Charis Tan^1,2 , Diana Zannino³, Carley Clendenning³, Sophie Offen⁴, Thomas L. Gentles⁵, Julian Ayer⁶, David Tanous⁷, Vishva Wijesekera⁸, Leeanne Grigg⁹, David Celermajer^2,4,10, Mark McGuire^2,4 , Yves d’Udekem^3,11,12, Rachael Cordina^2,4,10,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 507-523, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.028829

Abstract Objective: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) and malignant ventricular arrhythmia (VA) are increasingly recognized as important issues for people living with a Fontan circulation, but data are lacking. We sought to characterize the cohort who had sudden cardiac death, most likely related to VA and/or documented VA in the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry including risk factors and clinical outcomes. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was performed. Inclusion criteria were documented non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, resuscitated cardiac arrest or SCD > 30 days post-Fontan completion. Results: Of 1611 patients, 20 (1.2%) had VA; 14 (1.0%) had… More >

Yuan Hu¹, Xiaohui Yang², Jie Dong³, Peng Huang², Jinwen Luo², Guangxian Yang², James D. St. Louis⁴, Xicheng Deng^2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.6, pp. 687-695, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.024333

Abstract Background: Interventricular septal hematoma is a rare complication after congenital cardiac repair. The management varies according to the literature. We present our experience with this rare complication. Methods: Echocardiography database were reviewed with the term ‘‘hematoma’’ or “hypoechoic mass” for patients who underwent congenital heart surgery from January 2018 to December 2021 at our institution to identify potential interventricular septal hematoma cases. Relevant data of the patients identified were collected. Focus was put on the presentation, management, outcomes according to patent medical charts and serial echocardiographic report data. Results: In total, there were 5 patients included. The mean age and… More > Graphic Abstract

Eloisa Sassá Carvalho^#, Maria Francilene S. Souza, Kelly Cristina O. Abud, Claudia R. P. Castro, Juliano G. Penha, Ana Maria Thomaz, Vanessa A. Guimarães, Antonio Augusto Lopes^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 351-363, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.019382

Abstract Background: Postoperative pulmonary hypertension limits the success of surgical treatment in some patients with unrestrictive congenital cardiac communications. Identifying patients at risk of developing postoperative pulmonary hypertension is important to individualize follow-up strategies. Methods: We analyzed a prospective cohort of 52 pediatric patients (age 3 to 35 months) looking for perioperative predictors of mildly elevated pulmonary arterial pressure 6 months after surgery, defined as a systolic pressure greater than 30 mmHg by transthoracic echocardiography. This corresponds to a mean pulmonary arterial pressure of >20 mmHg. Clinical, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters were investigated. Perioperative hemodynamics was assessed by directly measuring pulmonary and systemic… More >

Vladimiro Vida^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 1-3, 2022, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2022.019093

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Alvise Guariento^1,2, Ilias P. Doulamis³, David Blitzer⁴, Claudia Cattapan², Massimo A. Padalino², Vladimiro L. Vida^2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 127-139, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.012197

Abstract Background: In an effort to reduce postoperative trauma and achieve more cosmetic results, minimally invasive approaches to correct congenital heart anomalies have been recently proposed and increasingly adopted. Here we describe our experience for the past 23 years. Methods: Patients who underwent a surgical procedure between February 1996 and March 2019 with a minimally invasive approach for the correction of congenital heart disease in our center were included in this study. A statistical analysis was carried out to compare the results of the different minimally invasive techniques. A meta-analysis was conducted to compare our results in patients undergoing atrial septal… More >

Michael D. Seckeler¹, Katri Typpo², Jendar Deschenes², Ruth Higgins³, Ricardo Samson¹, Peter Lichtenthal⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 815-819, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12517

Abstract Objective: To determine the accuracy of a continuous cardiac output monitor (FloTrac sensor) for measuring cardiac index in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization. Cardiac index is a critical hemodynamic parameter measured during catheterizations in children with congenital heart disease. This has been challenging to measure accurately and many clinicians rely on predictive equations for calculating cardiac index.
Design: Prospective, nonrandomized trial.
Setting: Tertiary care congenital heart center.
Patients: Consecutive participants ≤18 years old undergoing clinically indicated cardiac catheterizations from September 2014 through August 2015.
Interventions: Oxygen consumption was measured using the Vmax Encore 229 monitor attached to… More >

Amir-Reza Hosseinpour¹, Marie-Hélène Perez², David Longchamp², Jacques Cotting², Nicole Sekarski³, Michel Hurni¹, René Prêtre¹, Stefano Di Bernardo³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 210-216, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12545

Abstract Objective: Congenital cardiac malformations with high pulmonary blood flow and pressure due to left-to-right shunts are usually repaired in early infancy for both the benefits of early relief of heart failure and the fear that the concomitant pulmonary hypertension may become irreversible unless these defects are corrected at an early age. Age, however, has been a poor predictor of irreversibility of pulmonary hypertension in our experience, which is presented here.
Design: A retrospective observational study. We defined “late” as age ≥2 years. We examined clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic data from all patients aged ≥2 years with such malformations referred to… More >

Daniel E. Ehrmann¹, Matthew Mulvahill², Shaunda Harendt^1,3, Jessica Church¹, Amy Stimmler¹, Piyagarnt Vichayavilas^1,4, Sanja Batz^1,5, Jennifer Rodgers^1,5, Michael DiMaria¹, James Jaggers¹, Cindy Barrett¹, Jon Kaufman¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 31-37, 2018, DOI: 10.1111/chd.12550

Abstract Background: Feeding practices after neonatal and congenital heart surgery are complicated and variable, which may be associated with prolonged hospitalization length of stay (LOS). Systematic assessment of feeding skills after cardiac surgery may earlier identify those likely to have protracted feeding difficulties, which may promote standardization of care.
Methods: Neonates and infants ≤3 months old admitted for their first cardiac surgery were retrospectively identified during a 1-year period at a single center. A systematic feeding readiness assessment (FRA) was utilized to score infant feeding skills. FRA scores were assigned immediately prior to surgery and 1, 2, and 3 weeks after… 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 >

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 >