Christopher R. Broda¹, Hamsini Sriraman², Devanshi Wadhwa², YunFei Wang¹, Hari Tunuguntla¹, Ayse Akcan-Arikan^3,4, Peter R. Ermis¹, Jack F. Price¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 602-607, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12617

Abstract Purpose: Elevated central venous pressure (CVP) has deleterious effects on several organ systems in patients with Fontan circulation. However, the relationship between CVP and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has not been assessed in patients with Fontan circulation.
Methods: Patients with Fontan circulation whose hemodynamics were assessed by catheterization between 1987 and 2015 and had a serum creatinine measured within 72 hours prior to the procedure were included for analysis. Patients with primary kidney disease were excluded. Renal function was calculated by “bedside Schwartz” equation in children (< 18 years) and Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation in adults.… More >

Timur Mese¹, Baris Guven², Murat Muhtar Yilmazer¹, Cem Karadeniz³, Rahmi Ozdemir¹, Onder Doksoz¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 506-511, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12616

Abstract Background: Mean platelet volume (MPV), platecrit, and platelet distribution width (PDW) are markers of platelet activation. Previous studies have found that platelet activation occurs in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Platelet indices including MPV, PDW, and platecrit have not been studied in children with congenital heart disease associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (APAH-CHD) who survived and those who died.
Objective: The objective of this study to investigate the value of platelet indices with clinical and hemodynamic indicators predicting the disease severity and survival in children with APAH-CHD.
Methods: This was a nested case-control study. MPV, platecrit, and PDW levels measured in… More >

Martin Christmann^1,2, Alexandra Wipf^1,2, Hitendu Dave^2,3, Daniel Quandt^1,2, Oliver Niesse^1,2, Markus Deisenberg^2,4, Martin Hersberger^2,5, Oliver Kretschmar^1,2, Walter Knirsch^1,2

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 594-601, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12615

Abstract Objective: To find risk factors for a complicated early postoperative course after arterial switch operation (ASO) in neonates with d-transposition of the great arteries (dTGA). In addition to anatomical and surgical parameters, the predictive value of early postoperative troponin T (TnT) values in correlation to the early postoperative course after ASO is analyzed.
Methods: Seventy-nine neonates (57 (72%) male) with simple dTGA treated by ASO between 2009 and 2016 were included in the analysis. A complicated early postoperative course (30 days) was defined by one of the following criteria: (A) moderate to severe cardiac dysfunction without rhythm disturbances, (B) rhythm… More >

Natasha G. Boyes¹, Michael K. Stickland², Stephanie Fusnik¹, Elizabeth Hogeweide¹, Josie T.J. Fries¹, Mark J. Haykowsky³, Chantelle L. Baril¹, Shonah Runalls¹, Ashok Kakadekar⁴, Scott Pharis⁴, Charissa Pockett⁴, Timothy J. Bradley⁴, Kristi D. Wright⁵, Marta Erlandson¹, Corey R. Tomczak¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 578-583, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12614

Abstract Children with congenital heart disease are at risk for developing increased arterial stiffness and this may be modulated by physical activity. Objective: To compare arterial stiffness in high- and low-physically active children with congenital heart disease and healthy age- and sex-matched controls.
Patients: Seventeen children with congenital heart disease (12 ± 2 years; females = 9), grouped by low- and high-physical activity levels from accelerometry step count values, and 20 matched controls (11 ± 3 years; females = 9) were studied.
Outcome Measures: Carotid-radial pulse wave velocity was assessed with applanation tonometry to determine arterial stiffness. Body composition and 6-min… More >

Hieu Lan Nguyen^1,2, Quang Tan Phan^3,4, Linh Huynh Dinh², Hieu Ba Tran², Hoyoun Won⁴, Julian Johny Thottian^4,5, Dung Doan Duc¹, Truong Nguyen Quang³, Sang Wook Kim⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 584-593, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12613

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Nit-Occlud Le VSD Coil versus Duct Occluders ^ for percutaneous closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pmVSD).
Introduction: VSD closure using conventional pmVSD occluders has been largely abandoned because of an unacceptable high rate of complete heart block (CHB). The advantages of Duct Occluders and VSD Coil are supposed to reduce the drawbacks of previous devices, especially CHB complications.
Method: Patients underwent percutaneous pmVSD closure were divided into Coil group (using VSD Coil, n = 71) and DO group (using Duct Occluders, n = 315). Patient demographics, clinical presentations, echocardiography measurements, procedure… More >

Kevin C. Harris¹, Christine Voss¹, Kathryn Rankin², Basmina Aminzadah², Ross Gardner¹, Andrew S. Mackie²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 563-570, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12612

Abstract Objective: Individuals with congenital heart disease (CHD) may be at higher risk of acquired cardiovascular disease than the general population due to their underlying physiology and/or surgical sequelae. We sought to assess the prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in youth and adults with CHD.
Methods: We assessed cardiovascular health as per the Cardiovascular Health in Ambulatory Care Research Team (CANHEART) health index in patients with CHD aged 15+ years who attended cardiology outpatient clinics. Participants self-reported smoking behavior, fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, and whether they had diabetes and hypertension. Individual health indices were categorized into ideal/not ideal,… More >

Michele M. Pasierb, Josiah M. Penalver, Margaret M. Vernon, Bhawna Arya

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 571-577, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12611

Abstract Background: Accurate prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) allows for appropriate delivery and postnatal management. Geographic constraints limit access to fetal cardiology subspecialists. In our approach, general pediatric cardiologists are first line in regional prenatal cardiac screening. We aim to demonstrate the utility of this approach in diagnosing CHD requiring cardiac interventions within 30 days of life.
Methods: This is a retrospective review of fetal echocardiograms performed at Seattle Children’s Hospital regional cardiology sites (SCH-RC) from December 2008 to December 2015. Referrals to Seattle Children’s Hospital Prenatal Program (SCH-PNP) were evaluated for referral timing, indication, diagnostic accuracy, and postnatal… More >

Parthak Prodhan¹, Xinyu Tang², Jeffrey Gossett², Brandon Beam³, Janet Simsic⁴, Nancy Ghanayem⁵, Nahed O. ElHassan⁶

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 519-527, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12610

Abstract Objective: Different feeding strategies have been suggested to improve growth and survival of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome following stage 1 palliation. The study objective was to assess hospital mortality following stage 1 palliation among infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who had two feeding modalities, gastrostomy tube vs no gastrostomy tube.
Design: Retrospective study design.
Setting: Multicenter pediatric heath information system database.
Patient: About 4287 patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome who underwent stage 1 Norwood procedure from 2004 through 2013. Infants who had gastrostomy tube with or without fundoplication procedure were identified and their clinical characteristics were… More >

Jonathan N. Menachem¹, Edo Y. Birati², Payman Zamani², Anjali T. Owens², Pavan Atluri³, Christian A. Bermudez³, David Drajpuch², Stephanie Fuller⁴, Yuli Y. Kim², Christopher E. Mascio⁴, Vikram Palanivel², J. Eduardo Rame², Joyce Wald², Michael A. Acker³, Jeremy A. Mazurek²

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 492-498, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12606

Abstract Background: Heart failure (HF) is the leading cause of death in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). Identification of disease progression and timing of referral for advanced therapies is often delayed. However, increased awareness and understanding of ACHD and improvements in the approach to treatment have led to improved outcomes. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a common barrier to HT. In ACHD, the approach to PH and HT is quite complicated, given the anatomic heterogeneity and lower prevalence and experience. However, in some cases, PH is a result of elevated systemic filling pressures and low output.
Methods: We describe the approach… More >

Nancy McClung^1,2, Jill Glidewell¹, Sherry L. Farr¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.4, pp. 554-562, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12605

Abstract Objective: To examine the financial burdens and mental health needs of families of children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN) with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Methods: Data from the 2009–2010 National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) were used to examine parent-reported financial burdens (out-of-pocket expenses, financial problems, employment impact, caregiving hours) and family members’ need for mental health services in families of CSHCN with CHD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare financial burdens and family members’ need for mental health services among CSHCN with and without CHD. Among CSHCN with CHD, multivariable logistic regression, stratified by… More >