Shivani M. Bhatt^1,*, Michael L. O’Byrne², Michael McBride², Stephen M. Paridon², Elizabeth Goldmuntz², Laura Mercer-Rosa²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 101-115, 2020, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2020.011287

Abstract Objective: The determinants of exercise capacity in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) are multifactorial and remain incompletely understood. This study sought to evaluate the association of chronotropic response with exercise parameters and investigate the determinants of heart rate reserve (HRR) in a cohort of children and adolescents with rTOF. Design: We retrospectively analyzed patients with rTOF, age 8–18 years, who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) for research purposes. Linear regression models were performed to test associations among clinical, CMR and CPET parameters. Outcomes included percent-predicted maximum VO₂ (%mVO₂) and HRR. Results: A total of 148… More >

Peter Ermis

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 624-626, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12495

Abstract Currently, the role of stress echocardiography primarily resides in diagnosing acquired coronary artery disease (CAD) in adults. Besides an increasing concern for traditional CAD in young patients due to obesity and other chronic pediatric diseases, there is also a growing population of adolescents and young adults with “at risk” coronary arteries due to: reimplanted coronaries in congenital heart disease, anomalous origin of the native coronary arteries, coronary abnormalities in Kawasaki’s disease, and posttransplant coronary vasculopathy. Stress echocardiography is well suited for routine screening and monitoring in these patients. Also, due to the ability of stress echocardiography to provide real-time cardiac… More >

M. Elisabeth Heal¹, Lanier B. Jackson², Andrew M. Atz², Ryan J. Butts³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 399-402, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12451

Abstract Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) aids in clinical assessment of patients with Fontan circulation. Effects of persistent fenestration on CPET variables have not been clearly defined. Associations between fenestration and CPET variables at anaerobic threshold (AT) and peak exercise were explored in the Pediatric Heart Network Fontan Cross-Sectional Study cohort. Fenestration patency was associated with a greater decrease in oxygen saturation from rest to peak exercise (fenestration -4.9 ± 3.8 v. nonfenestration -3 ± 3.5; P < .001). Physiological dead space at peak exercise was higher in fenestrated v. nonfenestrated (25.2 ± 16.1 v. 21.4 ± 15.2; P = .03). There… More >

Keri M. Shafer^1,2, Alexander R. Opotowsky^1,2, Jonathan Rhodes¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 903-910, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12661

Abstract Objective: Risk prediction using cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in complex congenital heart disease tends to either focus on single diagnoses or complete cohorts. We aimed to evaluate patients with two distinct anatomies cared for at a single institution over the same time period to determine CPET variables associated with mortality.
Design: All Fontan and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) subjects with CPET between November 1, 2002 and December 31, 2014 and subsequently died were identified (cases). Cases were matched 1:3 to controls with similar age, underlying anatomy and timing of exercise test.
Results: Of the 42 cases, 27 had a Fontan… More >

Andrew D. Spearman¹, Rohit S. Loomba², Michael Danduran¹, Joshua Kovach¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.3, pp. 369-376, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12577

Abstract Objective: Multiple studies demonstrate the association of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) with impaired aerobic fitness in adolescents and adults. To our knowledge, there are no studies including individuals with the history of both IUGR and congenital heart disease (CHD). Thus, we sought to evaluate the impact of IUGR on exercise capacity in adolescents with CHD.
Study Design: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients <18 years of age who underwent cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between August 1, 2003 and July 1, 2016. Individuals with birth weight <10th percentile for gestational age were defined as IUGR. Patients with IUGR were… More >

Camilla Sandberg^1,2, Magnus Hedström¹, Karin Wadell², Mikael Dellborg³, Anders Ahnfelt³, Anna-Klara Zetterström⁴, Amanda Öhrn⁴, Bengt Johansson¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.2, pp. 254-262, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12562

Abstract Objective: The beneficial effects of exercise training in acquired heart failure and coronary artery disease are well known and have been implemented in current treatment guidelines. Knowledge on appropriate exercise training regimes for adults with congenital heart disease is limited, thus further studies are needed. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of home-based interval exercise training on maximal endurance capacity and peak exercise capacity.
Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Methods: Twenty-six adults with complex congenital heart disease were recruited from specialized units for adult congenital heart disease. Patients were randomized to either an intervention group—12 weeks of… More >