Wendy F. Li¹, Heidi Pollard², Mohsen Karimi³, Jeremy D. Asnes¹, William E. Hellenbrand¹, Veronika Shabanova⁴, Constance G. Weismann^1,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 140-146, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12544

Abstract Objective: Trans-catheter (TC) pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) has become common practice for patients with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction (RVOTO) and/or pulmonic insufficiency (PI). Our aim was to compare PVR and right ventricular (RV) function of patients who received TC vs surgical PVR.
Design: Retrospective review of echocardiograms obtained at three time points: before, immediately after PVR, and most recent.
Patients: Sixty-two patients (median age 19 years, median follow-up 25 months) following TC (N = 32) or surgical (N = 30) PVR at Yale-New Haven Hospital were included.
Outcome Measures: Pulmonary valve and right ventricular function before, immediately after, and… More >

Byung W. Yoo¹, Jung O. Kim², Lucy Y. Eun², Jae Y. Choi², Dong S. Kim³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 131-139, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12541

Abstract Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the changes in right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV) function after transcatheter atrial septal defect (ASD) closure and to assess the influence of the age and the amount of shunt.
Design: Retrospective study
Patients: Fifty-three adult patients who underwent transcatheter closure were enrolled, then divided into subgroups according to the age (< 40 years vs ≥ 40 years), and the amount of shunt flow (QpQs < 2.5 vs QpQs ≥ 2.5).
Outcome Measures: Two-dimensional tissue Doppler imaging was performed in a four-chamber view at the basal ventricular septum (VS) and… More >

Carissa M. Baker-Smith¹, Karina Carlson², Jose Ettedgui³, Takeshi Tsuda⁴, K. Anitha Jayakumar⁵, Matthew Park⁶, Nikola Tede⁷, Karen Uzark⁸, Craig Fleishman⁹, David Connuck¹⁰, Maggie Likes¹¹, Daniel J. Penny¹²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 52-58, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12540

Abstract Objective: To develop quality metrics (QMs) for the ambulatory care of patients with transposition of the great arteries following arterial switch operation (TGA/ASO).
Design: Under the auspices of the American College of Cardiology Adult Congenital and Pediatric Cardiology (ACPC) Steering committee, the TGA/ASO team generated candidate QMs related to TGA/ASO ambulatory care. Candidate QMs were submitted to the ACPC Steering Committee and were reviewed for validity and feasibility using individual expert panel member scoring according to the RAND-UCLA methodology. QMs were then made available for review by the entire ACC ACPC during an “open comment period.” Final approval of each… More >

Susan F. Saleeb¹, Sarah R. McLaughlin², Dionne A. Graham², Kevin G. Friedman¹, David R. Fulton¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 46-51, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12539

Abstract Objective: Using a Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP) for pediatric patients presenting to clinic with chest pain, we evaluated the cost impact associated with implementation of the care algorithm. Prior to introduction of the SCAMP, we analyzed charges for 406 patients with chest pain, seen in 2009, and predicted 21% reduction of overall charges had the SCAMP methodology been used. The SCAMP recommended an echocardiogram for history, examination, or ECG findings suggestive of a cardiac etiology for chest pain.
Design: Resource utilization was reviewed for 1517 patients (7-21 years) enrolled in the SCAMP from July 2010 to April… More >

Jason F. Goldberg¹, Craig L. Jensen², Rajesh Krishnamurthy³, Nidhy P. Varghese⁴, Henri Justino¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 124-130, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12537

Abstract Objective: We describe the long-term follow-up of a child with recurrent hemoptysis due to severe pulmonary vein stenosis decompressing via collaterals to esophageal varices.
Design: Case report
Setting: Tertiary children’s hospital
Patient: Single child through ages 2- to 11-year old
Interventions: The child underwent cutting balloon angioplasty, bare metal stenting, and implantation of a PTFE-covered stent, all of which failed rapidly. Only after placement of a paclitaxel drug eluting stent did he have prolonged relief from hemoptysis and long-term patency of the treated vein. The stents were serially dilated to keep up with somatic growth of the child, eventually culminating… More >

Randa M. Matter¹, Iman A. Ragab¹, Alaa M. Roushdy², Ahmed G. Ahmed¹, Hanan H. Aly¹, Eman A. Ismail³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 118-123, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12530

Abstract Objectives: Congenital heart defects are common noninfectious causes of mortality in children. Bleeding and thrombosis are both limiting factors in the management of such patients. We assessed the frequency of thrombocytopenia in pediatric patients with congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD) and evaluated determinants of platelet count including immature platelet fraction (IPF) and their role in the pathogenesis of thrombocytopenia.
Methods: Forty-six children and adolescents with CCHD during pre-catheter visits were studied; median age was 20.5 months. Complete blood count including IPF as a marker of platelet production and reticulated hemoglobin content (RET-He) as a marker of red cell production and… More >

Felicit e Kamdem^1,2, Danielle Kedy Koum^2,3, Ba Hamadou^1,4, Melanie Yemdji¹, Henry Luma^1,4, Marie Solange Doualla^1,4, Diomède Noukeu⁵, Esther Barla⁵, Christophe Akazong⁵, Anastase Dzudie^1,4, Henry Ngote¹, Yves Monkam¹, Sidiki Mouliom¹, Samuel Kingue^4,6

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 113-117, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12529

Abstract Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases in pediatric pathologies have emerged in the recent years in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), with congenital heart diseases (CHDs) being the most frequent. Unfortunately, their diagnosis is usually delayed, thereby increasing childhood morbidity and mortality.
Objectives: Describe the clinical, echocardiographic, and therapeutic aspects of CHDs of children at Douala General Hospital.
Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional descriptive study over a 10-year period, from January 2006 to December 2015. Files and reports of cardiac ultrasounds of patients aged ≤ 15 years were reviewed.
Results: We reviewed the medical records of 1616 children, of which 370 (22.9%) had CHD.… More >

Alberto Cresti¹, Raffaele Giordano², Martin Koestenberger³, Isabella Spadoni⁴, Marco Scalese⁵, Ugo Limbruno¹, Susanna Falorini⁶, Stefania Stefanelli¹, Andrea Picchi¹, Francesco De Sensi¹, Angela Malandrino⁷, Massimiliano Cantinotti^4,5

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 105-112, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12528

Abstract Background: Despite ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are the most common congenital heart diseases (CHDs) in the neonatal period, their incidence and natural history are still debated and their follow-up and management strategies remain controversial. Our aim was to evaluate the incidence and natural history of isolated VSDs.
Methods: From January 1996 to December 2015 all neonates with a CHD suspicion were referred to the Cardiological Department of Grosseto Misericordia Hospital. Only newborns with confirmed isolated VSD were enrolled in this study and followed for 6 years.
Results: Our 343 newborns with an isolated VSD (incidence of 10.45/1000/births) account for 64%… More >

Ashley R. Kroeger¹, Jacqueline Morrison², Andrew H. Smith¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 98-104, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12525

Abstract Objective: Unplanned readmission to the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) predicts ward patients at risk for decompensation but has not been previously reported to identify at-risk patients with cardiac disease prior to ward transfer. This study aimed to determine whether PEWS prior to transfer may serve as a predictor of unplanned readmission to the CICU.
Design: All patients discharged from a tertiary children’s hospital CICU from September 2012 through August 2015 were included for analysis. PEWS assessment was performed following transfer to the cardiac ward, and… More >

Jill M. Steiner¹, James N. Kirkpatrick¹, Susan R. Heckbert², Asma Habib¹, James Sibley³, William Lober³, J. Randall Curtis³

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 65-71, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12524

Abstract Introduction: There is relatively sparse literature on the use of administrative datasets for research in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). The goal of this analysis is to examine the accuracy of administrative data for identifying patients with ACHD who died.
Methods: A list of the International Classification of Diseases codes representing ACHD of moderate- or great-complexity was created. A search for these codes in the electronic health record of adults who received care in 2010–2016 was performed, and used state death records to identify patients who died during this period. Manual record review was completed to evaluate performance… More >