2640 Meters Closer to the Stars: Does High Altitude Affect Fontan Results?

Background: Risk factors for and postoperative results of the Fontan operation in patients living at high altitude (>2500 meters above sea level) in the Andean region remain unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate immediate postoperative outcomes and to assess short- and long-term functional class after the Fontan operation.

Methods: From June 2003 to February 2019, 104 patients receiving the Fontan procedure at 2640 meters (8661 feet) above sea level were retrospectively studied.

Access to paediatric cardiac surgery in Colombia: a population-based study.

Objectives: Globally congenital heart disease mortality is declining, yet the proportion of infant deaths attributable to heart disease rises in Colombia and other middle-sociodemographic countries. We aimed to assess the accessibility of paediatric cardiac surgery (PCS) to children <18 years of age in 2016 in the South American country of Colombia.

Methods: In Bogotá, Colombia, a multi-national team used cross-sectional and retrospective cohort study designs to adapt and evaluate 4 health system indicators at the national level: first, the population with timely geographic access to an institution providing PCS; second, the number of paediatric cardiac surgeons; third, this specialized procedure volume and its national distribution; and fourth, the 30-day perioperative mortality rate after PCS in Colombia.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of newborn pulse oximetry screening to detect critical congenital heart disease in Colombia.

Background: In many countries, economic assessments of the routine use of pulse oximetry in the detection of Critical Congenital Heart Disease (CCHD) at birth has not yet been carried out. CCHDs necessarily require medical intervention within the first months of life. This assessment is a priority in low and medium resource countries.