- A Tense Race: Correlation of Liver Stiffness with Ultrasound Elastography and Hemodynamics in Fontan Patients. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: The degree of liver stiffness by SWE in this cohort did not correlate with pre- and post-Fontan hemodynamics on cardiac catheterization, degree of ventricular dysfunction, or severity of atrioventricular valve regurgitation by echocardiography.
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- Collaborating to Improve Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease: The Pediatric Heart Network Experience. [Journal Article]Congenit Heart Dis. 2025; 20(6):637-646.CH
- CONCLUSIONS: The PHN's success is due to fostering collaboration across pediatric cardiology centers, creating a clinical research infrastructure that can adapt to different types of studies, and emphasizing career development of young investigators and research coordinators. This paper will summarize the PHN's history, partnerships, use of clinical registries, future directions, and ways to get involved.
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- Association of congenital heart defects (CHD) with factors related to maternal health and pregnancy in newborns in Puerto Rico. [Multicenter Study]
- CONCLUSIONS: We identified a statistically significant correlation between pre-gestational diabetes mellitus and the occurrence of CHD. However, our analysis did not show a statistically significant association between maternal BMI and the likelihood of CHD. These results may aid in developing effective strategies to prevent and manage CHD in neonates.
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- Using Pharmacokinetic Modeling and Electronic Health Record Data to Predict Clinical and Safety Outcomes after Methylprednisolone Exposure during Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Neonates. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: Pro-inflammatory IL-6, but not MP exposure, was associated with post-operative organ dysfunction, suggesting current MP dosing may not adequately suppress IL-6 or increase IL-10 to impact clinical outcomes. Prospective study will be required to define the optimal exposure-efficacy and exposure-safety profiles in these infants.
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- Alterations in Metabolites Associated with Hypoxemia in Neonates and Infants with Congenital Heart Disease. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: We did not find evidence supporting global metabolic changes associated with cyanotic congenital heart disease in neonates or older infants. However, specific metabolites did discriminate between hypoxemic and non-hypoxemic neonates. These include methylmalonic acid, as well as several metabolites known to change in hypoxia-reoxygenation states (hypoxanthine) and chronic hypoxemic states (glutamate, thymine, myo-inositol) and may represent specific metabolic changes triggered by hypoxemia among neonates with cyanotic congenital heart disease.
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- Corrigendum. [Journal Article]
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- Infundibular sparing versus transinfundibular approach to the repair of tetralogy of Fallot. [Multicenter Study]Congenit Heart Dis. 2019 Nov; 14(6):1149-1156.CH
- The right ventricular infundibular sparing approach (RVIS) to the repair of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) avoids a full-thickness ventricular incision, typically utilized in the transinfundibular (TI) method.
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- A fond farewell. [Editorial]Congenit Heart Dis. 2019 Nov; 14(6):884.CH
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- Longitudinal growth in patients with single ventricle cardiac disease receiving tube-assisted feeds. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: In this single-center study, patients with SVCD requiring TF at discharge from initial surgical palliation had diminished WAZ at discharge and on long-term follow-up, despite controlling for other identifiable risk factors. Further investigation is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon and to risk stratify infants who go home on TF.
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- The incidence of arrhythmias during exercise stress tests among children with Kawasaki disease: A single-center case series. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: Arrhythmias on EST were noted only among patients with CAA z ≥5. The current guidelines are a reasonable approach to increasing healthy activity among KD patients. Clarification regarding which inducible arrhythmias meet criteria for activity restriction may be helpful to guide sport participation.
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- Echocardiography vs cardiac magnetic resonance imaging assessment of the systemic right ventricle for patients with d-transposition of the great arteries status post atrial switch. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: Reduced RV CMR GCS (for those with RV EF <45%) suggests that CMR evaluation may enhance early detection of detrimental changes in the systemic RV myocardium.
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- Pulmonary artery pulsatility index predicts prolonged inotrope/pulmonary vasodilator use after implantation of continuous flow left ventricular assist device. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: The need for inotropes/pulmonary vasodilators in the postoperative period can be predicted by the preimplantation intrinsic RV contractile reserve as assessed by PAPi rather than the markers of RV afterload. Further investigation and correlation with clinical outcomes is needed.
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- Baseline tubular biomarkers in young adults with congenital heart disease as compared to healthy young adults: Detecting subclinical kidney injury. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that young adults with congenital heart disease may have subclinical kidney dysfunction. Lower levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-2 may indicate an impaired ability to respond to injury, while higher levels of kidney injury molecule-1 may reflect early tubular injury.
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- Utilization of inhaled nitric oxide after surgical repair of truncus arteriosus: A multicenter analysis. [Multicenter Study]
- CONCLUSIONS: In this contemporary multicenter study, nearly half of patients who underwent repair of truncus arteriosus received iNO postoperatively. Use of iNO was more dependent on individual center practice rather than patient characteristics. The study suggests a need for collaborative quality initiatives to determine optimal criteria for utilization of this important but expensive therapy.
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- Concomitant pulmonary vein isolation and percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects: A pilot project. [Journal Article]
- CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a combined PVI with ASD closure is feasible with an acceptable success rate of AF free survival. These preliminary results in a small patient group warrants a larger trial.
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