Alberto Cresti¹, Raffaele Giordano², Martin Koestenberger³, Isabella Spadoni⁴, Marco Scalese⁵, Ugo Limbruno¹, Susanna Falorini⁶, Stefania Stefanelli¹, Andrea Picchi¹, Francesco De Sensi¹, Angela Malandrino⁷, Massimiliano Cantinotti^4,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 105-112, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12528

Abstract Background: Despite ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the neonatal period, their incidence and natural history are still debated and their follow-up and management strategies remain controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and natural history of isolated VSDs.
Methods: From January 1996 to December 2015 all neonates with a CHD suspicion were referred to the Cardiological Department of Grosseto Misericordia Hospital. Only newborns with confirmed isolated VSD were enrolled in this study and followed for 6 years.
Results: Our 343 newborns with an isolated VSD (incidence of 10.45/1000/births) account for 64%… More >

Reinder Evertz¹, Charlotte A. Houck², Tim ten Cate¹, Anthonie L. Duijnhouwer¹, Rypko Beukema¹, Sjoerd Westra¹, Kevin Vernooy ^1,3, Natasja M. S. de Groot²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1123-1129, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12859

Abstract Background: Patients with an atrial septal defect (ASD) are at increased risk of de‐ veloping atrial fibrillation (AF). Currently percutaneous ASD closure is the preferred therapeutic strategy and although pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for AF is feasible after ASD closure, the transseptal puncture can be technically challenging and prob‐ ably increases the perioperative risk. A staged approach, with PVI several months be‐ fore ASD closure, has been recommended for patients already scheduled for closure, but no data are available on combined procedures.
Purpose: This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of a combined procedure of PVI and ASD closure in patients… More >

Natasa Karadzov Orlic¹, Amira Egic¹, Barbara Damnjanovic‐Pazin MD2 | Relja Lukic¹, Ivana Joksic³, Zeljko Mikovic¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1094-1101, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12852

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze if the addition of simple cardiac scan in cases with increased nuchal translucency (NT) and/or abnormal ductus venosus (DV) blood flow, and/or tricuspid regurgitation (TCR) can improve detection of congenital heart defects (CHD) in chromosomally normal fetuses without non‐ cardiac defects at 11‐13 + 6 gestational weeks in a population of singleton pregnancies.
Methods: During the 10 years period, all singleton pregnancies at 11‐13 + 6 weeks were routinely scanned for NT, DV blood flow and TCR assessment and, if a sin‐ gle of these parameters was abnormal, simple cardiac scan… More >

Christine M. Riley¹, Christopher W. Mastropietro², Peter Sassalos³, Jason R. Buckley⁴, John M. Costello⁴, Ilias Iliopoulos⁵, Aimee Jennings⁶, Katherine Cashen⁷, Sukumar Suguna Narasimhulu⁸, Keshava M. N. Gowda⁹, Arthur J. Smerling¹⁰, Michael Wilhelm¹¹, Aditya Badheka¹², Adnan Bakar^13,14, Elizabeth A. S. Moser¹⁵, Venu Amula¹⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1078-1086, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12849

Abstract Background: Elevated pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is common following repair of truncus arteriosus. Inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) is an effective yet costly therapy that is frequently implemented postoperatively to manage elevated PVR.
Objectives: We aimed to describe practice patterns of iNO use in a multicenter cohort of patients who underwent repair of truncus arteriosus, a lesion in which recovery is often complicated by elevated PVR. We also sought to identify patient and center factors that were more commonly associated with the use of iNO in the postoperative period.
Design: Retrospective cohort study.
Setting: 15 tertiary care pediatric referral centers.
Patients:… More >

Sok‐Leng Kang¹, Aimee Armstrong², Gregor Krings³, Lee Benson¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1046-1057, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12838

Abstract Three‐dimensional rotational angiography (3D‐RA) enables volumetric imaging through rotation of the C‐arm of an angiographic system and real‐time 3D recon‐ struction during cardiac catheterization procedures. In the field of congenital heart disease (CHD), 3D‐RA has gained considerable traction, owing to its capability for en‐ hanced visualization of spatial relationships in complex cardiac morphologies and real time image guidance in an intricate interventional environment. This review provides an overview of the current applications, strengths, and limitations of 3D‐RA acquisi‐ tion in the management of CHD and potential future directions. In addition, issues of dosimetry, radiation exposure, and optimization strategies will be… More >

Jennifer K. Peterson¹, Shaun P. Setty^1,2, Jessica H. Knight³, Amanda S. Thomas⁴, James H. Moller⁵, Lazaros K. Kochilas^4,6

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 854-863, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12823

Abstract Objective: Patients with Trisomy 21 (T21) and single ventricle (SV) physiology present unique challenges compared to euploidic counterparts. This study reports postoperative and long‐term outcomes in patients with T21 and SV palliation.
Design: This retrospective cohort study from the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium (PCCC) included patients with T21 (<21 years old) that underwent surgical palliation for SV between 1982 and 2008 and control patients without known genetic anom‐ aly following Fontan palliation for similar diagnoses. Kaplan‐Meier survival plots were created based on death events obtained from the PCCC and by linkage with the National Death Index (NDI) and the Organ… More >

Sebastian Udholm¹, Camilla Nyboe¹, Thomas Meinertz Dantoft², Torben Jørgensen^2,3,4, Charlotte U. Rask⁵, Vibeke E. Hjortdal¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 803-810, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12808

Abstract Objective: For the first time, we wish to assess the psychiatric burden in adult patients living with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASD) using register‐based data, com‐ bined with self‐reported measures on levels emotional distress and educational status.
Design: A descriptive study using both the unique Danish registries and validated psychiatric questionnaires and scales, including: The Symptom Checklist, Whiteley‐7, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.
Patients: Adult patients with small, unrepairedASD, diagnosed between 1953 and 2011.
Outcome Measures: Number of register‐based psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety, depression, somatization, health anxiety, illness perception, and levels of educational attainment compared to age‐… More >

Maayke A. Sluman^1,2, Silke Apers^3,4, Judith K. Sluiter^1,*, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen¹, Philip Moons^4,5, Koen Luyckx^6,7, Adrienne H. Kovacs^8,9, Corina Thomet¹⁰, Werner Budts¹¹, Junko Enomoto¹², Hsiao‐Ling Yang¹³, Jamie L. Jackson¹⁴, Paul Khairy¹⁵, Stephen C. Cook¹⁶, Raghavan Subramanyan¹⁷, Luis Alday¹⁸, Katrine Eriksen¹⁹, Mikael Dellborg^20,21, Malin Berghammer^5,22, Eva Mattsson²³, Andrew S. Mackie²⁴, Samuel Menahem²⁵, Maryanne Caruana²⁶, Kathy Gosney²⁷, Alexandra Soufi²⁸, Susan M. Fernandes²⁹, Kamila S. White³⁰, Edward Callus³¹, Shelby Kutty³², Berto J. Bouma³³, Barbara J.M. Mulder³³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 362-371, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12747

Abstract Background: Conflicting results have been reported regarding employment status and work ability in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Since this is an impor‐ tant determinant for quality of life, we assessed this in a large international adult CHD cohort.
Methods: Data from 4028 adults with CHD (53% women) from 15 different countries were collected by a uniform survey in the cross‐sectional APPROACH International Study. Predictors for employment and work limitations were studied using general linear mixed models.
Results: Median age was 32 years (IQR 25‐42) and 94% of patients had at least a high school degree. Overall employment rate… More >

Sebastian Udholm, Christian Rex, Filip Eckerström, Mine Onat, Camilla Nyboe, Vibeke E. Hjortdal

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 372-379, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12740

Abstract Objective: Adult patients with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects have an in‐ creased risk of pneumonia, atrial fibrillation, and stroke. Furthermore, they have higher late mortality than the background population. The functional capacity is un‐ known in these patients. Therefore, our objective was to determine exercise capacity in adult patients diagnosed with an unrepaired atrial septal defect compared to healthy controls. Design: A cross‐sectional study. Patients: Adult patients with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects, aged 18‐65, di‐ agnosed between 1953 and 2011. Interventions: Cardiopulmonary exercise test was performed using an incremental bicycle test and gas exchange was measured using breath‐by‐breath… More >

Anoosh Esmaeili, Kachina Behnke‐Hall, Roland Schrewe, Dietmar Schranz

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 389-395, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12731

Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study is to describe the special aspects of perimembranous ventricular septal defects (pmVSD) closure by utilizing Amplatzer Duct Occluder II (ADO II) devices with a rational request for bigger ADO‐II sizes, based on our experi‐ ence in transcatheter device closure of pmVSD.
Methods and Results: At our institution, placement of an ADO II device was used in 15 patients with pmVSD; the patients’ age ranged between 6 months and 20 years. The indications for closure were CHF (n = 4), hemodynamically significant shunt (n = 7), tricuspid regurgitation (n = 3), and high risk for… More >