Transition to adulthood and transfer to adult care of adolescents with congenital heart disease: a global consensus statement of the ESC Association of Cardiovascular Nursing and Allied Professions (ACNAP), the ESC Working Group on Adult Congenital Heart Disease (WG ACHD), the Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC), the Pan-African Society of Cardiology (PASCAR), the Asia-Pacific Pediatric Cardiac Society (APPCS), the Inter-American Society of Cardiology (IASC), the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ), the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ISACHD), the World Heart Federation (WHF), the European Congenital Heart Disease Organisation (ECHDO), and the Global Alliance for Rheumatic and Congenital Hearts (Global ARCH).

The vast majority of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) in high-income countries survive into adulthood. Further, paediatric cardiac services have expanded in middle-income countries. Both evolutions have resulted in an increasing number of CHD survivors. Expert care across the life span is necessitated. In adolescence, patients transition from being a dependent child to an independent adult. They are also advised to transfer from paediatrics to adult care. There is no universal consensus regarding how transitional care should be provided and how the transfer should be organized. This is even more challenging in countries with low resources. This consensus document describes issues and practices of transition and transfer of adolescents with CHD, accounting for different possibilities in high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Transitional care ought to be provided to all adolescents with CHD, taking into consideration the available resources. When reaching adulthood, patients ought to be transferred to adult care facilities/providers capable of managing their needs, and systems have to be in place to make sure that continuity of high-quality care is ensured after leaving paediatric cardiology.

Management of People With a Fontan Circulation: a Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Position statement.

The Fontan circulation describes the circulatory state resulting from an operation in congenital heart disease where systemic venous return is directed to the lungs without an intervening active pumping chamber. As survival increases, so too does recognition of the potential health challenges. This document aims to allow clinicians, people with a Fontan circulation, and their families to benefit from consensus agreement about management of the person with a Fontan circulation. The document was crafted with input from a multidisciplinary group of health care providers as well as individuals with a Fontan circulation and families. It is hoped that the shared common vision of long-term wellbeing will continue to drive improvements in care and quality of life in this patient population and eventually translate into improved survival. KEYPOINTS.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease in Australia and New Zealand: A Call for Optimal Care.

BACKGROUND: Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) is a relatively new subspecialty in the cardiology field. The prevalence of ACHD is estimated at ∼ 3,000 per million adult population. The ACHD patient group is estimated to grow at ∼ 5% per year and in the next decade it is forecast that 1 in 150 young adults will carry some form of ACHD diagnosis. These estimates translate to ∼ 72,000 ACHD patients in Australia and ∼ 14,000 in New Zealand, although no current numbers are available. The Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ) has recently published Recommendations for Standards of Care for Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) in 2016. There is currently no long-term plan or proposal to address this huge health care burden within the federal government. This document details the size of the problem insofar as it is known and recommends solutions to be implemented. METHODS: This document was developed by the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Working Group of the Paediatric and Congenital Council (the Congenital Heart Alliance of Australia and New Zealand) as a response to the chronic under resourcing in this area, the risk this poses to patients and clinicians, and the clear need for long-term planning to develop safe care pathways. RESULTS: These issues were raised with the CSANZ Board in December 2015 and the document was developed in response to the Board's request for more information. The current iteration was finalised on 14 November 2017. CONCLUSIONS: The authorship group comprised participants in the CSANZ adult CHD standards of care recommendations from 2013 with the inclusion of some newly trained ACHD cardiologists, who represented most states and territories across ANZ. None of the authors has any academic or professional conflict of interest.

Microfluidic Impedance Biosensor Chips Using Sensing Layers Based on DNA-Based Self-Assembled Monolayers for Label-Free Detection of Proteins.

A microfluidic chip for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is presented as bio-sensor for label-free detection of proteins by using the example of cardiac troponin I. Troponin I is one of the most specific diagnostic serum biomarkers for myocardial infarction. The microfluidic impedance biosensor chip presented here consists of a microscope glass slide serving as base plate, sputtered electrodes, and a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microchannel. Electrode functionalization protocols were developed considering a possible charge transfer through the sensing layer, in addition to analyte-specific binding by corresponding antibodies and reduction of nonspecific protein adsorption to prevent false-positive signals. Reagents tested for self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold electrodes included thiolated hydrocarbons and thiolated oligonucleotides, where SAMs based on the latter showed a better performance. The corresponding antibody was covalently coupled on the SAM using carbodiimide chemistry. Sampling and measurement took only a few minutes. Application of a human serum albumin (HSA) sample, 1000 ng/mL, led to negligible impedance changes, while application of a troponin I sample, 1 ng/mL, led to a significant shift in the Nyquist plot. The results are promising regarding specific detection of clinically relevant concentrations of biomarkers, such as cardiac markers, with the newly developed microfluidic impedance biosensor chip.

Exercise Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Boys With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Without Cardiac Disease.

BACKGROUND: Duchenne muscular dystrophy is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in cardiomyopathy in all affected children by 18 years. Although cardiomyopathy is now the leading cause of mortality in these children, there is ongoing debate regarding timely diagnosis, secondary prevention, and treatment of this condition. The purpose of this study was to use exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in asymptomatic young boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy to describe their heart function and compare this with healthy controls. METHODS: We studied 11 boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy aged 8.6 to 13.9 years and 11 healthy age- and sex-matched controls. RESULTS: Compared with the controls, boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had lower ejection fraction at rest (57% versus 63%; P = 0.004). During submaximal exercise, they reached similar peak tachycardia but increased their heart rate and cardiac output only half as much as controls (P = 0.003 and P = 0.014, respectively). End-systolic volume remained higher in boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy both at rest and during exercise. When transthoracic echocardiography was compared with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, 45% of the echocardiograms had suboptimal or poor views in the Duchenne muscular dystrophy group. CONCLUSIONS: Boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy had abnormalities in left ventricular systolic function that were exaggerated by exercise stress. Exercise cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is feasible in a select population of children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and it has the potential to unmask early signs of cardiomyopathy.

The "Super-Fontan" Phenotype: Characterizing Factors Associated With High Physical Performance.

Background: People with a Fontan circulation usually have moderately impaired exercise performance, although a subset have high physical performance ("Super-Fontan"), which may represent a low-risk phenotype. Methods: People with a "Super-Fontan" phenotype were defined as achieving normal exercise performance [≥80% predicted peak oxygen uptake (VO2) and work rate] during cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) and were identified from the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry. A Fontan control group that included people with impaired exercise performance (<80% predicted VO2 or work rate) was also identified based on a 1:3 allocation ratio. A subset of participants were prospectively recruited and completed a series of physical activity, exercise self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life questionnaires. Results: Sixty CPETs ("Super-Fontan", n = 15; control, n = 45) were included. A subset ("Super-Fontan", n = 10; control, n = 13) completed a series of questionnaires. Average age was 29 ± 8 years; 48% were males. Exercise capacity reflected by percent predicted VO2 was 67 ± 17% in the entire cohort. Compared to the "Super-Fontan" phenotype, age at Fontan completion was higher in controls (4.0 ± 2.9 vs. 7.2 ± 5.3 years, p = 0.002). Only one (7%) person in the "Super-Fontan" group had a dominant right ventricle compared to 15 (33%) controls (p = 0.043). None of those in the "Super-Fontan" group were obese, while almost a quarter (22%) of controls were obese based on body mass index (p = 0.046). Lung function abnormalities were less prevalent in the "Super-Fontan" group (20 vs. 70%, p = 0.006). Exercise self-efficacy was greater in the "Super-Fontan" group (34.2 ± 3.6 vs. 27.9 ± 7.2, p = 0.02). Self-reported sports participation and physical activity levels during childhood and early adulthood were higher in the "Super-Fontan" group (p < 0.05). The total average time spent participating in structured sports and physical activity was 4.3 ± 2.6 h/wk in the "Super-Fontan" group compared to 2.0 ± 3.0 h/wk in controls, p = 0.003. There were no differences in self-reported current total physical activity score or health-related quality of life between groups (p ≥ 0.05). Conclusions: The "Super-Fontan" phenotype is associated with a healthy weight, lower age at Fontan completion, better exercise self-efficacy, and higher overall levels of sport and physical activity participation during physical development.

Twin-twin transfusion syndrome, coarctation of the aorta and hypoplastic aortic arch: a case series report.

AIM: The twin-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) complicates 10-30% of monochorionic pregnancies. The incidence of pulmonary stenosis and endocardial fibroelastosis is especially high in the recipient twin. We report a novel finding of four cases of coarctation of the aorta and hypoplastic aortic arch in the donor to raise awareness of cardiac lesions in twins affected by TTTS. METHOD: Retrospective review of both neonatal database and mortality data from 2002 to 2007 with cross-validation from the local tertiary cardiology unit data (1998-2006) to identify children presenting with coarctation who were also twins. RESULTS: We identified four monochorionic twin pairs affected by the TTTS, delivered between 25 weeks and 36 weeks' gestation, where the donor was found to have coarctation of the aorta or a hypoplastic aortic arch. In addition, two of the four recipients also had cardiac abnormalities. There was a high mortality rate of 30% for both twins, and a high morbidity rate, especially for neurological sequelae. CONCLUSION: We believe that the types of abnormalities seen may be explained by the altered fetal blood flow and haemodynamics in TTTS. Given the increased prevalence of congenital heart disease in TTTS, with an increased risk of coarctation in the donor twin and pulmonary stenosis in the recipient, intra-uterine surveillance and a post-natal comprehensive cardiac assessment for both twins is warranted.

Isolated congenital mitral valve regurgitation presenting in the first year of life.

AIM: Isolated congenital mitral regurgitation is rare and, when presenting in infancy, reflects severity of the malformation. The natural history is often fatal, and management during the first year of life remains a therapeutic challenge. These infants are poorly understood largely because of an absence of reporting in the medical literature and limited experience in each institution. We reviewed our own experience in order to add to the understanding of this condition. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on seven infants with significant isolated congenital mitral regurgitation. An associated patent ductus arteriosus was present in two. Mean age at referral was 17.7 weeks (1 day to 47 weeks) and mean weight was 6.8 kg (3.7-12.5 kg). RESULTS: Two infants were managed conservatively, and one underwent surgical ligation of a patent ductus arteriosus. Following spontaneous and surgical duct closure, no further intervention was required in two infants. The remaining four infants underwent three valve repairs and three valve replacements. The in-hospital mortality was 29%, occurring in those under 1 year of age undergoing emergency valve surgery. Two reoperations followed mitral valve repair in the first year of life. No significant complications or late deaths occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests closure of a patent ductus arteriosus should be undertaken prior to mitral valve surgery. There may be a poorer prognosis in those under one year of age requiring emergency mitral valve surgery. Those who can be managed conservatively or undergo mitral valve surgery as an elective procedure tend to have a better outcome.

Modes of late mortality in patients with a Fontan circulation.

OBJECTIVES: The mechanisms of attrition of the Fontan population have been poorly characterised and it is unclear whether some of the deaths are potentially preventable. We analysed the circumstances of late death in patients with a Fontan circulation, with a special focus on identifying lesions amenable to intervention that may have contributed to the decline of their circulation. METHODS: Between 1975 and 2018, a total of 105 patients from a Bi-National Registry died beyond 1 year after Fontan completion, at a median age of 18.6 (IQR 13.8-26.0) years old, 12.7 (IQR 6.0-19.3) years after Fontan completion. RESULTS: A total of 105 patients died-63 patients (60%) with an atriopulmonary (AP) Fontan, 21 patients (20%) with a lateral tunnel (LT) and 21 patients (20%) with an extracardiac conduit (ECC). 72 patients (69%) were reviewed within 2 years preceding death, with 32% (23/72) deemed to be clinically well. Fontan circulatory failure was the most common cause of death in 42 patients (45%). Other causes of death included sudden death/arrhythmia (19%), perioperative death (12%), neurological complication (7%) and thromboembolism (7%). All patients with an LT or ECC who died from Fontan failure had at least one surgical defect that was amenable to intervention at time of death. CONCLUSIONS: Conventional clinical surveillance has been insensitive in detecting a significant proportion of patients at risk of late death. Fontan circulatory failure contributes to half of the late deaths. Patients with an LT or ECC Fontan who died with a clinical picture of circulation failure may have potentially correctable lesions.

Fontan-associated nephropathy: Predictors and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Nephropathy is a known complication of the Fontan circulation, but its determinants have not been identified and patient outcomes are also still unknown. METHODS: The Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry was used to identify those who underwent Fontan operation before and survived beyond 16-years-old with an intact Fontan circulation. Serum creatinine values were collected for each patient between 16 and 25 years and at recent follow-up. The Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation was used to calculate eGFR. Patient outcomes were obtained from the Registry. Fontan failure was defined as death, transplantation, plastic bronchitis, protein losing enteropathy, Fontan takedown and NYHA class III-IV. RESULTS: Serum creatinine measurements were available for 328 patients. Renal dysfunction was defined as eGFR <90 mL/min/1.72m2. Renal dysfunction was present in 67/328 (20%) and 3/328 (1%) patients had an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.72m2. The 10-year survival and 10-year freedom from death and transplantation were the same, 96% (95% CI: 0.9-1) for those with renal dysfunction, and 89% (0.83-0.95; p = 0.1) and 87% (95% CI: 0.81-0.94; p = 0.05) for patients without dysfunction. The 10-year freedom from failure were also similar, 83% (95% CI: 0.70-0.97) for those without renal dysfunction vs 80% (95% CI: 0.74-0.89; p = 0.84). There was no change in mean eGFR for the renal dysfunction group over a mean of 8 ± 5.5 years. CONCLUSION: By the time they reach adulthood, 20% of patients with a Fontan circulation have renal dysfunction by eGFR calculation. Over the course of one decade, Fontan-associated nephropathy appears well tolerated.

Reintervention and survival in 1428 patients in the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry.

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing single-ventricle palliation have experienced significant improvement in survival in the recent era. However, a substantial proportion of these patients undergo reoperations. We performed a review of the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) Fontan Registry to determine the overall reintervention and reoperative burden in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective longitudinal cohort study was performed using data from patients who underwent a Fontan operation between 1975 and 2016 from the ANZ Fontan Registry. The data obtained included Fontan operation, reinterventions and most recent follow-up status. We examined the type and timing of reinterventions and survival. RESULTS: Of the 1428 patients identified, 435 (30%) underwent at least one reintervention after the Fontan operation: 110 patients underwent early reintervention and 413 underwent late reinterventions. Excluding Fontan conversion and transplantation, 220 patients underwent at least one interventional procedure and 209 patients underwent at least one reoperation. Fenestration closure and pacemaker-related procedures were the most common catheter and surgical interventions, respectively. The cumulative incidence of reintervention following Fontan was 23%, 37% and 55% at 10, 20 and 30 years, respectively. Survival and freedom from failure were worse in patients requiring later reintervention after Fontan surgery (51% vs 83% and 42% vs 69%, respectively at 30 years, p<0.001). This difference persisted after excluding pacemaker-related procedures (p<0.001). Operative mortality for non-pacemaker late reoperations after Fontan was 6%. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of Fontan patients require further intervention to maintain effective single-ventricle circulation. Patients undergoing reoperation after Fontan have higher rates of mortality and failure, despite intervention.

Path ahead for 'low risk' adolescents living with a Fontan circulation.

OBJECTIVE: A high risk of morbidity and mortality is well documented in adults with a Fontan circulation. The difference in outcomes between those with and without significant morbidity at the time of transition to adult care has not been well characterised. METHODS: We analysed clinical outcomes in patients enrolled in the Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry ≥16 years of age. Low risk (LR) Fontan patients were defined as those without history of sustained arrhythmia, thromboembolic event, transplantation, Fontan conversion, protein-losing enteropathy, plastic bronchitis, New York Heart Association class III/IV and/or moderate/severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation or ventricular dysfunction. Increased risk (IR) patients had one or more risk factor. RESULTS: Inclusion criteria were met in 822 patients; mean age 26±8 years, median follow-up from age 16 was 9 years, 203 had atriopulmonary connection (APC) and 619 had total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). Survival at 30 years was higher in the LR versus IR; 94% versus 82% (p=0.005), 89% versus 77% (p=0.07) for APC and 96% versus 89% (p=0.05) for TCPC. LR patients experienced less Fontan failure (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.23 to 0.49, p<0.001) and ventricular dysfunction (HR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29 to 0.71, p=0.001) compared with IR patients. For LR TCPC patients, modelled survival projections at 60 years were 49%-67%. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes for adolescents LR at transition to adult care are markedly superior to those who have established risk factors for Fontan failure, which is an important consideration when formulating individualised long-term risk estimates and counselling patients.

Giant congenital coronary artery aneurysm in pulmonary atresia with intact septum.

Congenital coronary artery fistula is frequently associated with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS). Aneurysmal dilatation is rare, and can be complicated by rupture, distal thrombi and myocardial ischaemia.

Fascicular tachycardia in infancy and the use of verapamil: a case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Guidelines state that verapamil is contraindicated in infants. This is based on reports of cardiovascular collapse and even death after rapid intravenous administration of verapamil in infants with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). We wish to challenge this contraindication for the specific indication of verapamil sensitive ventricular tachycardia (VSVT) in infants. DESIGN: Retrospective case series and critical literature review. SETTING: Hospitals within New Zealand. PATIENTS: We present a series of three infants/young children with VSVT or 'fascicular VT'. RESULTS: Three children aged between 8 days and 2 years presented with tachycardia 200-220 beats per minute with right bundle brunch block and superior axis. Adenosine failed to cardiovert and specialist review diagnosed VSVT. There were no features of cardiovascular shock. Verapamil was given as a slow infusion over 10-30 min (rather than as a push) and each successfully cardioverted without incident. Critical review of the literature reveals that cardiovascular collapses were associated with a rapid intravenous push in cardiovascularly compromised infants and/or infants given other long-acting antiarrhythmics prior to verapamil. CONCLUSIONS: Verapamil is specifically indicated for the treatment of fascicular VT, and for this indication should be used in infancy, as well as in older children, as first-line treatment or after failure of adenosine raises suspicion of the diagnosis. We outline how to distinguish this tachycardia from SVT and propose a strategy for the safe intravenous slow infusion of verapamil in children, noting that extreme caution is necessary with pre-existing ventricular dysfunction.

Long-term Outcomes of the Fontan Operation in Patients With Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage.

BACKGROUND: Few patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) and a univentricular circulation survive to Fontan completion. Hence, we sought to determine the long-term outcomes of the Fontan operation in patients with TAPVD. METHODS: Patients with TAPVD who underwent the Fontan operation and survived to hospital discharge in Australia and New Zealand between 1985 to 2017 were identified (n = 54) from a binational Fontan registry. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (60%) underwent repair of TAPVD at a median age of 0.8 (interquartile range: 0.3-1.6) years. Thirty-seven patients (69%) had heterotaxy. The median age at time of Fontan operation was 5.7 years. There were 4 late deaths and 3 patients required cardiac transplantation for a failing Fontan circulation. On univariate analysis, the concomitant diagnosis of pulmonary stenosis and right ventricular dominance was associated with late death or transplantation (P = .04). Freedom from late death or transplantation at 15 years after the Fontan operation was 88% ± 7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 67%-96%) for the repaired TAPVD group and 90% ± 6% (95% CI, 67%-98%) for the unrepaired TAPVD group (P = .47). Median follow-up after the Fontan procedure was 10.8 (interquartile range, 6.7-16.2) years. The majority of survivors (94%) were in New York Heart Association functional class I or II. The 15-year freedom from death or transplantation was similar for patients with TAPVD (89% ± 5%; 95% CI, 76%-95%) compared with patients without TAPVD in the Fontan registry (n = 1446; 92% ± 1%; 95% CI, 90%-93%) (P = .12). CONCLUSIONS: Long-term survival of patients with TAPVD who undergo the Fontan operation and survived to hospital discharge is comparable to Fontan survivors without TAPVD.

Imaging the heart to detect cardiomyopathy in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A review.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is the most common paediatric neuromuscular disorder. Mutations in the DMD gene on the X-chromosome result in progressive skeletal muscle weakness as the main clinical manifestation. However, cardiac muscle is also affected, with cardiomyopathy becoming an increasingly recognised cause of morbidity, and now the leading cause of mortality in this group. The diagnosis of cardiomyopathy has often been made late due to technical limitations in transthoracic echocardiograms and delayed symptomatology in less mobile patients. Increasingly, evidence supports earlier pharmacological intervention in cardiomyopathy to improve outcomes. However, the optimal timing of initiation remains uncertain, and the benefits of prophylactic therapy are unproven. Current treatment guidelines suggest initiation of therapy once cardiac dysfunction is detected. This review focuses on new and evolving techniques for earlier detection of Duchenne muscular dystrophy-associated cardiomyopathy. Transthoracic echocardiography or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging performed under physiological stress (dobutamine or exercise), can unmask early cardiac dysfunction. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging can define cardiac function with greater accuracy and reliability than an echocardiogram, and is not limited by body habitus. Improved imaging techniques, used in a timely fashion, offer the potential for early detection of cardiomyopathy and improved long-term outcomes.

Exercise capacity and cardiac function in adolescents born post-term.

There is some evidence that children born post-term (≥42 weeks of gestation) have metabolic abnormalities that may be associated with an increased risk of adverse health outcomes in adulthood. However, there are no data as to whether adolescents born post-term display alterations in aerobic capacity or cardiovascular function. We studied 48 adolescents (56% males) in Auckland (New Zealand) with a mean age of 14.3 years (SD = 1.7): 25 born post-term and 23 born at term (37-41 weeks of gestation). Assessments included metabolic markers in blood, whole body DXA scans, 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, maximal exercise capacity, as well as cardiac MRI scan at rest and during submaximal exercise. Exercise capacity was lower in the post-term than in control participants (44.5 vs 47.8 ml/kgffm/min; p = 0.04). There were no differences in left ventricular volumes at rest and during exercise between groups. The 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring also showed no differences between the two groups. Being born post-term was associated with reduced exercise capacity, but with no observed differences in central cardiac function. We speculate that the reduction in exercise capacity may be due to changes in the peripheral vascular system.

Clinical Outcomes in Adolescents and Adults After the Fontan Procedure.

BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes of Fontan patients who survive to age ≥16 years have not been well characterized. The Australian and New Zealand Fontan Registry (ANZFR) provides a unique opportunity to understand survival and complication rates in Fontan patients who transition to adult congenital heart disease centers. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to describe the survival and complications of adult patients who have had a Fontan procedure. METHODS: The study analyzed outcomes in patients ≥16 years of age who were prospectively enrolled in the ANZFR. RESULTS: Data from all 683 adult survivors from the ANZFR were analyzed. Mortality status was confirmed from the National Death Index. There were 201 atriopulmonary (AP) connections and 482 total cavopulmonary connections (249 lateral tunnels and 233 extracardiac conduits). For these subjects, the survival rate at age 30 years was 90% (95% CI: 87% to 93%), and it was 80% (95% CI: 75% to 87%) at 40 years of age. Survival at age 30 years was significantly worse for the patients with AP connections (p = 0.03). At latest follow-up, only 53% of patients were in New York Heart Association functional class I. After the age of 16 years, 136 (20%) had experienced at least 1 new arrhythmia, 42 (6%) required a permanent pacemaker, 45 (7%) had a thromboembolic event, and 135 (21%) required a surgical reintervention. Only 41% (95% CI: 33% to 51%) of Fontan patients were free of serious adverse events at 40 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensively followed cohort showed that a variety of morbid complications is common in Fontan adults, and that there is a substantial incidence of premature death, particularly in patients with AP connections.

Exercise Training Improves but Does Not Normalize Left Ventricular Systolic and Diastolic Function in Adolescents With Type 1 Diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the impact of 20 weeks of exercise training in aerobic capacity on left ventricular function and glycemic control in adolescents with and without type 1 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Fifty-three adolescents with type 1 diabetes (aged 15.6 years) were divided into two groups: exercise training (n = 38) and nontraining (n = 15). Twenty-two healthy adolescents without diabetes (aged 16.7 years) were included and, with the 38 participants with type 1 diabetes, participated in a 20-week exercise-training intervention. Assessments included VO2max and body composition. Left ventricular parameters were obtained at rest and during acute exercise using MRI. RESULTS: Exercise training improved aerobic capacity (10%) and stroke volume (6%) in both trained groups, but the increase in the group with type 1 diabetes remained lower than trained control subjects. Increased stroke volume in adolescents with type 1 diabetes resulted from greater left ventricular contractility (9% increase in ejection fraction and an 11% reduction in end-systolic volumes) and, to a lesser extent, improved left ventricular filling (6%), suggesting that impaired diastolic function can be affected by exercise training in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Insulin use decreased by ∼10%, but no change in glycemic status was observed. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that in adolescents, the impairment in left ventricular function seen with type 1 diabetes can be improved, although not normalized, with regular intense physical activity. Importantly, diastolic dysfunction, a common mechanism causing heart failure in older subjects with diabetes, appears to be partially reversible in this age group.

Three decades later: The fate of the population of patients who underwent the Atriopulmonary Fontan procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To review our experience of patients with an atrio-pulmonary Fontan circulation to determine their long-term outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of long-term follow-up data using the Australia and New Zealand Fontan Registry was performed. There were 215 patients surviving hospital discharge after an atrio-pulmonary Fontan completion. A total of 163 patients were alive at latest follow-up, with 52 deaths. Twelve patients had required heart transplantation and 95 had Fontan failure (death, transplantation, Fontan takedown, Fontan conversion, severe systemic ventricular dysfunction or NYHA≥3). Twenty-eight year freedom from death, death and transplantation and Fontan failure were 69% (95% CI 61-78%), 64% (95% CI 56-74%) and 45% (95% CI 36-55%) respectively. One hundred and thirty patients developed atrial arrhythmias. Freedom from arrhythmia at 28years post Fontan was 22.9% (95% CI: 15.1-30.8). Development of arrhythmia increased the likelihood of death (HR:2.97, 95%CI 1.50-5.81; p=0.002), death and heart transplantation (HR:3.11, 95%CI 1.64-5.87; p<0.001) and Fontan failure (HR:4.78 95%CI 2.95-7.74; p<0.001). There were 42 patients who had thromboembolic events, of which only 12 were therapeutically anti-coagulated. Two-thirds of the surviving patients (86/126) with an intact atrio-pulmonary Fontan were regularly reviewed. Patients receiving follow-up care with general cardiologists without specialised training were more likely to face Fontan failure than those managed by cardiologists with specialist training in congenital heart disease (HR: 1.94, 95% CI 1.16-3.24; p=0.02). The majority of the surviving patients (81/86) remained physically active and almost two-thirds (54/86) were currently employed. CONCLUSION: Two-thirds of the patients who underwent a classical atrio-pulmonary Fontan are still alive 3 decades later. The majority are affected by the burden of arrhythmias but remain functionally active today. These challenging patients should only receive follow-up care from cardiologists with specialised training.