Kieu T. Huynh¹, Vien T. Truong^2,3, Tam N. M. Ngo^3,4, Thao B. Dang⁵, Wojciech Mazur³, Eugene S. Chung^3,6, Justin T. Tretter⁷, Dean J. Kereiakes³, Tuyen K. Le⁸, Vinh N. Pham¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 772-777, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12781

Abstract Objectives: The aim of our work is to investigate the clinical characteristics of coro‐ nary artery fistula (CAF) anomalies in South Vietnam.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 119 patients with diagnosis of definite CAF between January 1992 and April 2016. The demographic, clinical, echocardio‐ graphic, and angiographic characteristics and management of CAF with short‐term outcomes are described.
Results: The median age was 15 years (range, 1‐79 years), with 49 male (41%) and 70 female (59%). There were 77 symptomatic patients (64.7%) and 91 patients (76.5%) who presented with a murmur. The electrocardiogram was abnormal in 45.4% and cardiac… 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 >

Oscar Werner¹, Fedoua El Louali², Virginie Fouilloux³, Pascal Amedro^1,4, Caroline Ovaert^2,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 778-784, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12777

Abstract Objective: Medical information provided to parents of a child with a congenital heart disease can induce major stress. Visual analog scales have been validated to assess anxiety in the adult population. The aim of this study was to analyze parental anxiety using a visual analog scale and to explore the influencing factors.
Design: This prospective cross‐sectional study.
Setting: Tertiary care regional referral center for congenital heart disease of Marseille—La Timone university hospital.
Patients: Parents of children with a congenital heart disease, as defined by the ACC‐ CHD classification, referred for cardiac surgery or interventional cardiac catheterization, were offered to participate.
… More >

Alan F. Riley¹, Elena C. Ocampo¹, Joseph Hagan², M. Regina Lantin‐Hermoso¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 706-712, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12774

Abstract Background: When performed by cardiologists, hand‐held echocardiography (HHE) can assess ventricular systolic function and valve disease in adults, but its accuracy and utility in congenital heart disease is unknown. In hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the echocardiographic detection of depressed right ventricular (RV) systolic function and higher grade tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can identify patients who are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality and who may benefit from additional imaging or medical therapies.
Methods: Children with HLHS after Stage I or II surgical palliation (Norwood or Glenn procedures) were prospectively enrolled. Subjects underwent HHE by a pediatric cardiologist on the… More >

Vidhya Annavajjhala¹, Rajesh Punn¹, Theresa A. Tacy¹, Frank L. Hanley², Doff B. McElhinney²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 691-699, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12772

Abstract Background: Little is known about the early time course of biventricular function and mechanics after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. We sought to evaluate and describe the evolution of the right ventricle (RV) after TOF repair in young infants and children using conventional echocardiographic parameters and global longitudinal strain (GLS).
Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients with TOF and pulmo‐ nary stenosis who underwent repair from January 2002 to September 2015 and had at least 3 serial postsurgical echocardiograms spanning from infancy to early child‐ hood (<8 years). Student’s t test was performed to compare patients who… More >

Fei Zhang¹, Yifeng Yang², Qin Wu², Wancun Jin², Haisong Bu², Sijie Wu², Tianli Zhao², Shijun Hu²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 324-330, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12753

Abstract Objective: To evaluate safety and effectiveness of intraoperative device closure for secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) not referred to percutaneous closure.
Design and Patients: From April 2010 to December 2018, 231 secundum ASD children (≤14 years) directly recommended to surgical repair were enrolled in this study. These patients were divided into two groups according to the parents’ choice based on surgeons’ recommendation. Follow-up evaluations were adopted at 2 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months after the procedure and yearly thereafter. In Group A, 127 patients underwent an initial attempt at device closure. In Group B, 104 patients underwent… More >

Christopher J. Petit¹, Athar M. Qureshi², Andrew C. Glatz³, Courtney E. McCracken¹, Michael Kelleman¹, George T. Nicholson⁴, Jeffery J. Meadows⁵, Shabana Shahanavaz⁶, Jeffrey D. Zampi⁷, Mark A. Law⁸, Joelle A. Pettus¹, Bryan H. Goldstein⁹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 341-349, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12737

Abstract Clinical research in the treatment of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) is limited by the wide variety of CHD manifestations and therapeutic options as well as the generally low incidence of CHD. The availability of comprehensive, contemporary outcomes studies is therefore limited. This inadequacy may result in a lack of data‐driven medical decision making. In 2013, clinician scientists at two centers begana researchcollaboration,the Congenital Catheterization Research Collaborative (CCRC). Over time, the CCRC has grown to include nine cardiac centers from across the United States, with a common data coordinating center. The CCRC seeks to generate high‐quality, contemporary, statistically robust,… More >

Jamie L. Jackson¹, Jennifer Morack², Millie Harris², Jennifer DeSalvo³, Curt J. Daniels⁴, Deena J. Chisolm²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 305-310, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12732

Abstract Objective: The current study aims to identify the rates of lapses in care and loss to follow‐up before age one through age five for white and nonwhite congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors. Nonwhite CHD survivors were hypothesized to experience an earlier lapse in care and be lost to follow‐up than whites.
Design: Patients were from a large pediatric hospital and had (1) at least one outpa‐ tient cardiology clinic visit or cardiac surgery visit before the age of one and (2) a di‐ agnosis of moderate or complex structural CHD. Cardiology outpatient utilization rates were tracked from before age one… More >

C. Colombo¹, E.G. Marchesin¹, L. Vergani^1,2, E. Boccafogli³, G. Verni³

Structural Durability & Health Monitoring, Vol.8, No.4, pp. 307-328, 2012, DOI:10.32604/sdhm.2012.008.307

Abstract In this study an experimental device for testing the structural integrity of lower limb (transtibial and transfemoral) prostheses is proposed and studied, in accordance with the ISO 10328 Standard. Aim of the development of this device is to mechanically test these kinds of prostheses, for claiming the compliance with the standard. In the first part of the paper, experimental setup of the laboratory is described for the different kinds of prescribed tests. In the second part, the test case of a transtibial prosthesis for children is proposed. After verifying the compliance with the standard of the studied prosthesis, values recorded… More >