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 >

Edo Bedzra^1,2,*, Herra Javed^3,4, James E. O’Brien^1,2, Taufiek Konrad Rajab^3,4

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.4, pp. 441-446, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.071035 - 18 September 2025

Abstract A bicuspid aortic valve, from autologous tissue, with growth potential can be constructed using the simple, and reproducible telescoping arterial trunk technique. More >

Jae Sung Son¹, Soo-Jin Kim^2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.4, pp. 421-440, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.070250 - 18 September 2025

Abstract Background: Advancements in diagnostic tools, surgical techniques, and long-term management have significantly improved survival among individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD), leading to an evolving epidemiologic profile characterized by increasing procedural complexity and a growing adult CHD population. This study aimed to examine nationwide trends in CHD surgeries over a 17-year period, with a focus on temporal shifts in surgical volume, procedural complexity, and age-specific incidence. Methods: A total of 41,608 CHD surgeries and 85,417 surgical procedures performed between 2002 and 2018 were identified from a nationwide health insurance database. Temporal trends were evaluated using segmented… More >

Yifan Li^1,#, Xu Huang^2,#, Bingyu Ma³, Ling Sun¹, Shushui Wang¹, Zhiwei Zhang¹, Yumei Xie^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.4, pp. 463-475, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.068286 - 18 September 2025

Abstract Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate long-term efficacy and safety of percutaneous stent implantation for residual pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS) in pediatric patients after surgical repair of complicated congenital heart diseases (CHDs). Methods: All pediatric patients diagnosed with residual PAS after surgical repair of complicated CHDs between 1996 and 2020 were retrospectively enrolled in the study. Results: A total of 41 patients (30 males, 11 females; median age 5.0 years, median weight 17 kg) were followed-up for a median of 7.1 years. Follow-up echocardiography results demonstrated that the target vessel diameter increased from… More >

Mai Ishiwata^1,2, Kohei Ishibashi^1,*, Yoshiaki Kato³, Heima Sakaguchi³, Toshihiro Nakamura¹, Satoshi Oka¹, Yuichiro Miyazaki¹, Akinori Wakamiya¹, Nobuhiko Ueda¹, Kenzaburo Nakajima¹, Tsukasa Kamakura¹, Mitsuru Wada¹, Yuko Inoue¹, Koji Miyamoto¹, Takeshi Aiba¹, Norihiko Takeda², Kengo Kusano¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 273-286, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.067716 - 11 July 2025

Abstract Background: Ventricular arrhythmia is a common cause of mortality in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). The beneficial effects of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) in patients with ACHD have been demonstrated; however, evidence on this topic remains insufficient. This study aimed to assess the long-term outcomes after ICD implantation in the ACHD population. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 35 consecutive patients with ACHD who underwent ICD implantation between December 2012 and August 2022. ICD implantation was classified as primary or secondary prevention. The long-term outcomes, including all-cause mortality, appropriate and inappropriate ICD therapy, and complications related to ICD implantation, were… More > Graphic Abstract

Honghao Fu^#, Zhangwei Wang^#, Shoujun Li^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 287-303, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.067619 - 11 July 2025

Abstract Congenital heart disease (CHD) stands as the most common cardiovascular disorder among children, exerting a profound impact on the growth, development, and quality of life of the affected pediatric population. The modified Fontan procedure, the total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC), has become a pivotal palliative or definitive surgical method for treating complex CHD cases, including single ventricle and tricuspid valve atresia. Through staged surgical processes, this technique directly diverts vena cava blood into the pulmonary artery, thus improving the patient’s oxygenation status. Despite the initial success of the Fontan circulation in providing a means for survival More > Graphic Abstract

Juliana Assis Alves¹, Mayra Martins Melo¹, Lorenza Machado Teixeira², Nathalie Jeanne Bravo-Valenzuela³, Edward Araujo Júnior^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.3, pp. 369-381, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.066358 - 11 July 2025

Abstract Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital anomaly and a major cause of death among fetal malformations, but prenatal diagnosis is considered to be low. The development of artificial intelligence (AI) in fetal echocardiography has made it possible to automate and standardise the examination, improving the variation in CHD detection rates between different regions and reducing the reliance on operator experience. AI includes any computer program (algorithms and models) that mimics human logic and intelligence, and its use in fetal echocardiography is mainly to acquire and optimise images, perform automatic measurements, identify discrepant More >