Project description:Background Delayed brain development, brain injury, and neurodevelopmental disabilities are commonly observed in infants operated for complex congenital heart defect. Our previous findings of poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes in individuals operated for simple congenital heart defects calls for further etiological clarification. Hence, we examined the microstructural tissue composition in cerebral cortex and subcortical structures in comparison to healthy controls and whether differences were associated with neurodevelopmental outcomes. Methods and Results Adults (n=62) who underwent surgical closure of an atrial septal defect (n=33) or a ventricular septal defect (n=29) in childhood and a group of healthy, matched controls (n=38) were enrolled. Brain diffusional kurtosis imaging and neuropsychological assessment were performed. Cortical and subcortical tissue microstructure were assessed using mean kurtosis tensor and mean diffusivity and compared between groups and tested for associations with neuropsychological outcomes. Alterations in microstructural tissue composition were found in the parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes in the congenital heart defects, with distinct mean kurtosis tensor cluster-specific changes in the right visual cortex (pericalcarine gyrus, P=0.002; occipital part of fusiform and lingual gyri, P=0.019). Altered microstructural tissue composition in the subcortical structures was uncovered in atrial septal defects but not in ventricular septal defects. Associations were found between altered cerebral microstructure and social recognition and executive function. Conclusions Children operated for simple congenital heart defects demonstrated altered microstructural tissue composition in the cerebral cortex and subcortical structures during adulthood when compared with healthy peers. Alterations in cerebral microstructural tissue composition were associated with poorer neuropsychological performance. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03871881.
Project description:Background: Patients with congenital heart defects have a well-established risk of neuropsychiatric comorbidities. Inattention and hyperactivity are three to four times more frequent in children with complex congenital heart defects. We have previously shown a higher burden of overall attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms in adults with simple congenital heart defects as well. However, it is unknown whether the higher burden of ADHD symptoms is mainly driven by hyperactivity, inattention, or both. Methods: The participants [simple congenital heart defect = 80 (26.6 years old), controls = 36 (25.3 years old)] and a close relative for each (n = 107) responded to the long version of the Conners' Adults ADHD Rating Scales questionnaire. Our primary and secondary outcomes are mean T-scores in the ADHD scores and symptom sub-scores. Results: Patients with simple congenital heart defects reported a higher mean T-score at all three DSM-IV ADHD scores (ADHD-combined: 52.8 vs. 44.9, p = 0.007, ADHD-inattention: 55.5 vs. 46.4, p = 0.002, and ADHD-hyperactivity: 49.4 vs. 44.0, p = 0.03) and in all four ADHD symptom sub-scores (inattention/memory problems: 50.3 vs. 44.2, p = 0.001, hyperactivity/restlessness: 49.7 vs. 45.9, p = 0.03, impulsivity/emotional lability: 50.0 vs. 41.3, p = 0.001, and self-esteem problems: 53.8 vs. 46.3, p = 0.003). The results were maintained after the removal of outliers (incongruent responses), albeit the hyperactivity/restlessness ADHD symptom sub-score lost significance. Self- and informant ratings differed significantly on the ADHD-inattention score for the congenital heart defect group, where informants rated the ADHD-inattention scores better than the congenital heart defect patients rated themselves. Conclusions: Patients with a simple congenital heart defect have a higher symptom burden across all ADHD scores and all symptom sub-scores. The higher burden of ADHD is driven by both inattention and hyperactivity symptoms, though the inattention symptoms seem more prominent. Close relatives were less aware of the inattention symptoms than the congenital heart defect patients themselves. Routine screening for ADHD symptoms may be warranted to facilitate adequate help and guidance as these symptoms are easily overlooked. Clinical Trial Registration: www.ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03871881.
Project description:BackgroundGore Cardioform Atrial Septal Defect Occluder (GCA) is composed of a platinum-filled nitinol wire frame covered with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). This makes the device highly occlusive and resistant to residual shunts through the device, as well as conforming well to the surrounding anatomy. In defects with poor rims to hold a device for closure or where one of the 'rims' is the free wall of the left ventricle, such as in a post-infarct apical ventricular septal defect (VSD), successful closure with standard nitinol mesh devices can be unachievable.Case summaryWe present the occlusion of a post-myocardial infarction VSD with a GCA device in a critically ill patient at risk for closure failure and intravascular haemolysis with conventional nitinol mesh devices. The device conformed well to the anatomy even in the absence of an apical interventricular septum.DiscussionGCA can be used for intracardiac high-velocity shunts in selected cases where conventional devices are unsuitable due to haemolysis or poor tissue and poor rims. With growing experience using GCA for the closure of atrial septal defects, interventionists should consider the potential advantages of ePTFE material and apply them to other lesions where these could be beneficial for patients.