Contraceptive Practices of Women With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Understanding the contraceptive practices of women with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) and providing them individualized contraception counseling may prevent adverse events and unplanned high-risk pregnancies. Given this, we sought to examine the contraceptive practices in women with CHD, describe adverse events associated with contraceptive use, and describe the provision of contraception counseling. Women >18 years were recruited from 2011 to 2014 from 9 adult CHD (ACHD) centers throughout North America.

Clinical efficacy of dofetilide for the treatment of atrial tachyarrhythmias in adults with congenital heart disease.

Background: Atrial tachyarrhythmias (AT) including atrial fibrillation (AF), atrial flutter (AFL), and atrial tachycardia represent a clinical challenge in the adult with congenital heart disease (CHD). Dofetilide (D) is a rapidly activating delayed rectifier potassium channel (IKr) blocker effective in pharmacological conversion and maintenance of normal sinus rhythm in patients with AF and AFL. There is limited knowledge regarding the role of D in adults with CHD.

Long-term results of the subclavian flap repair for coarctation of the aorta in infants.

Background: Coarctation is a congenital narrowing of the aorta that often requires repair during infancy. The subclavian flap aortoplasty was once widely favored for its avoidance of a circumferential suture line and low incidence of recoarctation. The aim of this study is to report the long-term results of the subclavian flap repair for coarctation of the aorta in infants.

Aortic root dilatation in adults with surgically repaired tetralogy of fallot: a multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Although aortic root pathology has been described in patients with tetralogy of Fallot, the scope of the problem remains poorly defined. We sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of aortic root dilatation in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Methods And Results: A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted with standardized reassessment of echocardiographic parameters in 474 adults (≥18 years) with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot or pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect.

Heart rate response during exercise and pregnancy outcome in women with congenital heart disease.

Background: Cardiopulmonary exercise testing is often used to evaluate exercise capacity in adults with congenital heart disease including women who are considering pregnancy. The relationship between cardiopulmonary exercise testing parameters and pregnancy outcome has not been defined.

Methods And Results: We conducted a multicenter retrospective observational study of women with congenital heart disease who had undergone cardiopulmonary exercise testing within 2 years of pregnancy or during the first trimester.

Arrhythmia burden in adults with surgically repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a multi-institutional study.

Background: The arrhythmia burden in tetralogy of Fallot, types of arrhythmias encountered, and risk profile may change as the population ages.

Methods And Results: The Alliance for Adult Research in Congenital Cardiology (AARCC) conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study to quantify the arrhythmia burden in tetralogy of Fallot, to characterize age-related trends, and to identify associated factors. A total of 556 patients, 54.

Sterile inflammation associated with transradial catheterization and hydrophilic sheaths.

In 1999, we noted the development of inflammation and/or abscesses at the site of radial access in a group of patients. Over a 3-year period, we noted this inflammation in 33 patients out of 2,038 (1.6%) who had catheterization via the radial approach.

Same-day transradial outpatient stenting with a 6-hr course of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor blockade: a feasibility study.

The aim of the study was to explore the feasibility of same-day outpatient stent placement using a short course of intravenous antiplatelet therapy. Patients (n = 26) had stent placement and 6 hr of eptifibatide therapy. Demographics, procedural information, CPK data, and length of stay were recorded along with postdischarge outcomes.

Radial approach to right heart catheterization: early experience with a promising technique.

Transradial cardiac catheterization has been historically limited to arterial catheterization. Using small-diameter introducers and catheters, a technique of combined right and left heart catheterization is described using both the radial artery and its neighboring vein. Evaluation of 55 sequential right and left heart procedures showed that it could be accomplished in > 50% using venous access in the forearm.