Katherine B. Salciccioli¹, Abiodun Oluyomi², Philip J. Lupo³, Peter R. Ermis¹, Keila N. Lopez¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 752-759, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12819

Abstract Background: Follow‐up at a regional adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) center is recommended for all ACHD patients at least once per the 2018 ACC/AHA guidelines. Other specialties have demonstrated poorer follow‐up and outcomes correlating with increased distance from health care providers, but driving time to regional ACHD centers has not been examined in the US population.
Objective: To identify and characterize potential disparities in access to ACHD care in the US based on drive time to ACHD centers and compounding sociodemographic factors.
Methods: Mid‐ to high‐volume ACHD centers with ≥500 outpatient ACHD visits and ≥20 ACHD surgeries annually were included… More >

Subeer K. Wadia¹, Gentian Lluri¹, Jamil A. Aboulhosn¹, Hillel Laks², Reshma M. Biniwale², Glen S. Van Arsdell², Daniel S. Levi³, Morris M. Salem³, Kevin M. Shannon^1,3, Jeremy P. Moore^1,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 838-845, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12818

Abstract Objective: We examined the atrial tachyarrhythmia (AT) burden among patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) following transcatheter (TC‐) or surgical (S‐) pulmo‐ nary valve replacement (PVR).
Design/Setting: This was a retrospective observational study of patients who under‐ went PVR from 2010 to 2016 at UCLA Medical Center.
Patients: Patients of all ages who had prior surgical repair for CHD were included. Patients with a history of congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, underwent a hybrid PVR procedure, or had permanent atrial fibrillation (AF) without a concomitant ablation were excluded.
Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was a time‐to‐event analysis of… 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 >

Anudeep K. Dodeja¹, Courtney Thomas¹, Curt J. Daniels^1,2, Naomi Kertesz^1,2, Anna Kamp^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 745-751, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12815

Abstract Background: Rhythm disorders are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Infrequent or asymptomatic arrhyth‐ mias may not be detected by routine monitoring. Implantable loop recorders (ILRs), such as the Reveal LINQ^TM, have been useful in long‐term monitoring for arrhythmias in adults with cryptogenic stroke.
Objective: We propose the Reveal LINQ^TM will detect arrhythmias, not documented by other monitoring modalities, resulting in change in management in ACHD patients.
Methods: This is a single center retrospective review of Reveal LINQ^TM use in ACHD patients from 2014‐2017. Medical records were reviewed to determine cardiac diag‐… More >

Natalie Bottega¹, Isabelle Malhamé², Liming Guo¹, Raluca Ionescu‐Ittu¹, Judith Therrien¹, Ariane Marelli¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 735-744, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12811

Abstract Background: The number of women with congenital heart disease (CHD) of reproductive age is increasing, yet a description of trends in pregnancy and delivery outcomes in this population is lacking.
Objective: To assess secular trends in pregnancy rates, delivery outcomes, and related health care utilization in the adult female CHD population in Quebec, Canada.
Methods: The Quebec CHD database was used to construct a cohort with all women with CHD aged 18‐45 years between 1992 and 2004. Pregnancy and delivery rates were determined yearly and compared to the general population. Secular trends in pregnancy and delivery rates were assessed with… 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 >

Sebastian Udholm¹, Camilla Nyboe¹, Thomas Meinertz Dantoft², Torben Jørgensen^2,3,4, Charlotte U. Rask⁵, Vibeke E. Hjortdal¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 803-810, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12808

Abstract Objective: For the first time, we wish to assess the psychiatric burden in adult patients living with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASD) using register‐based data, com‐ bined with self‐reported measures on levels emotional distress and educational status.
Design: A descriptive study using both the unique Danish registries and validated psychiatric questionnaires and scales, including: The Symptom Checklist, Whiteley‐7, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.
Patients: Adult patients with small, unrepairedASD, diagnosed between 1953 and 2011.
Outcome Measures: Number of register‐based psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety, depression, somatization, health anxiety, illness perception, and levels of educational attainment compared to age‐… More >

Jesse Lee^1,2, Kanishka Ratnayaka¹, John Moore¹, Howaida El‐Said¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 791-796, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12786

Abstract Background/Objective: Stenting the ductus arteriosus (DAS) has become an alternative to surgical systemic to pulmonary artery shunts in neonates with ductal‐ dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF). Femoral approach for a vertical ductus can be difficult secondary to the acute angle and tortuous course, thus alternative ac‐ cess sites have been explored. Carotid access complications have been reported in 5%‐10%. The extensive use of an axillary arterial approach in the United States has not been reported. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with DAS using the axillary approach.
Methods: We reviewed all patients with DAS with an… More >

Katherine Awh^1,2, Morgan A. Venuti^1,2, Lacey P. Gleason^1,2, Rachel Rogers³, Srinivas Denduluri¹, Yuli Y. Kim^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 726-734, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12784

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of nonattendance in an ACHD outpatient clinic, and to examine the relationship between nonattendance and emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and death.
Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years who had scheduled appointments at an ACHD outpatient clinic between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 were included. The primary outcome of interest was nonattendance of the first scheduled appointment of the study period, defined as “no-show” or “same-day cancellation.” Secondary outcomes of interest were ED visits, hospitalizations, and death until December 2017.
Results: Of 527 scheduled visits, 55 (10.4%) were nonattended. Demographic and socioeconomic… 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 >