Benjamin M. Moore^1,2, Rachael L. Cordina^1,2, Mark A. McGuire^1,2, David S. Celermajer^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 944-951, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12657

Abstract Objective: Amiodarone is a highly effective antiarrhythmic therapy, however its tox‐ icity profile often limits treatment. This is particularly relevant in adults with congeni‐ tal heart disease (CHD), who are often young and in whom other antiarrhythmic agents commonly fail or are contraindicated. We sought to determine incidence and predictors of adverse effects caused by amiodarone in adult CHD (ACHD).
Design: A retrospective review of patients with moderate to complex ACHD treated with amiodarone at our center between 2000 and 2017 was performed. Incidence and predictors of adverse effects were described. Efficacy of amiodarone therapy in controlling… More >

Fabricio González‐Andrade, Daniel Echeverría, Valeria López, Michaela Arellano

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.6, pp. 911-918, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12654

Abstract Objective: To assess the pulse oximetry as a method for screening critical congenital heart disease (CHD) in newborns.
Study design: This is an observational, transversal, descriptive simple study. The pre‐ ductal and postductal saturation were taken in term newborns thatfulfilled the criteria of inclusion and exclusion in the Hospital Gineco‐Obstetrico Isidro Ayora (HGOIA) in Quito. These measurements were performed between the 24 and 48 h after birth. Those new‐ borns that saturated less than 90% on initial pulse oxìmetry underwent 3 successive measurements at 1‐h intervals. Those who saturate less than 90% after 3 measurements or have… More >

Shankar Baskar, Seth B. Gray, Erica L. Del Grippo, Onyekachukwu Osakwe, Adam W. Powell, Justin T. Tretter

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 808-810, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12675

Abstract Cardiology fellows‐in‐training, both in adult and pediatric hospitals, need structured education in regards to congenital heart disease (CHD) nomenclature. With improved survival of patients with CHD, it is not uncommon for these patients to seek care in multiple adult and pediatric hospitals. A deep understanding of CHD nomenclature would aid in providing accurate medical and surgical care for these patients. In this forum, we share our experience with such structured education and also comment on recent advances in morphologic imaging that would aid in understanding the nomenclature. More >

Rohit S. Loomba¹, Seth B. Gray², Saul Flores³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 646-654, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12662

Abstract Introduction: Ketamine is a drug often used for procedural sedation or as adjunct agent for general sedation in children with congenital heart disease. In the clinical realm, there is often confusion regarding the effects of ketamine on hemodynamics, particularly pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic vascular resistance. We per‐ formed a meta‐analysis of studies investigating the effects of ketamine on hemodynamics.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted to identify studies characterizing the hemodynamic effects of ketamine in children with congenital heart disease. Studies were assessed for quality and those of satisfactory quality with pre‐ and postketa‐ mine hemodynamics… More >

Varun Aggarwal, Venkatachalam Mulukutla, Athar M. Qureshi, Henri Justino

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 782-787, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12653

Abstract Background: Congenital coronary artery fistula is a rare coronary anomaly. Most commonly, such fistulae drain into the right side of the heart or the pulmonary artery. Children with coronary artery fistulae are generally asymptomatic, although they may have left ventricular enlargement in the setting of a moderate sized left to right shunt. Symptoms of congestive heart failure or ischemia are very rare in neonatal period, and suggest the presence of a very large shunt and/or coronary steal.
Methods: Single center retrospective review of transcatheter intervention on coro‐ nary artery fistulae presenting with symptoms in the neonatal period… More >

Michelle Keir¹, Barbara Bailey¹, Angela Lee¹, Adrienne H. Kovacs^1,2, S. Lucy Roche^1,3

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 740-747, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12647

Abstract Background: With access to surgical care, >90% of today’s infants with congenital heart disease (CHD) will reach adulthood. During childhood, survivors accrue a wealth of health care experience and develop strategies for navigating life with a chronic disease.
Methods: Seeking to learn from this individualized process, we invited adults with complex CHD to participate in narrative analysis—an established qualitative research method for studying how individuals derive meaning from their personal stories. Audio recordings of 2‐4 hour free‐form interviews were transcribed and iteratively analyzed to identify common themes and detect similarities or differences in language, viewpoint and interpretation.… More >

Ashley Brunmeier^1,2, Michael P Reis³, Michael G. Earing^1,2, Laura Umfleet ⁴, Salil Ginde^1,2, Peter J. Bartz^1,2, Scott Cohen^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 728-733, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12646

Abstract Objective: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and adults with acquired heart disease are at an increased risk of neurocognitive impairment. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of self‐reported neurocognitive impair‐ ment and its risk factors in the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population.
Design: The Wisconsin Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program recently began screening ACHD patients to identify those with significant self‐perceived neurocog‐ nitive impairments. Screening consists of using a validated neuro‐oncology screening instrument that has been modified for the ACHD population. Patients who answer this survey in a predetermined fashion consistent… More >

Jill M. Steiner¹, James N. Kirkpatrick¹, Susan R. Heckbert², James Sibley³, James A. Fausto³, Ruth A. Engelberg³, J. Randall Curtis³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 721-727, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12638

Abstract Objective: Overall health care resource utilization by adults with congenital heart disease has increased dramatically in the past two decades, yet little is known about utilization patterns at the end of life. The objective of this study is to better under‐ stand the patterns and influences on end‐of‐life care intensity for adults with con‐ genital heart disease.
Methods: We identified a sample of adults with congenital heart disease (n = 65), cancer (n = 10 784), or heart failure (n = 3809) who died between January 2010 and December 2015, cared for in one multi‐hospital health care… More >

Cheryl L. Brosig^1,2, Laurel Bear^1,2, Sydney Allen¹, Pippa Simpson¹, Liyun Zhang¹, Michele Frommelt^1,2, Kathleen A. Mussatto²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 700-705, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12632

Abstract Background and Objectives: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for neurodevelopmental (ND) delays. The purpose of this study is to compare the ND testing results of children with CHD at 2 and 4 years of age and determine if rates of ND delays change over time.
Methods: Children with CHD completed the Bayley Scales of Infant Development‐III (BSID‐III) at 2 years of age, and standardized neuropsychological measures at 4 years. Scores were compared with test norms and were classified as: average (within one SD of test mean); at risk (1‐2 SDs from the test… More >

Ketina Arslani^1*, Lukas Notz^1*, Marzena Zurek¹, Matthias Greutmann², Markus Schwerzmann³, Judith Bouchardy⁴, Reto Engel⁵, Christine Attenhofer Jost⁶, Daniel Tobler¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.5, pp. 678-684, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12627

Abstract Background: In adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) and atrial arrhythmias, recommendations for thromboprophylaxis are vague and evidence is lacking. We aimed to identify factors that influence decision-making in daily practice.
Methods: From the Swiss Adult Congenital HEart disease Registry (SACHER) we identified 241 patients with either atrial fibrillation (Afib) or atrial flutter/intraatrial reentrant tachycardia (Aflut/ IART). The mode of anticoagulation was reviewed. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors that were associated with oral anticoagulation therapy.
Results: Compared with patients with Aflut/IART, patients with Afib were older (51 ± 16.1 vs 37 ± 16 years, P… More >