Vitaliy Suvorov^1,2,*, Olga Loboda², Maria Balakina¹, Igor Kulczycki²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.18, No.5, pp. 491-505, 2023, DOI:10.32604/chd.2023.030583

Abstract Background: Three-dimensional printing technology may become a key factor in transforming clinical practice and in significant improvement of treatment outcomes. The introduction of this technique into pediatric cardiac surgery will allow us to study features of the anatomy and spatial relations of a defect and to simulate the optimal surgical repair on a printed model in every individual case. Methods: We performed the prospective cohort study which included 29 children with congenital heart defects. The hearts and the great vessels were modeled and printed out. Measurements of the same cardiac areas were taken in the same planes and points at… More > Graphic Abstract

Onur Doyurgan^1,*, Osman Akdeniz², Fatih Özdemir¹, Yiğit Kılıç¹, Bedri Aldudak³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 313-323, 2022, DOI:10.32604/chd.2022.018479

Abstract Background: Vascular access used for pediatric cardiac catheterization is one of the most important factors that affects the success of the procedure. We aimed to compare the effect, success, and complications of cardiac catheterizations performed by carotid cut-down or femoral puncture in newborns or young infants. Methods: We included who underwent catheterization in our department between 28 January 2017 and 15 April 2021. These patients underwent balloon aortic valvuloplasty, balloon coarctation angioplasty, ductal stenting, diagnostic procedures for aortic arch pathologies, and modified Blalock-Taussig in-shunt intervention. Patients were divided into two groups: femoral puncture (group = 1) and carotid cut-down (CC,… More >

Gabriele Egidy Assenza¹, Biagio Castaldi^2,*, Serena Flocco³, Giovanni Battista Luciani⁴, Giovanni Meliota⁵, Gabriele Rinelli⁶, Ugo Vairo⁵, Silvia Favilli⁷, Board of the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.16, No.5, pp. 427-431, 2021, DOI:10.32604/CHD.2021.016713

Abstract COVID-19 pandemic continues to strike across the world with increasing number of infected patients, severe morbidity and mortality, social life and economy disruption. Universal access to vaccine prophylaxis will be pivotal in controlling this infection and providing individual level protection. However, mismatch between vaccine request and vaccine availability, as well as constraints in logistics of vaccine campaign is creating a transition phase of progressive but still incomplete inclusion of group of individuals in the vaccination process. Selected patients living with chronic and multisystemic disease may present increased propensity of adverse outcome, should Sars-Cov-2 infection develop. In these patients, expedite access… More >

Amy Sanyahumbi¹, Andrea Beaton², Danielle Guffey³, Mina C. Hosseinipour⁴, Melissa Karlsten¹, Charles G. Minard³, Daniel J. Penny¹, Craig A. Sable⁵, Peter N. Kazembe⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 614-618, 2019, DOI:10.1111/chd.12756

Abstract Background: In asymptomatic children, screening echocardiography has been used to attempt to diagnose rheumatic heart disease (RHD) at an early stage (latent RHD). World Heart Federation guidelines have standardized categorization of “definite,” “borderline,” or no RHD by echo findings. The progression of RHD diagnosed through echo screening is not known. In 2014, we screened 1450 schoolchildren in Malawi.
Objective: Our objective was to evaluate 2‐year RHD evolution among those diag‐ nosed through screening.
Methods: Two‐year follow‐up echocardiograms of those diagnosed with latent RHD were read by a primary, secondary, then third reader if there was disagreement. Progression or regression of… More >

Juan Villafane¹, Thomas C. Edwards², Karim A. Diab³, Gary M. Satou⁴, Elizabeth Saarel⁵, Wyman W. Lai⁶, Gerald A. Serwer⁷, Peter P. Karpawich⁸, Russell Cross⁹, Russell Schiff¹⁰, Devyani Chowdhury¹¹, Thomas J. Hougen¹²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 762-767, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12523

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to develop quality metrics (QMs) relating to the ambulatory care of children after complete repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).
Design: A workgroup team (WT) of pediatric cardiologists with expertise in all aspects of ambulatory cardiac management was formed at the request of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and the Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Council (ACPC), to review published guidelines and consensus data relating to the ambulatory care of repaired TOF patients under the age of 18 years. A set of quality metrics (QMs) was proposed by the WT. The metrics… More >

Jonathan N. Johnson^1,2, Cindy S. Barrett³, Wayne H. Franklin⁴, Eric M. Graham⁵, Nancy J. Halnon⁶, Brandy A. Hattendorf⁷, Catherine D. Krawczeski⁸, James J. McGovern⁹, Matthew J. O’Connor¹⁰, Amy H. Schultz¹¹, Jeffrey M. Vinocur¹², Devyani Chowdhury¹³, Jeffrey B. Anderson¹⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 756-761, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12519

Abstract Introduction: In 2012, the American College of Cardiology’s (ACC) Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Council established a program to develop quality metrics to guide ambulatory practices for pediatric cardiology. The council chose five areas on which to focus their efforts; chest pain, Kawasaki Disease, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries after arterial switch, and infection prevention. Here, we sought to describe the process, evaluation, and results of the Infection Prevention Committee’s metric design process.
Methods: The infection prevention metrics team consisted of 12 members from 11 institutions in North America. The group agreed to work on specific infection… More >

Jimmy C. Lu¹, Manish Bansal², Sarina K. Behera³, Jeffrey R. Boris⁴, Brian Cardis⁵, John S. Hokanson⁶, Bahram Kakavand⁷, Roy Jedeikin⁸

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.6, pp. 751-755, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12509

Abstract Objective: As part of the American College of Cardiology Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology Section effort to develop quality metrics (QMs) for ambulatory pediatric practice, the chest pain subcommittee aimed to develop QMs for evaluation of chest pain.
Design: A group of 8 pediatric cardiologists formulated candidate QMs in the areas of history, physical examination, and testing. Consensus candidate QMs were submitted to an expert panel for scoring by the RAND-UCLA modified Delphi process. Recommended QMs were then available for open comments from all members.
Patients: These QMs are intended for use in patients 5–18 years old, referred for initial… More >

Trahern W. Jones, Michael D. Seckeler

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.5, pp. 578-582, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12486

Abstract Objective: Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a manufacturing method by which an object is created in an additive process, and can be used with medical imaging data to generate accurate physical reproductions of organs and tissues for a variety of applications. We hypothesized that using 3D printed models of congenital cardiovascular lesions to supplement an educational lecture would improve learners’ scores on a board-style examination.
Design and Intervention: Patients with normal and abnormal aortic arches were selected and anonymized to generate 3D printed models. A cohort of pediatric and combined pediatric/emergency medicine residents were then randomized to intervention and control groups.… More >

Tyler H. Harris¹, Mark Adler², Sharon M. Unti³, Mary E. McBride⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 546-553, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12483

Abstract Background: Training guidelines state that pediatricians should be able to diagnose, manage, and triage patients with heart disease. Acutely ill cardiac patients present infrequently and with high acuity, yet residents receive less exposure to acute cardiac conditions than previous generations. Trainees must learn to manage these situations despite this gap. Simulation has been used successfully to train learners to provide acute care. We hypothesized that a simulation-based cardiac curriculum would improve residents’ ability to manage cardiac patients.
Methods: Pediatric residents completed 4 simulation cases followed by debriefing and a computer presentation reviewing the learning objectives. Subjects returned at 1 month… More >

Lubica Kovacikova¹, Martin Zahorec¹, Peter Skrak¹, Brian D. Hanna², R. Lee Vogel²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.12, No.4, pp. 491-496, 2017, DOI:10.1111/chd.12480

Abstract Background: Telemedicine is a rapidly evolving form of modern information and communication technology used to deliver clinical services and educational activities.
Objective: The aim of this article is to report and analyze our experience with transatlantic consultation via videoconferencing in pediatric cardiology.
Methods: In February, 2013, videoconferencing project was launched between a medium-volume pediatric cardiac center in Bratislava, Slovakia and subspecialty experts from a high-volume pediatric cardiac program at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), USA. During 1.5–2 hours videoconferences, 2–3 patients with similar complex clinical scenarios were presented to CHOP experts. The main goal of the project was consultation… More >