Combining Congenital Heart Surgical and Interventional Cardiology Outcome Data in a Single Database: The Development of a Patient-Centered Collaboration of the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA) and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC).

The European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA) Congenital Database (CD) is the second largest clinical pediatric and congenital cardiac surgical database in the world and the largest in Europe, where various smaller national or regional databases exist. Despite the dramatic increase in interventional cardiology procedures over recent years, only scattered national or regional databases of such procedures exist in Europe. Most importantly, no congenital cardiac database exists in the world that seamlessly combines both surgical and interventional cardiology data on an international level; therefore, the outcomes of surgical and interventional procedures performed on the same or similar patients cannot easily be tracked, assessed, and analyzed.

Combining Congenital Heart Surgical and Interventional Cardiology Outcome Data in a Single Database: The Development of a Patient-Centered Collaboration of the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA) and the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC).

The European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA) Congenital Database (CD) is the second largest clinical pediatric and congenital cardiac surgical database in the world and the largest in Europe, where various smaller national or regional databases exist. Despite the dramatic increase in interventional cardiology procedures over recent years, only scattered national or regional databases of such procedures exist in Europe. Most importantly, no congenital cardiac database exists in the world that seamlessly combines both surgical and interventional cardiology data on an international level; therefore, the outcomes of surgical and interventional procedures performed on the same or similar patients cannot easily be tracked, assessed, and analyzed.

Facilitators and barriers of physical activity participation in children with a single ventricle physiology: a mixed-methods study.

Background: The present study focuses on assessing the physical activity level of children with Fontan circulation for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and identifying potential barriers and facilitators toward their participation in physical activity.

Patients And Methods: Seven children aged 5-16 years (mean (SD) 8.8 (3.

A qualitative study exploring risk perception in congenital cardiac surgery: the perspective of UK surgeons.

Introduction: Managing risk is central to clinical care, yet most research focuses on patient perception, as opposed to how risk is enacted within the clinical setting by healthcare professionals.

Aim: To explore how surgical risk is perceived, encountered, and managed by congenital cardiac surgeons.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 congenital cardiac surgeons representing every unit across England and Wales.

Congenital cardiac surgery and parental perception of risk: a qualitative study.

Introduction: The way risk is interpreted by parents of children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery is poorly documented. Literature suggests clinicians have concerns that parents may not understand the complexity of procedures. Conversely, some parents perceive an unnecessary over-emphasis of risks.

Use of an Extracellular Matrix Patch for Sternal Wound Dehiscence after Cardiac Surgery in a Neonate.

Management of sternal wound dehiscence in newborns after cardiac operations can be a slow and lengthy process, during which the risk of progression to deep sternal wound infection and mediastinitis remains a concern. We report the case of a neonate born with single-ventricle physiology who underwent a Damus-Kaye-Stansel procedure as first-stage palliation toward creating Fontan circulation. The postoperative period was characterized by sterile wound dehiscence of the subcutaneous layers.

Gene pathway development in human epicardial adipose tissue during early life.

Studies in rodents and newborn humans demonstrate the influence of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in temperature control and energy balance and a critical role in the regulation of body weight. Here, we obtained samples of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) from neonates, infants, and children in order to evaluate changes in their transcriptional landscape by applying a systems biology approach. Surprisingly, these analyses revealed that the transition to infancy is a critical stage for changes in the morphology of EAT and is reflected in unique gene expression patterns of a substantial proportion of thermogenic gene transcripts (~10%).

Outcome of the Norwood procedure in the setting of transposition of the great arteries and functional single left ventricle.

Objective: To assess the surgical results of the Norwood procedure and subsequent clinical outcome in the setting of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) with a dominant morphologic left ventricle.

Methods: Among 486 patients who underwent the Norwood procedure from 1988 to 2007 at our institution, there were 37 patients with TGA and left ventricular dependant circulation with the following associated lesions: double inlet left ventricle (DILV) (n=24), tricuspid atresia (n=9), ventricular septal defect (VSD) with hypoplastic right ventricle (RV) (n=4). Outcomes for all three-staged procedure were compared with the overall Norwood group.

Intraoperative Doppler velocity measurements to locate patent ITA grafts at reoperation.

We are reporting a case of a patient who underwent an aortic valve replacement with previous coronary artery bypass grafting. During the operation we used a Doppler velocity probe to locate the exact position of the bilateral internal thoracic arteries. Once the vessels were identified, a suture was passed widely around each internal thoracic artery and a snare was positioned.

Myocardial protection with intermittent cold blood during aortic valve operation: antegrade versus retrograde delivery.

Background: Intermittent antegrade cold blood cardioplegia is superior to warm blood cardioplegia in patients who have aortic valve operation. This study compared the cardioprotective efficacy of intermittent antegrade and retrograde cold blood cardioplegia with emphasis on metabolic stress in the left and right ventricles.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients who had elective aortic valve replacement were prospectively randomly selected to receive intermittent antegrade or retrograde cold blood cardioplegia.

Magnesium-supplemented warm blood cardioplegia in patients undergoing coronary artery revascularization.

Background: Although there is growing evidence to suggest that the administration of magnesium (Mg2+) to patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and to patients after myocardial infarction is beneficial, the addition of Mg2+ to cardioplegic solutions remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of intermittent warm blood cardioplegia with and without Mg2+ supplementation on the early postoperative clinical outcomes in patients undergoing both elective or urgent CABG.

Methods: Four hundred patients undergoing CABG were prospectively randomized to receive either blood cardioplegia without Mg2+ (BC, n = 200) or supplemented with Mg2+ (BC-Mg2+, n = 200).