Yazeed Alkhrijah¹, Marwa Fahim², Syed Muhammad Usman³, Qasim Mehmood³, Shehzad Khalid^4,5,*, Mohamad A. Alawad¹, Haya Aldossary⁶

CMES-Computer Modeling in Engineering & Sciences, Vol.145, No.2, pp. 2339-2355, 2025, DOI:10.32604/cmes.2025.071512 - 26 November 2025

Abstract Atrial Fibrillation (AF) is a cardiac disorder characterized by irregular heart rhythms, typically diagnosed using Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. In remote regions with limited healthcare personnel, automated AF detection is extremely important. Although recent studies have explored various machine learning and deep learning approaches, challenges such as signal noise and subtle variations between AF and other cardiac rhythms continue to hinder accurate classification. In this study, we propose a novel framework that integrates robust preprocessing, comprehensive feature extraction, and an ensemble classification strategy. In the first step, ECG signals are divided into equal-sized segments using a… More >

Yushen Fang¹, Zechen Li¹, Jiahong Li¹, Kaiyu Wang¹, Gang Xu¹, Shusheng Wen^1,2, Jimei Chen^1,2, Jian Zhuang^1,2, Haiyun Yuan^1,2,*, Xiaobing Liu^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 357-368, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.066817 - 11 July 2025

Abstract Background: Totally thoracoscopic surgery (TTS) and right lateral thoracotomy (RLT) are both extensively utilized in the surgical repair for atrial septal defect (ASD). However, RLT is generally considered in low-weight pediatric patients as a result of restricted surgical exposure. This study aims to introduce an RLT approach for ASD repair in adults and compare its clinical outcomes with TTS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 23 adult patients who underwent ASD repair at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital between June and October 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the… More >

Ji Lam Leong, Sivakumar Sivalingam^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 341-346, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.066461 - 11 July 2025

Abstract Left atrial aneurysm is an exceptionally rare condition, particularly in the pediatric population, and even more so as a sequela of bacterial pericarditis. We present the case of a 16-month-old girl who developed a left atrial aneurysm following isolated Staphylococcus aureus pericarditis. She initially presented in decompensated shock and was later diagnosed with constrictive pericarditis. Despite undergoing pericardiectomy, she subsequently developed a left atrial aneurysm, necessitating surgical closure. This case highlights the aggressive nature of bacterial pericarditis and its potential to cause rare structural cardiac complications. More >

Yaqi Tang^1,#, Gang Luo^1,#, Huashu Liu², Hao Wan¹, Silin Pan^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.2, pp. 195-200, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063682 - 30 April 2025

Abstract Congenital atrial septal defect (ASD) with severe scoliosis is a rare compound malformation in children. Severe scoliosis should be corrected as soon as possible. The growth rod is suitable for patients with early scoliosis and obvious scoliosis under 10 years old. However, the fluoroscopic radiopaque of titanium alloy plate will inevitably partly make the operative field of interventional occlusion blind. We present a 7-year-old Chinese girl with ASD and scoliosis who underwent spinal correction with a dual-growth rod. In this case, we performed transcatheter closure of ASD solely under the guidance of transthoracic echocardiography. Transthoracic More >

Xu Liu, Yanjun Sun, Xiafeng Yu, Yiwei Liu, Hao Zhang^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 103-113, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063108 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Aorta–right atrial tunnel (ARAT) is an extremely rare congenital heart malformation with an average age of diagnosis of approximately 20 years. Its clinical symptoms are varied and often atypical. ARAT usually originates from the left or right sinus of Valsalva. In this case report, we aim to share a rare case of ARAT originating from the noncoronary sinus in an infant. The patient presented with a cardiac murmur, a dilated right heart, and a tortuous tunnel originating from the dilated noncoronary sinus and terminating at the right atrium in echocardiogram and computed tomography angiography. The More >

Jonathan S. Taylor-Fishwick^1,*, Nicholas Holzemer², Brandon Middlemist³, Vivian Duarte³, Kaitlin E. Olson⁴, Johannes C. von Alvensleben⁵, Megan SooHoo⁶, Amber Khanna⁷

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.5, pp. 457-472, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.057151 - 31 December 2024

Abstract Background: Post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF) frequently occurs after cardiac surgery. Although adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients have higher rates of arrhythmia than the general population, there is scant literature on POAF in ACHD patients. Objectives: Identify key risk factors associated with post-operative atrial fibrillation and evaluate the short- and mid-term significance of developing POAF. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted of ACHD patients from 2013–2021 at the University of Colorado Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Colorado. The institutional Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) surgical registry was used to identify patients ≥18-year-old with congenital heart… More >

Sameh M. Said^1,2,*, Yasin Essa¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.4, pp. 407-417, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.055636 - 31 October 2024

Abstract Minimally invasive approaches for cardiac surgery in children have been lagging in comparison to the adult world. A wide range of the most common congenital heart defects in infants and children can be repaired successfully through a variety of non-sternotomy incisions. This has been shown to be associated with superior cosmetic results, shorter hospital stays, and rapid return to full activity compared to sternotomy. These approaches have been around for decades, but they have not been widely adopted for a variety of reasons. Right axillary thoracotomy is one of these approaches that we believe should More >

Risalina Myrtha^1,2,*, Hasanah Mumpuni^3,4, Real Kusumanjaya Marsam^3,4, Dyah Wulan Anggrahini^3,4, Anggoro Budi Hartopo^3,4, Lucia Kris Dinarti^3,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 315-324, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.051587 - 26 July 2024

Abstract Background and Objective: The most feared complication of uncorrected secundum Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) is pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is crucial in detecting precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) to guide the need for PAH-specific therapy. There is a change in the cut-off value of PVR according to the recently updated PH guideline. How echocardiographic PVR (PVR) correlates to PVR by right heart catheterization (RHC) (PVR) according to the new guidelines has not been known. The aim of this study is to determine the reliability of PVR in detecting PAH in Uncorrected Ostium… More > Graphic Abstract

Jiawang Xiao, Jianming Wang, Zhongchao Wang, Lili Meng, Ming Zhao, Qiguang Wang^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 293-303, 2024, DOI:10.32604/chd.2024.051427 - 26 July 2024

Abstract Background: Transcatheter closure (TCC) has emerged as the preferred treatment for selected congenital heart disease (CHD). While TCC offers benefits for patients with postoperative residual shunts, understanding its mid- and long-term efficacy and safety remains crucial. Objective: This study aims to assess the mid- and long-term safety and efficacy of TCC for patients with residual atrial or ventricular septal shunts following CHD correction. Methods: In this consecutive retrospective study, we enrolled 35 patients with residual shunt who underwent TCC or surgical repair of CHD between June 2011 to October 2022. TCC candidacy was determined based on… More >

Muhammad Sohail Irshad^1,2,*, Tehreem Masood^1,2, Arfan Jaffar^1,2, Muhammad Rashid³, Sheeraz Akram^1,2,4,*, Abeer Aljohani⁵

CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua, Vol.79, No.3, pp. 4805-4824, 2024, DOI:10.32604/cmc.2024.050931 - 20 June 2024

Abstract The application of deep learning techniques in the medical field, specifically for Atrial Fibrillation (AFib) detection through Electrocardiogram (ECG) signals, has witnessed significant interest. Accurate and timely diagnosis increases the patient’s chances of recovery. However, issues like overfitting and inconsistent accuracy across datasets remain challenges. In a quest to address these challenges, a study presents two prominent deep learning architectures, ResNet-50 and DenseNet-121, to evaluate their effectiveness in AFib detection. The aim was to create a robust detection mechanism that consistently performs well. Metrics such as loss, accuracy, precision, sensitivity, and Area Under the Curve… More >