Karrie F. Downing^1,2, Matthew E. Oster^1,3, Sherry L. Farr¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 497-506, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12476

Abstract Objective: A substantial percentage of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) fail to transfer to adult care, resulting in increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Transition planning discussions with a provider may increase rates of transfer, yet little is known about frequency and content of these discussions. We assessed prevalence and predictors of transition-related discussions between providers and parents of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) and heart problems, including CHD.
Design: Using parent-reported data on 12- to 17-year-olds from the 2009–2010 National Survey of CSHCN, we calculated adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) for associations between demographic factors and provider discussions… More >

Magalie Ladouceur^1,2,3, Nadjia Kachenoura⁴, Gilles Soulat^1,3, Emilie Bollache⁴, Alban Redheuil⁴, Michel Azizi³, Christophe Delclaux³, Gilles Chatellier³, Pierre Boutouyrie^1,3, Laurence Iserin³, Damien Bonnet^2,3, Elie Mousseaux^1,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 458-466, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12472

Abstract Objectives: We aimed (1) determine if systemic right ventricle filling parameters influence systemic right ventricle stroke volume in adult patients with D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) palliated by atrial switch, using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and echocardiography, and (2) to study relationship of these diastolic parameters with exercise performance and BNP, in patients with preserved systolic systemic right ventricle function.
Design: Single-center, cross-sectional, prospective study.
Setting: In patients with D-TGA palliated by atrial switch, diastolic dysfunction of the systemic right ventricle may precede systolic dysfunction.
Methods: Forty-five patients with D-TGA and atrial switch and 45 age and sex-matched healthy… More >

Eliana Al Haddad^1*, Damien J. LaPar^1*, Jeffrey Dayton², Elizabeth H. Stephens¹, Emile Bacha¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 997-1004, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12666

Abstract Background: Congenital heart defects affect nearly 1% of all children born per year in the United States, and complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) accounts for 2%‐9%. While several patch materials have been used for septal defect closure during CAVC repair, clear superiority of one material over another has yet to be established.
Methods: A retrospective review of clinical outcomes following CAVC repair at Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital/Columbia University was performed on opera‐ tions conducted from March 2010 to September 2017. Univariate and Kaplan‐Meir survival analyses were utilized to evaluate primary outcomes of interest following CAVC repair in the modern surgical era.
… More >

Juan Lizandro Rodríguez‐Hernández¹, Fayna Rodríguez‐González², Marta Riaño‐Ruiz³, Efrén Martínez‐Quintana^1,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 655-662, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12620

Abstract Introduction: Hyperuricemia has been associated with cardiovascular risk factors but it remains controversial if uric acid is an independent predictor of cardiac mortality.
Methods: A total of 503 CHD patients (457 nonhypoxemic and 46 hypoxemic) and 772 control patients fulfilled inclusion criteria. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data [serum uric acid and 24h urine uric acid levels, N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide (NT‐pro‐BNP), and C‐reactive‐protein (CRP) concentrations] were studied. Survivals curves to determine cardiac death and arterial thrombosis in CHD patients were also examined.
Results: Noncyanotic and cyanotic CHD patients had significant higher serum uric acid concentration (5.2 ± 1.5 vs 4.9 ± 1.3mg/dL, P = .007 and… More >

Kevin C. Harris¹, Christine Voss¹, Kathryn Rankin², Basmina Aminzadah², Ross Gardner¹, Andrew S. Mackie²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 563-570, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12612

Abstract Objective: Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease than the general population due to their underlying physiology and/or surgical sequelae. We sought to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in youth and adults with CHD.
Methods: We assessed cardiovascular health as per the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) health index in patients with CHD aged 15+ years who attended cardiology outpatient clinics. Participants self-reported smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and whether they had diabetes and hypertension. Individual health indices were categorized into ideal/not ideal,… More >

So Yeon Kim^1,2, Diana S. Wolfe², Cynthia C. Taub²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 203-209, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12546

Abstract Aims: Pregnancy in patients with Marfan’s syndrome (MFS) carries an increased risk of cardiovascular complications, resulting in increased maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Literature on MFS pregnant patients is relatively sparse, and there has yet to be a concrete consensus on the management of this unique patient population. The purpose of our paper is to provide a literature review of case reports and studies on MFS during pregnancy (published between 2005 and 2015) and to explore cardiovascular outcomes of patients with MFS.
Methods and Results: Of the 852 women in our review, there were 1112 pregnancies, with an aortic… More >

Munes Fares¹, Paul J. Critser², Maria J. Arruda¹, Carolyn M. Wilhelm¹, Mantosh S. Rattan³, Sean M. Lang^2,4, Tarek Alsaied^2,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1166-1175, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12840

Abstract Pharmacologic stress cardiovascular magnetic resonance (PSCMR) is a wellestablished and reliable diagnostic tool for evaluation of coronary artery disease in the adult population. Stress imaging overall and PSCMR in particular is less utilized in the pediatric population with limited reported data. In this review, we highlight the potential use of PSCMR in specific pediatric cohorts with congenital and acquired heart disease, and we review the reported experience. A suggested protocol is presented in addition to two case examples of patients with Kawasaki disease where PSCMR aided decision making. More >

Benjamin Zielonka¹, Yuli Y. Kim^2,3, Gregory E. Supple², Sara L. Partington^2,3, Emily S. Ruckdeschel^2,3, Francis E. Marchlinski², David S. Frankel²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 931-938, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12833

Abstract Objective: Atrial arrhythmias and atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) are common causes of morbidity among adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). The impact of rhythm control on AVVR in this population is unknown. We sought to determine whether a rhythm control strategy is associated with greater freedom from AV valve surgery than a rate control strategy.
Design: Patients evaluated by both ACHD and electrophysiology specialists at a single academic center were screened for atrial arrhythmias and at least moderate‐severe AVVR. Clinical and electrographic data were abstracted. All echocardiograms were in‐ terpreted by a single echocardiographer blinded to treatment strategy. Patients were… More >

Andrew D. Spearman¹, Steven J. Kindel¹, Ronald K. Woods², Salil Ginde^1,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1199-1206, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12828

Abstract Background: Hypoxia is a common and sometimes severe morbidity of single ven‐ tricle congenital heart disease (CHD). Creation of an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is occasionally performed for patients after superior or total cavopulmonary connec‐ tion (SCPC or TCPC) in an attempt to improve oxygen saturations. Despite previ‐ ous reports, AVF creation is a rare palliation with inadequately defined benefits and risks. We sought to determine changes in peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and risk of adverse event after AVF creation in children with single ventricle CHD at our institution.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with a history… More >

Gabrielle C. Geddes^1,2, Erin Syverson^1,2, Michael G. Earing^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 832-837, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12817

Abstract Objective: To describe the first 3 years of experience of having an inpatient “cardiogenetics” program which involves medical geneticist assessment of infants with major congenital heart disease (CHD) requiring surgical intervention in the first year of life.
Patients: Patients less than a year of age admitted to Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin’s Herma Heart Institute for surgical intervention for CHD seen by the cardiogenetics program. Patients with major trisomies (13, 18, and 21) were excluded.
Outcome Measures: Utilization and yield of genetic testing, and diagnostic rate were assessed as outcome measures and compared to a baseline time period and a genetic… More >