Due to its severity, as well as the consequences of a late diagnosis, critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) represent a challenging situation, making an early diagnosis necessary and ideally before symptoms appear when circulatory collapse or death of the newborn can occur. Due to this, a prenatal and very early postnatal diagnosis is very important. Prenatal ultrasound screening and physica...

OBJECTIVES We sought to clarify the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of abnormal coagulation in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) with polycythemia; we evaluated the production of platelet microparticles (MPs), platelet degranulation and aggregation response, as well as the correlations of these variables with polycythemia. BACKGROUND A shortened life span and suppre...

In September 2011, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services recommended that critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) be added to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) for newborns. Anecdotal reports in early 2012 suggested that some Georgia hospitals had begun screening for CCHD using pulse oximetry. To better understand the prevalence of routine CCHD screening, specific practi...

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the rate and the clinical and demographic characteristics of missed diagnosis of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). DESIGN Population-based retrospective study of 1989-2004 California statewide death registry data. SETTING California. PARTICIPANTS The study cohort consisted of 898 infants who died of CCHD at 1 to 364 days of age who either did not undergo sur...

BACKGROUND Mothers whose infants are born with complex congenital heart disease (CCHD) experience stress during their infant's hospitalization in a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (PCICU). OBJECTIVES This study addressed 2 research questions: (1) What are the parental stressors for mothers whose infants with CCHD are in the PCICU? And (2) What are the relationships of trait anxiety and ...

Secondary erythrocytosis in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a compensatory response to chronic hypoxia which should be managed with caution. CCHD patients, who have compensated erythrocytosis but do not manifest significant neurologic symptoms, may experience secondary life-threatening complications such as stroke in case of inappropriate phlebotomy. This study reports a young man w...

Incorporation of pulse oximetry to the assessment of the newborn infant can enhance detection of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). Recently, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended that screening for CCHD be added to the uniform screening panel. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has been a strong advocate of early detection of CCHD and fully supports the deci...

BACKGROUND The purpose of this statement is to address the state of evidence on the routine use of pulse oximetry in newborns to detect critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). METHODS AND RESULTS A writing group appointed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed the available literature addressing current detection methods for CCHD, burden of missed ...

We report the association between heart disease associated with noncompaction of the left ventricular myocardium (NCLVM) and chronic Chagas' heart disease (CCHD) in a patient with heart failure, ischemic stroke and cardiac arrhythmia. Images typical of NCLVM and CCHD were documented by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI).

BACKGROUND The purpose of this statement is to address the state of evidence on the routine use of pulse oximetry in newborns to detect critical congenital heart disease (CCHD). METHODS AND RESULTS A writing group appointed by the American Heart Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics reviewed the available literature addressing current detection methods for CCHD, burden of missed ...