Matthew Lewis¹, William Whang², Angelo Biviano², Kathleen Hickey², Hasan Garan², Marlon Rosenbaum¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 207-212, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12695

Abstract Background: Catheter ablation is commonly performed to treat atrial arrhythmias in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). Despite the frequency of ablations in the ACHD population, predictors of recurrence remain poorly defined.
Objective: We sought to determine predictors of arrhythmia recurrence in ACHD patients following catheter ablation for atrial arrhythmias.
Methods: We performed a retrospective study of all catheter ablations for atrial arrhythmias performed in ACHD patients between January 12, 2005 and February 11, 2015 at our institution. Prespecified exposures of interest and time from ablation to recurrence were determined via chart review.
Results: Among 124 patients (mean age: 45 years)… More >

Mariana M. Clavé¹, Nair Y. Maeda², Ana M. Thomaz¹, Sergio P. Bydlowski³, Antonio A. Lopes¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 246-255, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12688

Abstract Background: Ideally, vasodilator therapies for pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) should have a favorable impact on markers of vascular dysfunction, in addition to their known effects on hemodynamics, cardiac function, and patient’s physical capacity.
Methods: We analyzed circulating (plasma) markers of endothelial and platelet activation/dys‐ function (enzyme‐linked immunoassays) in the specific setting of advanced PAH associated with congenital heart disease, during the course of sildenafil and tadalafil therapies. Thirty‐one patients were enrolled (age 10‐54 years), most of them with chronic hypoxemia and elevated hematocrit. Drugs were administered orally for 6 months (sildenafil [n = 16], 20 mg t.i.d.; tada‐ lafil [n… More >

Samantha C. Butler^1,4, Anjali Sadhwani^1,4, Christian Stopp², Jayne Singer^1,3,4, David Wypij^2,5,6, Carolyn Dunbar‐Masterson², Janice Ware^1,3,4, Jane W. Newburger^2,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 236-245, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12686

Abstract Objective: Mortality rates for children with congenital heart disease (CHD) have significantly declined, resulting in a growing population with associated neurodevelopmental disabilities. American Heart Association guidelines recommend systematic developmental screening for children with CHD. The present study describes results of inpatient newborn neurodevelopmental assessment of infants after open heart surgery.
Outcome measures: We evaluated the neurodevelopment of a convenience sample of high‐risk infants following cardiac surgery but before hospital discharge using an adaptation of the Newborn Behavioral Observation. Factor analysis examined relationships among assessment items and consolidated them into domains of development.
Results: We assessed 237 infants at a median… More >

Shankar Baskar, Andrew N. Redington, Philip R. Khoury, Timothy K. Knilans, David S. Spar, Richard J. Czosek

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 201-206, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12684

Abstract Background: Traditional indices to evaluate biventricular (BiV) pacing are load dependent, fail to assess dynamic changes, and may not be appropriate in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). We therefore measured the force‐frequency relationship (FFR) using tissue Doppler‐de‐ rived isovolumic acceleration (IVA) to assess the dynamic adaption of the myocardium and its vari‐ ability with different ventricular pacing strategies.
Methods: This was a prospective pilot study of pediatric and young adult CHD patients with biventricular or multisite pacing systems. Color‐coded myocardial velocities were recorded at the base of the systemic ventricular free wall. IVA was calculated at resting heart rate… More >

Masaki Sato¹, Kei Inai^1,2, Mikiko Shimizu¹, Hisashi Sugiyama¹, Toshio Nakanishi²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 167-175, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12683

Abstract Objective: The recognition of fluid retention is critical in treating heart failure (HF). Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is a well-known noninvasive method; however, data on its role in managing patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are limited. Here, we aimed to clarify the correlation between BIA and HF severity as well as the prognostic value of BIA in adult patients with CHD.
Design: This prospective single-center study included 170 patients with CHD admitted between 2013 and 2015. We evaluated BIA parameters (intra- and extracellular water, protein, and mineral levels, edema index [EI, extracellular water-to-total body water ratio]), laboratory values, and… More >

Varun Aggarwal¹, Christopher J. Petit², Andrew C. Glatz^3，4, Bryan H. Goldstein⁵, Athar M. Qureshi¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 110-115, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12709

Abstract The use of prostaglandin‐E1 immediately after birth and subsequent surgical crea‐ tion of the modified Blalock‐Taussig shunt (BTS) shunt have remarkably improved the prognosis and survival of children with congenital heart disease and ductal‐depend‐ ent pulmonary blood flow (PBF). Despite the advancement in surgical techniques, bypass strategies, and postoperative management, significant morbidity and mortal‐ ity after BTS still remain. Patent ductus arteriosus stenting has been shown to be as an acceptable alternative to BTS placement in select infants with ductal‐dependent PBF. Newer procedural techniques and equipment, along with operator experience have all contributed to procedural refinement associated with improved outcomes… More >

Dana M. Boucek¹, Athar M. Qureshi², Bryan H. Goldstein ³, Christopher J. Petit⁴, Andrew C. Glatz^1,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 105-109, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12707

Abstract Background: Infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF) often undergo a palliative procedure to provide a stable source of PBF prior to definitive palliation or repair. In the current era, a surgical shunt or ductal stent is used to provide PBF. We aimed to review the current literature comparing ductal stents to surgical shunts.
Methods and Results: Four small, single-center studies and two larger multicenter studies were identified comparing ductal stent to surgical shunt. Combined, these studies showed ductal stent resulted in similar or improved pulmonary artery growth, fewer complications, shorter length of stay, less diuretic use, and improved survival… More >

Giovanni Biglino^1,2, Claudio Capelli^2,3, Despina Koniordou³, Di Robertshaw², Lindsay-Kay Leaver², Silvia Schievano^2,3, Andrew M. Taylor^2,3, Jo Wray²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 113-118, 2017

Abstract Background: Nurse education and training are key to providing congenital heart disease (CHD) patients with consistent high standards of care as well as enabling career progression. One approach for improving educational experience is the use of 3D patient-specific models.
Objectives: To gather pilot data to assess the feasibility of using 3D models of CHD during a training course for cardiac nurses; to evaluate the potential of 3D models in this context, from the nurses’ perspective; and to identify possible improvements to optimise their use for teaching.
Design: A cross-sectional survey.
Setting: A national training week for cardiac nurses.
Participants: One… 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 >

Benjamin H. Goot, Sonali Patel, Brian Fonseca

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 84-90, 2017

Abstract Objective: When imaging the lower airway by MRI, the traditional technique turbo spin echo (TSE) results in high quality 2D images, however planning and acquisition times are lengthy. An alternative, delayed volume interpolated breath-holds examination (VIBE), is a 3D gradient echo technique that produces high spatial resolution imaging of the airway in one breath-hold. The objective of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the accuracy of lower airway measurements obtained by delayed VIBE when compared to TSE.
Design: Patients with congenital heart disease who underwent a cardiac MRI (CMR) that included a delayed VIBE sequence from 5/2008 to 9/2013 were… More >