Standardizing the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis in infants with congenital heart disease.

Objective: This quality improvement initiative aimed to standardize the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD).

Study Design: A multidisciplinary team developed clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of NEC within the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). The diagnosis rate of NEC per 100 at-risk admissions was the primary outcome measure.

Trisomy 21 and Congenital Heart Disease: Impact on Health and Functional Outcomes From Birth Through Adolescence: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.

Due to improvements in recognition and management of their multisystem disease, the long-term survival of infants, children, and adolescents with trisomy 21 and congenital heart disease now matches children with congenital heart disease and no genetic condition in many scenarios. Although this improved survival is a triumph, individuals with trisomy 21 and congenital heart disease have unique and complex care needs in the domains of physical, developmental, and psychosocial health, which affect functional status and quality of life. Pulmonary hypertension and single ventricle heart disease are 2 known cardiovascular conditions that reduce life expectancy in individuals with trisomy 21.

Diuretic response after neonatal cardiac surgery: a report from the NEPHRON collaborative.

Background: Multicenter early diuretic response (DR) analysis of single furosemide dosing following neonatal cardiac surgery is lacking to inform whether early DR predicts adverse clinical outcomes.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the NEPHRON registry. Random forest machine learning generated receiver operating characteristic-area under the curve (ROC-AUC) and odds ratios for mechanical ventilation (MV) and respiratory support (RS).

Early Functional Status Change After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Pediatric Heart Center: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Children with cardiac disease are at significantly higher risk for in-hospital cardiac arrest (CA) compared with those admitted without cardiac disease. CA occurs in 2-6% of patients admitted to a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU) and 4-6% of children admitted to the pediatric cardiac-ICU. Treatment of in-hospital CA with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) results in return of spontaneous circulation in 43-64% of patients and survival rate that varies from 20 to 51%.

The Relationship of Family Factors to Psychosocial Outcomes in Children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome at 6 Years of Age.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the relationships between family factors and outcomes for children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).

Study Design: This cross-sectional study was ancillary to the Pediatric Heart Network Single Ventricle Reconstruction Extension Study to examine family factors including parental mental health, quality of life (QOL), family resources, function and management, and their relationships to child psychosocial outcomes (adaptive behavior, internalizing and externalizing behaviors and health-related quality of life [HRQOL]) at 6 years of age.

Results: Participants were parents (115 mothers, 71 fathers) of children with HLHS.

Design and methods for the training in exercise activities and motion for growth (TEAM 4 growth) trial: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Growth is often impaired in infants with congenital heart disease. Poor growth has been associated with worse neurodevelopment, abnormal behavioral state, and longer time to hospital discharge. Nutritional interventions, drug therapy, and surgical palliation have varying degrees of success enhancing growth.

Fluid Accumulation After Neonatal Congenital Cardiac Operation: Clinical Implications and Outcomes.

Background: This study was conducted to determine the association between fluid balance metrics and mortality and other postoperative outcomes after neonatal cardiac operation in a contemporary multicenter cohort.

Methods: This was an observational cohort study across 22 hospitals in neonates (≤30 days) undergoing cardiac operation. We explored overall percentage fluid overload, postoperative day 1 percentage fluid overload, peak percentage fluid overload, and time to first negative daily fluid balance.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma clears SARS-CoV-2 refractory to remdesivir in an infant with congenital heart disease.

COVID-19 convalescent plasma (CP) may be a safe and effective treatment option in SARS-CoV-2 infection refractory to remdesivir. Infants may benefit from CP despite developing immune systems and donor variability emphasizes the need for characterization prior to use.

Effect of 22q11.2 deletion on bleeding and transfusion utilization in children with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery.

Background: Postsurgical bleeding causes significant morbidity and mortality in children undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects (CHD). 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (DS) is the second most common genetic risk factor for CHD.