Astrida Kaugars¹, Clarissa Shields², Cheryl Brosig³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 72-78, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12547

Abstract Objective: The study examined parent stress and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among families of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) referred for psychological services.
Methods: Parents of 54 children (85% boys) aged 3 to 13 (M_age = 7.48, SD = 2.38) completed measures to assess parenting stress (Parenting Stress Index – Short Form; Pediatric Inventory for Parents) and the PedsQL Family Impact Module. Medical information was retrieved from medical record review.
Results: Half of parents of children with single ventricle anatomy had clinically significant levels of parenting stress. Parents of children with single ventricle anatomy reported more frequent illnessrelated… More >

Felicit e Kamdem^1,2, Danielle Kedy Koum^2,3, Ba Hamadou^1,4, Melanie Yemdji¹, Henry Luma^1,4, Marie Solange Doualla^1,4, Diomède Noukeu⁵, Esther Barla⁵, Christophe Akazong⁵, Anastase Dzudie^1,4, Henry Ngote¹, Yves Monkam¹, Sidiki Mouliom¹, Samuel Kingue^4,6

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 113-117, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12529

Abstract Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases in pediatric pathologies have emerged in the recent years in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) being the most frequent. Unfortunately, their diagnosis is usually delayed, thereby increasing childhood morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: Describe the clinical, echocardiographic, and therapeutic aspects of CHDs of children at Douala General Hospital.
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study over a 10-year period, from January 2006 to December 2015. Files and reports of cardiac ultrasounds of patients aged ≤ 15 years were reviewed.
Results: We reviewed the medical records of 1616 children, of which 370 (22.9%) had CHD.… More >

Alberto Cresti¹, Raffaele Giordano², Martin Koestenberger³, Isabella Spadoni⁴, Marco Scalese⁵, Ugo Limbruno¹, Susanna Falorini⁶, Stefania Stefanelli¹, Andrea Picchi¹, Francesco De Sensi¹, Angela Malandrino⁷, Massimiliano Cantinotti^4,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 105-112, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12528

Abstract Background: Despite ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the neonatal period, their incidence and natural history are still debated and their follow-up and management strategies remain controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and natural history of isolated VSDs.
Methods: From January 1996 to December 2015 all neonates with a CHD suspicion were referred to the Cardiological Department of Grosseto Misericordia Hospital. Only newborns with confirmed isolated VSD were enrolled in this study and followed for 6 years.
Results: Our 343 newborns with an isolated VSD (incidence of 10.45/1000/births) account for 64%… More >

Varun Aggarwal^1,2, Kristen Sexson-Tejtal¹, Wilson Lam¹, Santiago O. Valdes¹, Caridad M. de la Uz¹, Jeffrey J. Kim¹, Christina Y. Miyake¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1032-1036, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12864

Abstract Objective: Based on 2017 guidelines, participation in competitive sports with prior history of Kawasaki Disease (KD) requires those with coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) z score ≥ 5 to undergo evaluation for evidence of inducible ischemia or arrhythmias. The use of exercise stress testing (EST) to evaluate arrhythmias among KD patients has never been reported. This retrospective single-center case series study sought to describe the presence of inducible arrhythmias during EST in KD patients with or without CAA.
Methods: Single-center retrospective review of medical records of patients diagnosed with KD between 1989-2015 at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas who underwent EST… More >

Masashi Nishida, Shingo Kubo, Yuma Morishita, Kosuke Nishikawa, Kazuyuki Ikeda, Toshiyuki Itoi, Hajime Hosoi

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1087-1093, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12853

Abstract Objective: This study aims to investigate the changes in renal function and levels of urinary biomarkers before and after cardiac angiography in children with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Setting: Children with CHD are at a risk for kidney injury during contrast exposure in cardiac angiography.
Outcome Measures: We measured urinary protein, albumin, N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG), β2‐microglobulin (BMG), and liver‐type fatty acid‐binding protein (L‐FABP) levels, as well as serum creatinine and cystatin C levels, before and after cardiac angiography in 33 children with CHD.
Results: No significant decrease was noted in either the creatinine‐based or cystatin C‐based estimated glomerular filtration rate at… More >

Tim Takken¹, Alyanne Evertse¹, Fleur de Waard¹, Mandy Spoorenburg¹, Martijn Kuijpers¹, Christian Schroer^2,3, Erik H. Hulzebos¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1005-1012, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12850

Abstract Background: Traveling to high altitude has become more popular. High‐altitude exposure causes hypobaric hypoxia. Exposure to acute high altitude, during air travel or mountain stays, seems to be safe for most patients with congenital heart disorders (CHD). Still, current guidelines for CHD patients express concerns regarding safety of altitude exposure for patients with a Fontan circulation. Therefore, investigating hemodynamic and pulmonary responses of acute high‐altitude exposure (±2500 m) at rest and during maximal exercise in patients with Fontan circulation can provide clarity in this dispute and may contribute to improvement of clinical counseling.
Methods: Twenty‐one Fontan patients with 21 age‐matched… More >

Simone Goa Diab¹, Kristin Godang², Lil‐Sofie Ording Müller³, Runar Almaas⁴, Charlotte de Lange³, Leif Brunvand¹, Kari Margrethe Hansen¹, Anne Grethe Myhre⁵, Gaute Døhlen¹, Erik Thaulow^1,6, Jens Bollerslev^2,6, Thomas Möller¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 996-1004, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12848

Abstract Objective: We investigated bone mineral density (BMD) at different ages after the Fontan completion, and we evaluated the relationship between BMD, vitamin D levels, and pertinent patient variables.
Methods: A cross‐sectional sample of 64 patients was examined with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans to determine BMD. Of these patients, 24 were also examined with BoneXpert software to determine bone mass density (BMX), expressed as the bone health index (BHI). Blood samples from all patients were analyzed. Patients were divided into three different age groups; A: 4‐9 years old (n = 22), B: 10‐15 years old (n = 21), and C:… More >

Sara Bobillo‐Perez^1,2, Joan Sanchez‐de‐Toledo^3,4, Susana Segura², Monica Girona‐Alarcon², Maria Mele⁵, Anna Sole‐Ribalta², Debora Cañizo Vazquez⁶, Iolanda Jordan^2,7, Francisco Jose Cambra^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1066-1077, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12846

Abstract Objective: Three scores have been proposed to stratify the risk of mortality for each cardiac surgical procedure: The RACHS‐1, the Aristotle Basic Complexity (ABC), and the STS‐EACTS complexity scoring model. The aim was to compare the ability to predict mortality and morbidity of the three scores applied to a specific population.
Design: Retrospective, descriptive study.
Setting: Pediatric and neonatal intensive care units in a referral hospital.
Patients: Children under 18 years admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery.
Interventions: None.
Outcome measures: Demographic, clinical, and surgical data were assessed. Morbidity was considered as prolonged length of stay (LOS >… More >

Line Marie Holst¹, Faridis Serrano², Lara Shekerdemian², Hanne Berg Ravn¹, Danielle Guffey³, Nancy S. Ghanayem², Sonia Monteiro⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1207-1213, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12827

Abstract Objective: To investigate the impact of feeding mode on neurodevelopmental outcomes in children with congenital heart defects.
Design: A retrospective cohort study of 208 children with congenital heart disease (CHD), who had surgery from 1 January 2013 until 31 December 2016 at Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, US.
Settings: University Hospital, Developmental Outcome Clinic.
Outcomes measures: Standardized cognitive scores were assessed with Capute Scales and motor development with Revised Gesell Developmental Schedules. We analyzed anthropometrics, mode of feeding, surgical complexity, syndrome, and gen‐ der as predictors of developmental outcomes at four time points: hospital discharge, and 6, 12, and 24… More >

Aura A. Sanchez^1,2, Sara K. Sexson Tejtel¹, Myriam E. Almeida‐Jones^1,3, Douglas K. Feagin¹, Carolyn A. Altman¹, Ricardo H. Pignatelli¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.6, pp. 1024-1031, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12787

Abstract Objective: Children with Kawasaki disease (KD) with persistent coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) can develop chronic vasculopathy and subsequent myocardial ischemia. Early detection of this process is challenging. Myocardial deformation anal‐ ysis can detect early alterations in myocardial performance. We aim to determine whether there are differences in myocardial deformation between KD patients with and without CAAs.
Design: This is a cross‐sectional study of 123 echocardiograms performed on 103 children with KD. Myocardial deformation was measured with two‐dimensional speckle tracking (2DSTE). The echocardiograms were divided into groups according to the KD phase in which they were performed: acute, subacute, and convalescent/… More >