; 14 (1.0%) had… More >

Vitaliy Suvorov^1,2,*, Olga Loboda², Maria Balakina¹, Igor Kulczycki²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 491-505, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.030583

Abstract Background: Three-dimensional printing technology may become a key factor in transforming clinical practice and in significant improvement of treatment outcomes. The introduction of this technique into pediatric cardiac surgery will allow us to study features of the anatomy and spatial relations of a defect and to simulate the optimal surgical repair on a printed model in every individual case. Methods: We performed the prospective cohort study which included 29 children with congenital heart defects. The hearts and the great vessels were modeled and printed out. Measurements of the same cardiac areas were taken in the same planes and points at… More > Graphic Abstract

Yuki Kawasaki^1,*, Takeshi Sasaki¹, Daisuke Kobayashi²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 431-445, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.030910

Abstract Background: Elevated Fontan pressure (FP) alone cannot fully predict clinical outcomes. We hypothesized that hemodynamic profiling using a cardiac index (CI)-systemic vascular resistance (SVR) plot could characterize clinical features and predict the prognosis of post-Fontan patients. Methods: We included post-Fontan patients who underwent cardiac catheterization at age < 10 years. Patients were classified into four categories: A, CI  ≥ 3, SVR index (SVRI) ≥ 20; B, CI < 3, SVRI ≥ 20; C, CI ≥ 3, SVRI < 20; and D, CI < 3, SVRI < 20. The primary outcome was freedom from the combined endpoint: new onset of protein-losing enteropathy or plastic bronchitis, heart transplant, and death. Clinical and hemodynamic variables and freedom from… More > Graphic Abstract

Birgitta Svensson^1,2,*, Petru Liuba^1,2, Anne Wennick³, Malin Berghammer^4,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 349-359, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.028391

Abstract Background: Parents of children with complex right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) anomalies are confronted with their child’s need for heart surgery early in life and repeated reoperations later on. Preoperative assessment needs to be performed whenever an indication for reoperation is suspected. The aim was to illuminate the experiences of parents of children diagnosed with RVOT anomalies, in particular, how they experience their child’s heart disease and everyday life during the assessment and after the decision on whether to perform a reoperation. Method: Individual interviews (n = 27) were conducted with nine parents on three occasions between 2014 and 2016 and analyzed… More >

Norman Aiad^1,2,3,7, Mark V. Sherrid^1,7, Adam J. Small¹, Youssef Elnabawi^1,7, Jodi Feinberg¹, Leon Axel^1,4, Ralph Mosca⁵, T. K. Susheel Kumar⁵, Michael Argilla⁶, Dan G. Halpern^1,7,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 267-277, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.025853

Abstract Introduction: We sought to investigate whether the development of sub-pulmonic systolic anterior motion (SAM) may be inherent to the anatomy of the the mitral valve (MV) or affected by external factors, such as a dilated right ventricle or chest abnormalities in d-looped transposition of the great arteries post atrial switch operation (d-TGA/AtS). Methods: Analysis was performed of clinical and cardiac imaging studies acquired on 19 adult patients with d-TGA/AtS (age 42 ± 6 years old, 56% male) between 2015–2019. Echocardiography data included mitral apparatus anatomy, and CT/MRI data included biventricular dimensions, function, and Haller index (HI) for pectus deformity. Results:… More >