Uri Pollak^1,2,3,4,*, Tatyana Ruderman^5,*, Sharon Borik‐Chiger^5,6, David Mishaly^5,7, Alain Serraf^5,7, Amir Vardi^5,8

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 968-977, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12825

Abstract Objective: The final common pathway of single ventricle patients is the Fontan procedure. Among the immediate postoperative complications is acute hepatic injury presented by marked elevation of liver enzymes (alanine transaminase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]). We aimed to determine the contribution of blood products transfusion to acute hepatic injury.
Design: Single center retrospective cohort study.
Setting: Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at a tertiary medical center.
Patients: Ninety‐nine pediatric patients undergoing the Fontan procedure between January 2009 and December 2016.
Interventions: None.
Measurements and Main Results: Out of the four types of blood products, transfusion of platelets was found… More >

Brena Sue Haughey¹, Shelby Coral White², Michael David Seckeler²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 811-813, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12809

Abstract Objective: Catheter‐associated bloodstream infections complicate and prolong hos‐ pitalizations. The incidence of catheter‐associated bloodstream infections in children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery has not been reported. This study sought to define the incidence of catheter‐associated bloodstream infections after congenital cardiac surgery in neonates and infants ≤12 months old and compare hospital out‐ comes and costs to those who underwent surgery and did not have a catheter‐associ‐ ated bloodstream infections.
Design: Retrospective review of hospital admissions between October 2013 and November 2015 for neonates and infants ≤12 months old at admission with ICD‐9 codes for congenital cardiac surgery from discharge data from… More >

Sarah Tweddell, Rohit S. Loomba, David S. Cooper, Alexis L. Benscoter

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 785-790, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12779

Abstract Introduction: Health care‐associated infections (HAIs) increase mortality, length of stay, and cost in hospitalized patients. The incidence of and risk factors for developing HAIs in the pediatric population after cardiac surgery have been studied. This study evaluates the impact of HAIs on length of stay, inpatient mortality, and cost of hospitalization in the pediatric population after cardiac surgery.
Methods: TheKids’InpatientDatabasewasqueriedforanalysis.Patientsunder18years of age who underwent cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2012 were included. HAIs were defined as central line‐associated blood stream infections, catheter‐associated urinary tract infections, ventilator‐associated pneumonias, and surgical wound infections. Univariate analysis compared admissions with and without a HAI.… More >

Joseph T. Poterucha¹, Saraschandra Vallabhajosyula², Alexander C. Egbe², Joseph S. Krien³, Devon O. Aganga⁴, Kimberly Holst⁵, Adele W. Golden⁶, Joseph A. Dearani⁵, Sheri S. Crow⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 193-200, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12717

Abstract Background: High levels of vasoactive inotrope support (VIS) after congenital heart surgery are predictive of morbidity in pediatric patients. We sought to discern if this relationship applies to adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD).
Methods: We retrospectively studied adult patients (≥18 years old) admitted to the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease from 2002 to 2013 at Mayo Clinic. Vasoactive medication dose values within 96 hours of admis‐ sion were examined to determine the relationship between VIS score and poor out‐ come of early mortality, early morbidity, or complication related morbidity.
Results: Overall, 1040 ACHD patients… More >

Raffaele Giordano¹, Massimiliano Cantinotti², Giuseppe Comentale¹, Luigi Di Tommaso¹, Gabriele Iannelli¹¹, Emanuele Pilato¹, Gaetano Palma¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 162-166, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12680

Abstract Background: In this study, we compared our experience about early and midterm follow‐up outcomes for right anterolateral minithoracotomy (RAMT) vs full sternot‐ omy (FS) in surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) among adolescents with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).
Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 2008 to December 2017. Inclusion criteria were patients with BAV who had to undergo to AVR. They were divided in two groups: RAMT and FS. The choice of RAMT was based on indi‐ vidual surgeon’s preferences or when expressly requested by patient that was in‐ formed of nonconventional approach.
Results: We enrolled 61 patients, 23 in… More >

Leda Klouda¹, Wayne J. Franklin¹, Anita Saraf^1,2, Dhaval R. Parekh¹, David D. Schwartz³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 91-98, 2017

Abstract Objective: Congenital heart disease (CHD) can affect the developing central nervous system, resulting in neurocognitive and behavioral deficits. Preoperative neurological abnormalities as well as sequelae of the open heart operations required to correct structural abnormalities of the heart contribute to these deficits. There are few studies examining the neurocognitive functioning of adults with CHD. This study sought to investigate multiple domains of neurocognitive functioning in adult survivors of CHD who had childhood cardiac surgery with either moderate or severe disease complexity.
Design: A total of 48 adults (18–49 years of age) who had undergone cardiac surgery for CHD prior to… More >

Camden Hebson^1,2, Wendy Book¹, Robert W. Elder³, Ryan Ford⁴, Maan Jokhadar¹, Kirk Kanter⁵, Brian Kogon⁵, Adrienne H. Kovacs⁶, Rebecca D. Levit¹, Michael Lloyd¹, Kevin Maher², Preeti Reshamwala⁴, Fred Rodriguez III^1,2, Rene Romero⁷, Thor Tejada¹, Anne Marie Valente⁸, Gruschen Veldtman⁹, Michael McConnell^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 6-16, 2017

Abstract “Frontiers in Fontan Failure” was the title of a 2015 conference sponsored by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine. In what is hoped to be the first of many such gatherings, speakers and attendees gathered to discuss the problem of long-term clinical deterioration in these patients. Specific focuses included properly defining the problem and then discussing different treatment strategies, both medical and surgical. The health of the liver after Fontan palliation was a particular point of emphasis, as were quality of life and future directions. More >