Camden L. Hebson¹, Michael E. McConnell², David W. Hannon³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 156-161, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12720

Abstract Dysautonomia is an increasingly recognized yet still poorly understood disease within the field of pediatrics. Symptoms, including dizziness, headaches, fatigue, joint pain, anxiety, and intolerance of heat or cold, are often significant and difficult to sort, especially in terms of their relation to each other. This often leads to referral to multiple subspecialists, who then proceed to treat seemingly familiar symptoms in kind. In the authors’ experience, this leads to more frustration on the part of the patients and their physicians when symptom improvement does not follow (or can even worsen). On the other hand, by understanding the pathophysiology, treatment… More >

Soham Dasgupta¹, Shae Anderson¹, Michael Kelleman², Ritu Sachdeva¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 230-235, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12687

Abstract Introduction: In the pediatric Appropriate Use Criteria (AUC), abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) in an asymptomatic patient has been rated as an “Appropriate” indication for transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE). We hypothesized that the yield of abnormal findings on TTE for this indication will be low.
Methods: All asymptomatic patients (≤ 18 years) from January 1, 2015 to December 31, 2017 who underwent initial outpatient evaluation at our center and had a TTE ordered for an abnormal ECG, were included. Clinic records were reviewed to obtain ECG and TTE findings.
Results: Of the 199 study patients, 13 (6.5%) had abnormal findings. Incomplete right bundle… More >

Raffaele Giordano¹, Massimiliano Cantinotti², Giuseppe Comentale¹, Luigi Di Tommaso¹, Gabriele Iannelli¹¹, Emanuele Pilato¹, Gaetano Palma¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.2, pp. 162-166, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12680

Abstract Background: In this study, we compared our experience about early and midterm follow‐up outcomes for right anterolateral minithoracotomy (RAMT) vs full sternot‐ omy (FS) in surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) among adolescents with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV).
Methods: Patients were retrospectively enrolled from January 2008 to December 2017. Inclusion criteria were patients with BAV who had to undergo to AVR. They were divided in two groups: RAMT and FS. The choice of RAMT was based on indi‐ vidual surgeon’s preferences or when expressly requested by patient that was in‐ formed of nonconventional approach.
Results: We enrolled 61 patients, 23 in… More >

Leah Apalodimas, Benjamin Rush Waller III, Ranjit Philip, Judy Crawford, Jorden Cunningham, Shyam Sathanandam

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 90-94, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12705

Abstract Objectives: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common finding in preterm infants. A hemodynamically significant PDA may require intervention for closure. This article aims to describe a transcatheter PDA closure (TCPC) program for preterm infants and the components of a comprehensive outpatient follow-up strategy.
Setting: A multidisciplinary team approach including neonatology, cardiology, anesthesiology, medical transport team, pulmonology, cardiac surgery, neurodevelopmental specialist, nutrition, speech therapy, social work, research collaborators, and other health care specialists is integral to the dedicated care and promotion of wellness of extremely low birth weight (ELBW) infants.
Patients: To date, we have performed TCPC on 134 ELBW… More >

Ranjit Philip¹, Jason Nathaniel Johnson^1,2, Ronak Naik¹, Dai Kimura^1,3, Umar Boston¹, Sandeep Chilakala¹, Benjamin Hendrickson¹, Benjamin Rush Waller¹, Shyam Sathanandam¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 37-41, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12702

Abstract The hemodynamic effects of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are well known including systemic hypoperfusion and volume overload on the left ventricle. This article aims to provide a review of the long-standing effect of a hemodynamically significant PDA on the pulmonary vasculature and the role of cardiac catheterization in preterm infants with a PDA and pulmonary hypertension. More >

Ranjit Philip¹, Jeffrey A. Towbin¹, Shyam Sathanandam ¹, Jason Goldberg¹, Thomas Yohannan¹, Nithya Swaminathan¹, Jason Nathaniel Johnson^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.1, pp. 33-36, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12701

Abstract There continues to be controversy on the long‐term effects of a patent ductus arte‐ riosus (PDA) and its management. However, the hemodynamic effects of a large PDA in a preterm infant are well known. This article aims to provide insight into the adap‐ tive changes and remodeling effects of a PDA on the myocardium in preterm infants. More >

Lianne M. Geerdink^1,2, Gideon J. du Marchie Sarvaas³, Irene M. Kuipers⁴, Willem A. Helbing⁵, Tammo Delhaas⁶, Henriette ter Heide⁷, Lieke Rozendaal⁸, Chris L. de Korte⁹, Sandeep K. Singh¹⁰, Tjark Ebels¹¹, Mark G. Hazekamp¹², Felix Haas¹³, Ad J. J. C. Bogers¹⁴, Livia Kapusta^1,15

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.1, pp. 32-39, 2017

Abstract Objective: Surgical outcomes of pediatric patients with Ebstein’s anomaly are often described as part of all-age-inclusive series. Our objective is to focus on patients treated surgically in childhood (0-18 y). We study the intended treatment (biventricular or 1.5 ventricle repair or univentricular palliation), freedom from unplanned reoperation and survival of this specific age group, in a nationwide study.
Design: Records of all Ebstein’s anomaly patients born between 1980 and 2013 were reviewed. Demographic variables, intraoperative procedures and postoperative outcomes were analyzed.
Results: Sixty-three patients underwent 109 operations. Median follow-up after diagnosis was 121 months (range 0-216 months). Twenty-nine (46%) patients… More >