Prenatal Diagnosis Rate of Critical Congenital Heart Disease Remains Inadequate with Significant Racial/Ethnic and Socioeconomic Disparities and Technical Barriers.

Prenatal diagnosis (preDx) of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) decreases neonatal morbidity and mortality. Obstetrical fetal cardiac imaging guidelines in 2013 aimed to increase preDx. The objectives of this study were to determine the contemporary preDx rate of CCHD and identify maternal-fetal factors and variations in prenatal care that may be potential barriers.

Priorities and Understanding of Pregnancy Among Women With Congenital Heart Disease: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Background: Many women with congenital heart disease (CHD) desire safe and successful pregnancies, but a significant proportion does not seek prepregnancy counseling.

Objectives: This study aims to distinguish the personal priorities and perceptions about pregnancy in this growing population.

Methods: Women aged 18 to 50 years with CHD were enrolled from 2 sites.

Bronchial stenting in infants with severe bronchomalacia: Technique and outcomes.

Objectives: To report the first use of a balloon expandable bare metal stent for treating infant bronchomalacia.

Background: Infant bronchomalacia often requires prolonged mechanical ventilation and can be life-threatening. Effective treatment for severe infant bronchomalacia continues to be elusive.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus Stenting for All Ductal-Dependent Cyanotic Infants: Waning Use of Blalock-Taussig Shunts.

[Figure: see text].

An Anterior Anastomosis for the Modified Fontan Connection: A Hemodynamic Analysis.

This hemodynamic feasibility study examined total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) designs connecting the extracardiac conduit to the anterior surface of pulmonary arteries (PAs) or superior vena cava (SVC) rather than to the inferior PA surface (traditional TCPC). The study involved twenty-five consecutive Fontan patients meeting inclusion criteria from a single institution. A virtual surgical platform mimicked the completed traditional TCPC and generated three anterior anastomosis designs: Anterior-PA, Middle-SVC, and SVC-Inn (Inn: innominate vein).

Infants with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum who require balloon atrial septostomy have significantly higher 18-month mortality.

Introduction: Many newborns with pulmonary atresia/intact ventricular septum require intervention to establish pulmonary flow and sufficient cardiac output. The resulting haemodynamic changes are not well characterised and may have unintended consequences.

Methods: This is a 30-year (1988-2018) retrospective study of patients with pulmonary atresia intact ventricular septum.

Purpose-Built Transcatheter Cavopulmonary Anastomosis Device Requirements: Multi-Modality Imaging Evaluation.

Background/purpose: Patients with a functional single ventricle undergo multiple, palliative open-heart surgeries. This includes a superior cavopulmonary anastomosis or bidirectional Glenn shunt. A less-invasive transcatheter approach may reduce morbidity.

Early experience with the Micro Plug Set for preterm patent ductus arteriosus closure.

Objectives: We intend to describe early experience using a new, commercially available Micro Plug Set for preterm neonate and infant transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion.

Background: Transcatheter PDA occlusion in premature neonates and small infants is safe and effective. The procedure is early in its evolution.

Bronchus compression relieved by patent ductus arteriosus stenting.

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting is evolving as an alternative to surgical aorto-pulmonary shunts for infants with ductal-dependent pulmonary blood flow. Given anatomical proximity, the PDA can compress the ipsilateral bronchus. We report a case series of four patients with bronchial compression by a tortuous PDA who underwent PDA stenting.