Ketut Putu Yasa^1,2,*, Nyoman Satria Sadu Bhaskara², Putu Febry Krisna Pertiwi²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 139-156, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.050348

Abstract Objective: Patients with ductal-dependent pulmonary circulation require alternative blood flow to provide and maintain adequate oxygenation. Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt (MBTS) has been the standard for providing such a result. Currently, less invasive methods such as Arterial Duct (AD) stenting have been performed as alternatives. This study aims to compare the outcome of AD stenting and MBTS. Method: Systematic research was performed in online databases using the PRISMA protocol. The outcomes measured were 30-day mortality, complication, unplanned intervention, oxygen saturation, duration of hospital, and ICU length of stay. Any comparative study provided with full text is included. The outcome of each… More >

Ghazi A. Alshumrani^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 197-206, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.049401

Abstract Objective: Coronary artery anatomical variations and anomalies are an important topic due to their potential clinical manifestations. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of coronary artery anatomical variations and anomalies in symptomatic patients with coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Methods: This is a retrospective study that included all symptomatic patients who had CCTA in a tertiary care hospital in Saudi Arabia during a period of seven years. Results: The total number of included patients was 507 (60% males) with a mean age of 57.4 years. Approximately 41% had luminal stenoses, averaging 49.7%. The total number of patients with coronary… More >

Camden L. Hebson^1,*, Kyle Bliton², Amr Y. Hammouda¹, Kaitlyn Barr³, W. Hampton Gray⁴, Mohini Gunnett², Waldemar F. Carlo¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 185-195, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.048871

Abstract D-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is surgically repaired with the arterial switch operation (ASO) with excellent results, however short and long-term morbidities still develop including neurocognitive delay. Clinically significant central sleep apnea is uncommon in non-premature infants, but when present indicates immature autonomic control of respiration likely due to a neurologic disorder. We report the unanticipated finding of central sleep apnea in four-term neonates with d-TGA after uncomplicated ASO, with the short-term complication of delayed hospital discharge and long-term concerns regarding this early marker of brain immaturity and its hindrance to normal development. Within this report, we will review… More >

Yuan Ren¹, Yingxian Sun¹, Zhiguang Yang², Yanli Chen^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 157-176, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.047930

Abstract Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a chronic, progressive, debilitating, and life-threatening complication of pulmonary embolism (PE). Recent technological advances have permitted various treatment options for the treatment of CTEPH, including surgery, angioplasty, and medical treatment, depending on the location and characteristics of lesions. Pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) is the treatment of choice for CTEPH, as it offers excellent long-term outcomes and a high probability of recovery. Moreover, various medical and interventional therapies are currently being developed for patients with inoperable CTEPH. This review mainly summarizes the current treatment approaches of CTEPH, offering more options for specialist physicians to, thus, better… More >

Gustavo Cruz^1,*, Santiago Pedroza², Juan F. Vélez³, Jessica Largo², Juan F. Tejada⁴, Jorge H. Mejía-Mantilla⁵

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 207-218, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.044244

Abstract Background: Failure to rescue has been an effective quality metric in congenital heart surgery. Conversely, morbidity and mortality depend greatly on non-modifiable individual factors and have a weak correlation with better-quality performance. We aim to measure the complications, mortality, and risk factors in pediatric patients undergoing congenital heart surgery in a high-complexity institution located in a middle-income country and compare it with other institutions that have conducted a similar study. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a high-complexity service provider institution, in Cali, Colombia. All pediatric patients undergoing any congenital heart surgery between 2019 and 2022 were included.… More >

Xilong Zheng^*, Qiong Wang, Di Guan

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 361-376, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.048473

Abstract The deteriorated continuous rigid frame bridge is strengthened by external prestressing. Static loading tests were conducted before and after the bridge rehabilitation to verify the effectiveness of the rehabilitation process. The stiffness of the repaired bridge is improved, and the maximum deflection of the load test is reduced from 37.9 to 27.6 mm. A bridge health monitoring system is installed after the bridge is reinforced. To achieve an easy assessment of the bridge’s safety status by directly using transferred data, a real-time safety warning system is created based on a five-level safety standard. The threshold for each safety level will… More >

Caiping Huang^*, Zihan Huang, Wenfeng You

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 299-320, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.047850

Abstract This paper presents an easily installed improved perfobond connector (PBL) designed to reduce the shear concentration of PBL. The improvement of PBL lies in changing the straight penetrating rebar to the Z-type penetrating rebar. To study the shear performance of improved PBL, two PBL test specimens which contain straight penetrating rebar and six improved PBL test specimens which contain Z-type penetrating rebars were designed and fabricated, and push-out tests of these eight test specimens were carried out to investigate and compare the shear behavior of PBL. Additionally, Finite Element Analysis (FEA) models of the PBL specimens were established and validated… More >

Yang Li, Sibo Jiang^*, Ruixin Lan

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 255-276, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.047776

Abstract Chloride (Cl) ion erosion effects can seriously impact the safety and service life of marine liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks and other polar offshore structures. This study investigates the impact of different low-temperature cycles (20°C, –80°C, and −160°C) and concrete specimen crack widths (0, 0.3, and 0.6 mm) on the Cl ion diffusion performance through rapid erosion tests conducted on pre-cracked concrete. The results show that the minimum temperature and crack width of freeze-thaw cycles enhance the erosive effect of chloride ions. The Cl ion concentration and growth rate increased with the increasing crack width. Based on the experimental… More > Graphic Abstract

Baojun Qin¹, Guangwei Zhang¹, Wei Zhang^2,*

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 341-360, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.047405

Abstract This study delves into the effects of shield tunneling in complex coastal strata, focusing on how this construction method impacts surface settlement, the mechanical properties of adjacent rock, and the deformation of tunnel segments. It investigates the impact of shield construction on surface settlement, mechanical characteristics of nearby rock, and segment deformation in complex coastal strata susceptible to construction disturbances. Utilizing the Fuzhou Binhai express line as a case study, we developed a comprehensive numerical model using the ABAQUS finite element software. The model incorporates factors such as face force, grouting pressure, jack force, and cutterhead torque. Its accuracy is… More >

Chaozhi Cai^*, Xiaoyu Guo, Yingfang Xue, Jianhua Ren

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 321-339, 2024, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2024.045831

Abstract Bleachers play a crucial role in practical engineering applications, and any damage incurred during their operation poses a significant threat to the safety of both life and property. Consequently, it becomes imperative to conduct damage diagnosis and health monitoring of bleachers. The intricate structure of bleachers, the varied types of potential damage, and the presence of similar vibration data in adjacent locations make it challenging to achieve satisfactory diagnosis accuracy through traditional time-frequency analysis methods. Furthermore, field environmental noise can adversely impact the accuracy of bleacher damage diagnosis. To enhance the accuracy and anti-noise capabilities of bleacher damage diagnosis, this… More > Graphic Abstract