Vatche Bahudian, John Valdovinos^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 115-127, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063991 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background: The population of Fontan patients, patients born with a single functioning ventricle, is growing. There is a growing need to develop algorithms for this population that can predict health outcomes. Artificial intelligence models predicting short-term and long-term health outcomes for patients with the Fontan circulation are needed. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) provide a solution for generating realistic and useful synthetic data that can be used to train such models. Methods: Despite their promise, GANs have not been widely adopted in the congenital heart disease research community due, in some part, to a lack of knowledge… More >

Jing Ling¹, Naijimuding Abudurexiti¹, Jiaxiong Wu¹, Runzhang Liang¹, Zirui Peng¹, Yuting Huang², Haiyun Yuan^1,3,4,*, Shusheng Wen^1,3,4,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 13-25, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063437 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background: Although Cone reconstruction has been shown to improve biventricular function over time, postoperative right ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is frequently observed, signiffcantly affecting reoperation and long-term prognosis. This study aims to identify the predictors for postoperative RVD. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 51 patients with Ebstein’s anomaly who underwent the Cone reconstruction. RVD was deffned as right ventricular fractional area change (RV-FAC) less than 35% and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) less than 17 mm through pre-discharge echocardiography. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the pre-operative predictors. Results: The median age at surgery… More >

Yong An^1,2, Gang Wang^1,2, Jiangtao Dai^1,2, Zhengxia Pan^1,2, Yuhao Wu^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 1-12, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063152 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive condition with a poor prognosis in children. Lung transplantation (Ltx) remains the ultimate option when patients are refractory to PAH-specific therapy. Reverse Potts shunt (RPS) has been introduced to treat suprasystemic PAH. This study aims to investigate the clinical outcomes of suprasystemic PAH in children. Methods Embase, Pubmed, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for related studies that reported the clinical outcomes of suprasystemic PAH following RPS in children. To investigate the clinical outcomes of RPS, meta-analyses of the early and overall mortalities were performed. Results Nine studies… More >

Xu Liu, Yanjun Sun, Xiafeng Yu, Yiwei Liu, Hao Zhang^*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 103-113, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063108 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Aorta–right atrial tunnel (ARAT) is an extremely rare congenital heart malformation with an average age of diagnosis of approximately 20 years. Its clinical symptoms are varied and often atypical. ARAT usually originates from the left or right sinus of Valsalva. In this letter, we aim to share a rare case of ARAT originating from the noncoronary sinus in an infant. The patient presented with a cardiac murmur, a dilated right heart, and a tortuous tunnel originating from the dilated noncoronary sinus and terminating at the right atrium in echocardiogram and computed tomography angiography. The patient More >

Yaqi Zhang^1,#, Liang Hu^1,#, Yuxi Zhang¹, Bo Qian¹, Jirong Qi^1,2, Wei Peng^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 55-60, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063072 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background: Carotid artery pseudoaneurysm in children is rare; typically caused by trauma; surgical interventions and infection. These aneurysms can lead to significant neurological and vascular risks; and their management remains challenging. While endovascular therapy has become the standard for giant pseudoaneurysms in adults; its use in children is limited. No established guidelines or long-term safety data exist for pediatric endovascular treatment. We present a child who developed a carotid artery pseudoaneurysm after venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) support and heart transplantation; highlighting the management strategies and outcomes. Case Description: A 4-year-old boy with dilated cardiomyopathy was admitted… More >

Roberto Noya Galluzzo¹, Karine Souza Da Correggio¹, Aldo von Wangenheim², Heron Werner³, Nathalie Jeanne Bravo-Valenzuela⁴, Edward Araujo Júnior^5,6,*, Alexandre Sherlley Casimiro Onofre⁷

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 89-101, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.063014 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a metabolic disorder, leads to organ damage due to chronic hyperglycemia with multiple pathogenic processes. Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) poses risks to mothers and offspring, increasing the incidence of structural congenital heart disease (CHD) and myocardial hypertrophy in newborns. Objective: This review aimed to examine the association between maternal diabetes mellitus and CHD. Methods: This systematic review used the STROBE and TRIPOD checklists registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024513858). It focused on diagnostic test accuracy using the Munn et al. protocol for systematic assessment, emphasizing the “PIRD”: Population, Index Test, Reference Test, Diagnosis of Interest.… More >

John J. Araujo^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 61-75, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.062927 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Today, more than 90% of children who are born with congenital heart disease survive and reach adulthood, especially in developed countries. Consequently, the population of adults with congenital heart disease has increased significantly over the last few decades. In Latin America and the Caribbean countries, this same scenario is occurring at an accelerated pace. Loss to follow-up is a global problem in adults with congenital heart disease, ranging from 30–60%. In Latin America and Caribbean countries, it is estimated that less than 10% of adults with congenital heart disease are being followed. The small number More >

Poria Moradi¹, Zahra Naghibifar^2,3, Armin Naghipour^1,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 77-87, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.061784 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Introduction: The occurrence of congenital anomalies is one of the serious challenges in the world. Therefore, identifying related factors to reduce it is of particular importance. This study aimed to determine the incidence and factors related to congenital anomalies. Methods: An epidemiology study was conducted on 1567 infants and their parents in Kermanshah, Iran. The required information was extracted from the files of mothers in health centers. The data collection tool was a researcher-made checklist of 39 questions. The data was statistically analyzed with the STATA version 14 software. Result: The incidence of congenital anomalies was 2.9%… More >

Prathap Sarma¹, Palesa Mogane^2,*, Katharina Vanderdonck³, Moses Kebalepile¹, Palesa Motshabi Chakane⁴

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 41-53, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.060382 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background: Congenital cardiac diseases (CCD) are common congenital birth defects that require high-risk surgery. Outcomes following congenital cardiac surgery in children living in high-income countries (HIC) have been documented, but little is known from the African continent. This study aimed to determine factors associated with perioperative mortality in patients who underwent congenital cardiac surgery at our institution. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital over 12 years (2006–2017). A multivariable regression analysis was performed for the factors which had a p-value of 0.1 and less in the univariable regression analysis. A… More >

Ahmed M. Dardeer^1,2,3,#, Victoria M. Stoll^1,2,#, Boyang Liu^1,2, William E. Moody^1,2, Colin D. Chue¹, Paul Clift^1,2, Roman Wesolowski⁴, Lucy E. Hudsmith¹, Richard P. Steeds^1,2,*

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.20, No.1, pp. 27-39, 2025, DOI:10.32604/chd.2025.059729 - 18 March 2025

Abstract Background: Patients with unrepaired Ebstein’s anomaly experience exercise intolerance, heart failure and premature mortality. Volumetric assessment of right ventricular function is difficult due to the complex anatomy of the right ventricle and tricuspid valve. Myocardial deformation indices are an early marker in other cardiac pathologies of ventricular dysfunction. Objectives: 1. Assess myocardial deformation in unrepaired Ebstein’s compared to healthy controls. 2. Investigate the relationships between myocardial deformation and exercise capacity. Methods: Myocardial deformation parameters (strain) were calculated using feature tracking from standard cardiac magnetic resonance cine images. Cardiopulmonary exercise results were included where available. Results: 36 patients… More >