Transcatheter and Surgical Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Very Low Birth Weight Infants: 2018-2022.

Background And Objective: The optimal patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure method in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is uncertain. In 2019, the first transcatheter occlusion device was approved in the United States for infants ≥700 g. We described survival and short-term outcomes among VLBW infants who underwent transcatheter or surgical PDA closure (2018-2022).

Improvement Science Increases Routine Lipid Screening in General Pediatric Cardiology.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of patient education, physician counseling, and point-of-care (POC) testing on improving adherence to lipid screening national guidelines in a general pediatric cardiology practice (2017-2023).

Study Design: Regional primary care providers were surveyed regarding lipid screening practices. Key drivers were categorized (physician, patient, and system) with corresponding interventions.

Obstetric imaging practice characteristics associated with prenatal detection of critical congenital heart disease in a rural US region over 20 years.

Objective: To identify clinical practice characteristics associated with the frequency of prenatal critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) detection (i.e., the number of liveborn infants with postnatally confirmed CCHD identified on prenatal sonography) over 20 years in a rural setting comprised of 11 primarily low-volume obstetric hospitals and the single tertiary academic hospital to which they refer.

Dyslipidemia Among Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Background: Atherosclerotic disease is an important cause of morbidity among adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Prevalence of dyslipidemia in this group is poorly described.

Objectives: This study aimed to describe the prevalence of dyslipidemia among adults with CHD.

Variation of Patent Ductus Arteriosus Treatment in Very Low Birth Weight Infants.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treatment is common among very low birth weight (VLBW) infants. Given limitations in evidence, controversy exists regarding treatment risks and benefits. In this study, we describe PDA treatment trends and variation in a large, US, multicenter VLBW infant cohort.

Outcomes for Ectopia Cordis.

Objectives: To utilize a large multicenter neonatal cohort to describe survival and clinical outcomes of very low birth weight (VLBW) or preterm infants with ectopia cordis.

Study Design: Data were prospectively collected on 2 211 262 infants (born 2000-2017) from 845 US centers. Both VLBW (401-1500 g or 22-29 weeks of gestation) and non-VLBW (>1500 g and >29 weeks) infants had diagnoses or anatomic descriptors consistent with ectopia cordis and/or pentalogy of Cantrell.

Identification of Critical Congenital Heart Disease in Vermont: The Role of Universal Pulse Oximetry Screening in a Rural State.

Objective: Pulse oximetry screening (POS) is becoming the standard of care in screening for critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). Our objective was to characterize the historical diagnostic pattern in a rural tertiary care children's hospital and explore how universal POS might affect morbidity, mortality, and care delivery.

Patients And Methods: We identified patients <6 months of age in the Vermont Children's Hospital echocardiogram database with CCHD diagnosed between 2002 and 2011.

Distribution of and mortality from serious congenital heart disease in very low birth weight infants.

Objective: To characterize serious congenital heart disease in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants (born at <1500 g or a gestational age of 22-29 weeks) in a large, international database.

Patients And Methods: We analyzed a database of 99 786 VLBW infants born or treated at 703 NICUs between calendar years 2006 and 2007. We defined serious congenital heart disease as 1 of 14 specific lesions or any other structural congenital heart disease that required surgical or medical treatment by initial hospital discharge or by the age of 1 year.

Pretransport and posttransport characteristics and outcomes of neonates who were admitted to a cardiac intensive care unit.

Objective: The objective for this study was to characterize the impact and the safety of transporting neonates with known or suspected cardiac abnormalities.

Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the charts and computerized records of 192 admissions to a cardiac ICU in 2002. Patients were included when they were < 28 days of age at admission and were transported from adjacent obstetric facilities (local N = 70) or other inpatient medical facilities (transport N = 122).

A novel method for selective delivery of drugs to the pulmonary arteries.

Drug treatment of pulmonary hypertension may be limited by systemic hypotension. Selective action of a vasodilator drug in pulmonary arteries could be achieved by administering a vasodilator gas into systemic venous blood so that it dilates pulmonary arteries before immediate first-pass elimination via exhalation. This article presents in vivo data to show that a pharmacologically active gas can be delivered safely into systemic venous blood where it has a distribution pattern and physiologic effects similar to those observed when the gas is inhaled into pulmonary venous (systemic arterial) blood.

Prenatal role of the ductus arteriosus in absent pulmonary valve syndrome.

Absent pulmonary valve with ventricular septal defect is associated with ductal agenesis and markedly dilated main and branch pulmonary arteries. The less common variant with intact ventricular septum generally exhibits a patent ductus and smaller branch pulmonary arteries, and may be associated with tricuspid atresia. We identified 7 patients with the prenatal diagnosis of absent pulmonary valve, 5 with ventricular septal defect (Group 1) and 2 with an intact ventricular septum (Group 2).