Kuo Li^1,2, Yue Tang^1,2, Yonggang Li^1,2,*, Yuhao Wu^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 693-702, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2026.076517 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Background: There has been an increasing number of studies documenting the application of the right axillary thoracotomy (RAT) approach for the repair of congenital heart diseases. However, no research has reported the RAT approach in repairing the anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA). This study aims to investigate the feasibility and safety of the RAT approach for repairing AAOCA in children. Methods: We performed a retrospective study at the Children’s Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between January 2024 and October 2025 to investigate the clinical outcomes of the RAT approach for repairing AAOCA in… More >

Yuanyuan Li¹, Xingyue Wang¹, Yucan Deng¹, Runfang Tian¹, Jinfeng Zhao¹, Li Liu^2,*, Panpan Sun^3,*, Zhiguang Ping^1,3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 717-727, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2026.075611 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Background: Four-dimensional (4D) ultrasound is increasingly being used for prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD). We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate its diagnostic accuracy for fetal CHD. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA-DTA guidelines. We systematically searched eight databases for studies published up to July 22, 2025. Data were extracted to calculate diagnostic accuracy metrics, study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2, and a bivariate random-effects model was used for the meta-analysis. Results: A total of 49 studies were included, comprising 45 retrospective and 4 prospective studies,… More >

Bryanna N. Schwartz^*, Victoria L. Pemberton, D’Andrea Freemon, Kristin M. Burns, Gail D. Pearson

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 637-646, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.073995 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Background: In the 1990s, there were few multicenter research collaborations and pediatric cardiovascular clinical trials. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health established the Pediatric Heart Network (PHN) in 2001 to stimulate multi-center collaboration and clinical studies in children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and pediatric acquired heart disease. Methods: The PHN developed a flexible infrastructure for multi-center collaborative clinical research in children and adults with CHD and pediatric acquired heart disease. The objectives of the PHN are to improve health outcomes in individuals of all ages with… More >

Yufei Xie^1,#, Jing Wang^2,#, Qun Wu¹, Haoxuan Li², Xiaomin Duan¹, Fangyun Wang¹, Xin Zhang^1,*, Xiaofeng Li^3,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 737-742, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.073905 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Uhl’s anomaly is an exceedingly rare (fewer than 1 in 1,000,000 live births) and often fatal congenital heart disease characterized by the near-complete absence of the right ventricular (RV) myocardium. Although typically considered sporadic, we report a familial case suggesting an inherited etiology. A 12-year-old boy presented with exertional chest pain and a decade-long history of an abnormal cardiac silhouette. Comprehensive imaging revealed apical RV wall thinning, aneurysmal bulging with trabeculations, and severely impaired RV function, with a Tricuspid Annular Plane Systolic Excursion (TAPSE) of 10 mm and a Fractional Area Change (FAC) of 35%.… More >

Ling Lin, Yasha Liang, Yunyu Chen, Rong Su, Hu Zhang, Ailing Yang^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 703-716, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.072819 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Background: We aimed to explore the value of echocardiography plus cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) for predicting the functional status and adverse outcomes of adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), and to develop a multivariate prediction model. Methods: Subjects (135 in total) in this single-center prospective cohort study were enrolled from adult patients suffering from CHD treated in this hospital during January 2021 and August 2023. Standardized echocardiography and CPET were conducted on all subjects at enrollment, with such indicators as left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), right ventricular function parameters, peak oxygen uptake (peak VO₂), and carbon… More >

Zhengwei Li^1,#, Xin Li^2,#, Dong Luo¹, Meijun Liu¹, Luxi Guan¹, Haibo Hu^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.6, pp. 673-682, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2026.069714 - 10 February 2026

Abstract Background: During the surgical repair of complex congenital heart disease (CCHD), a subset of patients is unable to tolerate abrupt postoperative hemodynamic shifts, which can lead to significant complications. To mitigate this risk, certain abnormal venous channels are deliberately left open at the conclusion of surgery to provide a decompressive route, thereby reducing the likelihood of pulmonary hypertensive crises. Nevertheless, the continued patency of these vessels may induce chronic hemodynamic disturbances, often requiring subsequent treatment. This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of transcatheter intervention for such persistent anomalous systemic veins in CCHD… More >

Shun Maki^1,*, Satoshi Nakano¹, Taiki Haga², Takehiro Niitsu¹, Ikuya Ueta¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 547-558, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.072277 - 30 November 2025

Abstract Background: Considering the limited evidence for acute postoperative nutritional therapy for congenital heart disease (CHD), this study evaluated the effects of achieving enteral nutrition (EN) targets in the acute postoperative phase on clinical outcomes in infants after congenital heart surgery. Methods: This retrospective cohort study, conducted in a multivalent pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), enrolled infants aged ≤6 months following congenital heart surgery between April 2021 and March 2023. Based on the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition guidelines, the EN target was defined as two-thirds of the resting energy expenditure with a protein intake… More >

Yang Xu^1,#, Yaqi Zhang^2,#, Meijiao Zhu³, Pengcheng Xue⁴, Siyu Ma¹, Di Yu¹, Liang Hu¹, Yuxi Zhang¹, Wei Peng¹, Jirong Qi¹, Xuyun Wen⁴, Ming Yang³, Xuming Mo^1,2,5,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 559-570, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.072242 - 30 November 2025

Abstract Background: The life-course management of children with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) has focused on demonstrating brain structural alterations, developmental trajectories, and cognition-related changes that unfold over time. Methods: We introduce an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) dataset comprising TOF children who underwent brain MRI scanning and cross-sectional neurocognitive follow-up. The dataset includes brain three-dimensional T1-weighted imaging (3D-T1WI), three-dimensional T2-weighted imaging (3D-T2WI), and neurodevelopmental evaluations using the Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence–Fourth Edition (WPPSI-IV). Results: Thirty-one children with TOF (age range: 4–33 months; 18 males) were recruited and completed corrective surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing More >

Lanqing Qu^1,2,#, Jinbiao Zhang^1,2,#, Wei Jiang^1,2, Jiayu Zhang^1,2, Die Li¹, Wei Cheng³, Linghua Tao⁴, Hongdan Zhu⁵, Jing Li⁶, Min Xue⁷, Feng Chen⁸, Cuicui Xu⁹, Qiang Shu^1,2,*, Weize Xu^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 571-580, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.066258 - 30 November 2025

Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly, but whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects its prevalence is unknown. We aimed to compare the incidence of CHD during the COVID-19 pandemic with that before the pandemic in China. Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study involved all newborns in seven representative cities of China between 01 September 2019, and 31 December 2021. All the newborns underwent pulse oximetry monitoring combined with cardiac murmur auscultation in the first 6 h to 72 h after birth for CHD screening. We defined fetuses born in and beyond September… More >

Jun He¹, Jianli Luo¹, Yanling Wang^1,*, Dai Zhou^1,*, Shuanglin Xiang^2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.5, pp. 613-623, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.071773 - 30 November 2025

Abstract Pediatric congenital heart disease (CHD) pharmacotherapy faces three fundamental barriers: developmental pharmacokinetic complexity, anatomic-genetic heterogeneity, and evidence chain gaps. Traditional agents exhibit critical limitations: digoxin’s narrow therapeutic index (0.5–0.9 ng/mL) is exacerbated by ABCB1 mutations (toxicity risk increases 4.1-fold), furosemide efficacy declines by 35% in neonates due to NKCC2 immaturity, and β-blocker responses vary by CYP2D6 polymorphisms (poor metabolizers require 50–75% dose reduction). Novel strategies demonstrate transformative potential—CRISPR editing achieves 81% reversal of BMPR2-associated pulmonary vascular remodeling, metabolically matured cardiac organoids replicate adult myocardial energy metabolism for drug screening, and SGLT2 inhibitors activate triple mechanisms (calcium overload More >