Sebastian Udholm¹, Camilla Nyboe¹, Thomas Meinertz Dantoft², Torben Jørgensen^2,3,4, Charlotte U. Rask⁵, Vibeke E. Hjortdal¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 803-810, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12808

Abstract Objective: For the first time, we wish to assess the psychiatric burden in adult patients living with small, unrepaired atrial septal defects (ASD) using register‐based data, com‐ bined with self‐reported measures on levels emotional distress and educational status.
Design: A descriptive study using both the unique Danish registries and validated psychiatric questionnaires and scales, including: The Symptom Checklist, Whiteley‐7, and Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.
Patients: Adult patients with small, unrepairedASD, diagnosed between 1953 and 2011.
Outcome Measures: Number of register‐based psychiatric diagnoses. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety, depression, somatization, health anxiety, illness perception, and levels of educational attainment compared to… More >

Jesse Lee^1,2, Kanishka Ratnayaka¹, John Moore¹, Howaida El‐Said¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 791-796, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12786

Abstract Background/Objective: Stenting the ductus arteriosus (DAS) has become an alternative to surgical systemic to pulmonary artery shunts in neonates with ductal‐ dependent pulmonary blood flow (PBF). Femoral approach for a vertical ductus can be difficult secondary to the acute angle and tortuous course, thus alternative ac‐ cess sites have been explored. Carotid access complications have been reported in 5%‐10%. The extensive use of an axillary arterial approach in the United States has not been reported. The aim of this study is to describe our experience with DAS using the axillary approach.
Methods: We reviewed all patients with… More >

Katherine Awh^1,2, Morgan A. Venuti^1,2, Lacey P. Gleason^1,2, Rachel Rogers³, Srinivas Denduluri¹, Yuli Y. Kim^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 726-734, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12784

Abstract Objective: To determine the prevalence and predictors of nonattendance in an ACHD outpatient clinic, and to examine the relationship between nonattendance and emergency department (ED) visits, hospitalizations, and death.
Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years who had scheduled appointments at an ACHD outpatient clinic between August 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014 were included. The primary outcome of interest was nonattendance of the first scheduled appointment of the study period, defined as “no-show” or “same-day cancellation.” Secondary outcomes of interest were ED visits, hospitalizations, and death until December 2017.
Results: Of 527 scheduled visits, 55 (10.4%) were nonattended. Demographic… More >

Oscar Werner¹, Fedoua El Louali², Virginie Fouilloux³, Pascal Amedro^1,4, Caroline Ovaert^2,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 778-784, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12777

Abstract Objective: Medical information provided to parents of a child with a congenital heart disease can induce major stress. Visual analog scales have been validated to assess anxiety in the adult population. The aim of this study was to analyze parental anxiety using a visual analog scale and to explore the influencing factors.
Design: This prospective cross‐sectional study.
Setting: Tertiary care regional referral center for congenital heart disease of Marseille—La Timone university hospital.
Patients: Parents of children with a congenital heart disease, as defined by the ACC‐ CHD classification, referred for cardiac surgery or interventional cardiac catheterization, were offered to… More >

Alan F. Riley¹, Elena C. Ocampo¹, Joseph Hagan², M. Regina Lantin‐Hermoso¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.5, pp. 706-712, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12774

Abstract Background: When performed by cardiologists, hand‐held echocardiography (HHE) can assess ventricular systolic function and valve disease in adults, but its accuracy and utility in congenital heart disease is unknown. In hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), the echocardiographic detection of depressed right ventricular (RV) systolic function and higher grade tricuspid regurgitation (TR) can identify patients who are at increased risk of morbidity and mortality and who may benefit from additional imaging or medical therapies.
Methods: Children with HLHS after Stage I or II surgical palliation (Norwood or Glenn procedures) were prospectively enrolled. Subjects underwent HHE by a pediatric… More >

Ginnie Abarbanell¹, Naomi K. Tepper², Sherry L. Farr³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 331-340, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12752

Abstract Objective: Women with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at increased risk of preg‐ nancy complications and need information on safe, effective contraceptive methods to avoid unintended pregnancy. This systematic review examines evidence regarding safety of contraceptive use among women with CHD.
Methods: The PubMed database was searched for any peer‐reviewed articles pub‐ lished through April 2018 that included safety outcomes associated with reversible contraceptive methods among women with CHD.
Results: Five articles met inclusion criteria: three studies comparing contraceptive users to nonusers and two noncomparative studies. Sample sizes ranged from 65 to 505 women with CHD. Two studies… More >

Mahmoud Zaqout^1,2, Kristof Vandekerckhove¹, Nathalie Michels², Laurent Demulier³, Thierry Bove⁴, Katrien François⁴, Julie De Backer³, Stefaan De Henauw², Daniel De Wolf¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 479-486, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12751

Abstract Objective: To investigate the status of body mass index (BMI) in adult people with congenital heart disease (ACHD).
Methods: Five hundred thirty‐nine adults with CHD (53.8% men) were seen in the outpatient clinic from 2013 to 2015 and compared to a reference population (n = 1737). The severity of CHD was categorized as mild, moderate, and severe ac‐ cording to standard guidelines. Patients were categorized based on BMI as under‐ weight (<18.5), overweight (25‐30), or obese (>30). Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging were used to measure ventricular function while exercise capac‐ ity was estimated via cardiopulmonary exercise… More >

Yuli Y. Kim^1,2, Leah A. Goldberg², Katherine Awh², Tanmay Bhamare^1,2, David Drajpuch², Adi Hirshberg³, Sara L. Partington^1,2, Rachel Rogers⁴, Emily Ruckdeschel^1,2, Lynda Tobin¹, Morgan Venuti², Lisa D. Levine³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 470-478, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12750

Abstract Objective: To assess performance of risk stratification schemes in predicting adverse cardiac outcomes in pregnant women with congenital heart disease (CHD) and to compare these schemes to clinical factors alone.
Design: Single‐center retrospective study.
Setting: Tertiary care academic hospital.
Patients: Women ≥18 years with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes indicating CHD who delivered between 1998 and 2014. CARPREG I and ZAHARA risk scores and modified World Health Organization (WHO) criteria were applied to each woman.
Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was defined by ≥1 of the following: arrhyth‐ mia, heart failure/pulmonary edema, transient ischemic attack, stroke,… More >

Christopher R. Broda

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 487-490, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12748

Abstract Heart failure is an emerging issue with important implications in adult patients with congenital heart disease. Practitioners with expertise in both adult congenital heart disease and heart failure are needed to manage this growing and often complex pop‐ ulation. In the United States, the optimal training pathway to enable practitioners to best care for these patients is ill‐defined. This article explores possibilities and issues that interested trainees may encounter during their training experience. More >

Maayke A. Sluman^1,2, Silke Apers^3,4, Judith K. Sluiter^1,*, Karen Nieuwenhuijsen¹, Philip Moons^4,5, Koen Luyckx^6,7, Adrienne H. Kovacs^8,9, Corina Thomet¹⁰, Werner Budts¹¹, Junko Enomoto¹², Hsiao‐Ling Yang¹³, Jamie L. Jackson¹⁴, Paul Khairy¹⁵, Stephen C. Cook¹⁶, Raghavan Subramanyan¹⁷, Luis Alday¹⁸, Katrine Eriksen¹⁹, Mikael Dellborg^20,21, Malin Berghammer^5,22, Eva Mattsson²³, Andrew S. Mackie²⁴, Samuel Menahem²⁵, Maryanne Caruana²⁶, Kathy Gosney²⁷, Alexandra Soufi²⁸, Susan M. Fernandes²⁹, Kamila S. White³⁰, Edward Callus³¹, Shelby Kutty³², Berto J. Bouma³³, Barbara J.M. Mulder³³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 362-371, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12747

Abstract Background: Conflicting results have been reported regarding employment status and work ability in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Since this is an impor‐ tant determinant for quality of life, we assessed this in a large international adult CHD cohort.
Methods: Data from 4028 adults with CHD (53% women) from 15 different countries were collected by a uniform survey in the cross‐sectional APPROACH International Study. Predictors for employment and work limitations were studied using general linear mixed models.
Results: Median age was 32 years (IQR 25‐42) and 94% of patients had at least a high school degree. Overall… More >