Optimal Shunt Type for Norwood Procedure: Predicted Adverse Impact of Discordant Surgical Approach.

Background: The Single Ventricle Reconstruction (SVR) trial compared survival after Norwood procedure with either modified Blalock Taussig shunt (MBTS) or right ventricle pulmonary artery shunt (RVPAS).

Methods: Data from all 549 participants in the SVR trial were used to develop the MBTS TFSA algorithms, which predict the transplantation-free survival advantage (TFSA) after MBTS vs RVPAS at 1 and 6 years after Norwood procedure. Linear regression analysis of the MBTS TFSA values was performed to identify factors related to more optimal outcomes with MBTS at each timepoint.

Neoaortic Regurgitation Detected by Echocardiography After Arterial Switch Operation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Neoaortic root dilatation (NeoARD) and neoaortic regurgitation (NeoAR) are common sequelae following the arterial switch operation (ASO) for transposition of the great arteries.

Objectives: The authors aimed to estimate the cumulative incidence of NeoAR, assess whether larger neoaortic root dimensions were associated with NeoAR, and evaluate factors associated with the development of NeoAR during long-term follow-up.

Methods: Electronic databases were systematically searched for articles that assessed NeoAR and NeoARD after ASO, published before November 2022.

Predictors of Valve Failure Following Surgical Atrioventricular Valve Replacement with a Melody Valve in Infants and Children.

Options for atrioventricular (AV) valve replacement in small pediatric patients are very limited. The Melody valve has shown reasonable short-term outcomes. This study was aimed at identifying predictors of valve failure following AV valve replacement with a Melody valve at a single-center.

Computational simulation of the potential improvement in clinical outcomes of cardiovascular diseases with the use of a personalized predictive medicine approach.

Importance And Objectives: The current medical paradigm of evidence-based medicine relies on clinical guidelines derived from randomized clinical trials (RCTs), but these guidelines often overlook individual variations in treatment effects. Approaches have been proposed to develop models predicting the effects of individualized management, such as predictive allocation, individualizing treatment allocation. It is currently unknown whether widespread implementation of predictive allocation could result in better population-level outcomes over guideline-based therapy.

Impaired Myocardial Work in Children with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Left Ventricular Fibrosis on Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Echocardiography is pivotal for diagnosis and monitoring of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and can evaluate myocardial function using myocardial work (MW) calculations. Echocardiography is often supplemented by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, which can detect myocardial fibrosis using late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). We sought to study the relationship between baseline LGE and MW at baseline and during follow-up in pediatric HCM patients.

Time course of hypertension and myocardial dysfunction following anthracycline chemotherapy in pediatric patients.

Background: Anthracyclines are associated with cardiac dysfunction. Little is known about the interplay of pre-existing hypertension and treatment response. We aimed to investigate the relationship between hypertension and the development of cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD) in pediatric patients treated with anthracycline chemotherapy.

Prevalence of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis in Turner syndrome: A prospective case-control study.

Background And Aims: Abnormal liver chemistries are common in Turner syndrome (TS). Guidelines suggest that TS patients undergo annual screening of liver enzymes, but the role of non-invasive screening for steatosis and fibrosis is not clearly defined. We compared the prevalence of hepatic steatosis and fibrosis among TS patients to healthy controls using ultrasound with shear-wave elastography (SWE) and assessed for risk factors associated with steatosis and fibrosis in TS.

Semi-automated quantification of tricuspid valve dynamics and structure in tetralogy of Fallot and hypoplastic left heart syndrome using three-dimensional echocardiography.

Anomalies of the tricuspid valve (TV) are associated with worsened prognosis in congenital heart disease (CHD). Here, we present a descriptive study examining changes in TV morphology in two CHD conditions-repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) and hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLSH), using three-dimensional echocardiography. Full volume acquisitions of the TV and right ventricle (RV) were performed from an RV-focused apical view using ECG gating over 2-5 consecutive cardiac cycles using 3D echocardiography, from which TV annulus and leaflet parameters were quantified.

Impact of Phlebotomy Volume Knowledge on Provider Laboratory Ordering and Transfusion Practices in the Pediatric Cardiac ICU.

Objectives: Phlebotomy can account for significant blood loss in post-surgical pediatric cardiac patients. We investigated the effectiveness of a phlebotomy volume display in the electronic medical record (EMR) to decrease laboratory sampling and blood transfusions. Cost analysis was performed.

Derivation and Validation of a General Predictive Model for Long Term Risks for Mortality and Invasive Interventions in Congenital and Acquired Cardiac Conditions Encountered in the Young.

Accurate prognostic assessment is a key driver of clinical decision making in heart disease in the young (HDY). This investigation aims to derive, validate, and calibrate multivariable predictive models for time to surgical or catheter-mediated intervention (INT) and for time to death in HDY. 4108 unique subjects were prospectively and consecutively enrolled, and randomized to derivation and validation cohorts.

Intramyocardial cell-based therapy with Lomecel-B during bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis for hypoplastic left heart syndrome: the ELPIS phase I trial.

Aims: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) survival relies on surgical reconstruction of the right ventricle (RV) to provide systemic circulation. This substantially increases the RV load, wall stress, maladaptive remodelling, and dysfunction, which in turn increases the risk of death or transplantation.

Methods And Results: We conducted a phase 1 open-label multicentre trial to assess the safety and feasibility of Lomecel-B as an adjunct to second-stage HLHS surgical palliation.

Evaluation of Regional Myocardial Work Indices in Pediatric Essential and Renal or Renovascular Hypertension.

Background: Myocardial work (MW) is an index of LV function based on pressure-strain loops and brachial cuff pressure measurement. MW has been proposed as more sensitive than conventional functional parameters, as it accounts for afterload and myocardial deformation. However, many studies have been limited to assessment of global MW indices, neglecting regional differences in cardiac associated with hypertension and consequent cardiac remodeling.

Machine Learning-Enabled Fully Automated Assessment of Left Ventricular Volume, Ejection Fraction and Strain: Experience in Pediatric and Young Adult Echocardiography.

Background: Left ventricular (LV) volumes, ejection fraction (EF), and myocardial strain have been shown to be predictive of clinical and subclinical heart disease. Automation of LV functional assessment overcomes difficult technical challenges and complexities. We sought to assess whether a fully automated assessment of LV function could be reliably used in children and young adults.

Fetal Echocardiographic Predictors of Postnatal Surgical Strategies in Critical Pulmonary Stenosis or Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Critical pulmonary stenosis or atresia with intact ventricular septum (PSAIVS) may be managed either by biventricular repair or univentricular palliation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesize the evidence for the role of fetal echocardiography in predicting the postnatal treatment pathway.

Methods: PubMed/MEDLINE, CINHAL, Cochrane Library, Academic Search Complete, Web of Science, and Trip Pro were searched for observational studies published before July 2021.

Deterioration in myocardial work indices precedes changes in global longitudinal strain following anthracycline chemotherapy.

Background: Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) have conventionally been used for surveillance of cardiac function after cancer therapy, but indices of myocardial work (MW) are potentially superior for this purpose because they take into account both myocardial deformation and loading conditions.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the usefulness of MW in the follow-up of children and young adults following anthracycline chemotherapy.

Methods: Conventional markers of LV function (LV fractional shortening [LVFS], LVEF, GLS) and MW indices (global work index [GWI], global constructive work [GCW], global wasted work [GWW], and global work efficiency [GWE]) were obtained from 2342 echocardiographic examinations in 598 patients (354 male, 12.

UNOS listing status-related changes in mechanical circulatory support utilization and outcomes in adult congenital heart disease patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the new United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) listing criteria on mechanical circulatory support (MCS) utilization and outcomes in adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients.

Methods: We identified all ACHD and non-ACHD heart transplant candidates in the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database listed during the 590 days prior to (historical cohort) or following (recent cohort) the UNOS allocation revision on October 18, 2018. Patients were grouped based on whether they received central temporary MCS (tMCS), peripheral tMCS, durable MCS, or no MCS.

Assessment of Hypertension, Guideline-Directed Counseling, and Outcomes in the ACHD Population.

Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension were published by the American Heart Association (AHA) in 2017. The prevalence of hypertension in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) under these guidelines has yet to be characterized. We sought to assess the prevalence, impact, and provider response to hypertension under current guidelines.

Left ventricular myocardial work indices in pediatric hypertension: correlations with conventional echocardiographic assessment and subphenotyping.

Myocardial work (MW) is a novel parameter that incorporates non-invasive estimates of left ventricular (LV) systolic pressure into the interpretation of strain, thus overcoming the limitations of load dependency traditionally encountered with LV fractional shortening (LVFS), ejection fraction (LVEF), and global longitudinal strain (GLS). However, data on MW in the pediatric population with hypertension are lacking. Conventional markers of LV function and MW indices were obtained from 88 echocardiographic examinations in 76 children with hypertension (47 males, 15.

End-Diastolic Forward Flow and Restrictive Physiology in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background Pulmonary arterial end-diastolic forward flow (EDFF) following repaired tetralogy of Fallot has been thought to represent right ventricular (RV) restrictive physiology, but is not fully understood. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to clarify its physiological and clinical correlates, and to define a framework for understanding EDFF and RV restrictive physiology. Methods and Results PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, and reference lists of relevant articles were searched for observational studies published before March 2021.

Impact of the new UNOS donor heart allocation system on waitlist outcomes and early posttransplant mortality among adults with congenital heart disease.

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) experience worse waitlist outcomes and higher early posttransplant mortality compared to non-ACHD patients. On October 18, 2018; the UNOS donor heart allocation system was redesigned giving unique listing status to ACHD patients. The impact of this change on outcomes in transplant-listed patients is unstudied.

Artificial intelligence in pediatric cardiology: taking baby steps in the big world of data.

Purpose Of Review: Artificial intelligence (AI) has changed virtually every aspect of modern life, and medicine is no exception. Pediatric cardiology is both a perceptual and a cognitive subspecialty that involves complex decision-making, so AI is a particularly attractive tool for this medical discipline. This review summarizes the foundational work and incremental progress made as AI applications have emerged in pediatric cardiology since 2020.