Against all odds: successful pregnancy in an adult patient with unrepaired coarctation of the aorta.

According to the modified World Health Organization classification, pregnant women with unrepaired aortic coarctation are at very high risk for both maternal and fetal complications and should, therefore, be counselled against pregnancy. The most frequent maternal complications include systemic hypertension, renal failure, preeclampsia, and aortic dissection. Herein, we describe a successful pregnancy in an adult patient with unrepaired aortic coarctation.

Mid-term follow-up after COVID-19 vaccination in adults with CHD: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Long-term data on COVID-19 vaccine safety, immunogenicity, and acceptance in adults with CHD are lacking. METHODS: This is a prospective study including adults with CHD patients undergoing COVID-19 vaccination from January 2021 to June 2022. Data on adverse events, antispike IgG titre, previous or subsequent COVID-19 infection, booster doses, and patients' attitude towards vaccination were collected. RESULTS: Four hundred and ninety CHD patients (36 ± 13 years, 53% male, 94% with moderate/complex defects) were prospectively included: 433 (88%) received a Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine, 31 (6%) Moderna mRNA vaccine, 23 (5%) AstraZeneca-Oxford ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccine, and 3 (0.6%) Janssen Vaccine; 310 (63%) received a booster dose. Median follow-up after vaccination was 1.53 [1.41-1.58] years. No major adverse event was reported. Eighty-two fully vaccinated patients contracted COVID-19 during follow-up after a median of 5.4 [4.3-6.5] months from the last dose. One patient with Ebstein's disease died from severe COVID-19. Symptoms' duration in patients who tested positive after vaccination was significantly shorter than in the group tested positive before vaccination (5.5 [3-8] versus 9 [2.2-15] days, p = 0.04). Median antispike IgG titre measured in 280 individuals (57%) at a median of 1.4 [0.7-3.3] months from the last dose was 2381 [901-8307] BAU/ml. Sixty patients (12%) also showed positive antinucleocapsid antibodies, demonstrating previous SARS-COV2 exposure. Twenty-nine percent appeared to have concerns regarding vaccine safety and 42% reported fearing potential effects of the vaccine on their cardiac disease before discussing with their CHD cardiologist. CONCLUSION: COVID-19 vaccines appear safe in the mid-term follow-up in adults with CHD with satisfactory immunogenicity and reduction of symptoms' duration in case of infection.

Efficacy of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation in patients with congenital heart disease.

AIMS: Advances in surgical techniques allow an increasing number of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) to reach adulthood. As patients grow older, atrial fibrillation (AF) is evolving into a major clinical concern and can be difficult to manage medically. Primary AF catheter ablation may, therefore, have a role in this setting but few reports have evaluated its efficacy in CHD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively reviewed 58 consecutive patients [median age 51, interquartile range (IQR) 44-63 years, 57% male] with AF (45% paroxysmal) who underwent 122 ablation procedures in our tertiary centre in the last decade. The majority had CHD of moderate or severe complexity (57%, Bethesda Class 2 or 3) with a dilated left atrium (LA) (81%) and/or right atrium (86%). At 1-year from the first ablation, 32.8% of patients remained in sinus rhythm. Multiple procedures were required in 35 (60%) patients. Freedom from AF at 1-year after the 2nd and 3rd ablation was 40.9% and 36.5%, respectively. Multivariable predictors of AF recurrence were underlying anatomic complexity [hazard ratio (HR) in Bethesda 3 1.98, P = 0.006], type of AF (HR for persistent 1.87, P = 0.004), and indexed LA dimensions (HR for cm2/m2 1.06, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: While ablation may be a valid option for the treatment of AF in CHD patients, multiple procedures are likely to be required. Early referral and careful patient selection are essential to optimize the results of AF ablation, achieving a low rate of recurrence. Further studies are needed to validate our prognostic model and guide clinical practice.

Resolution of intracardiac thrombus with novel oral anticoagulants in an adult patient with complex CHD.

Thromboembolic complications occur frequently in Fontan patients with atrial arrhythmias and are a cause of significant morbidity and all-cause mortality. We report the case of an adult woman with direct atriopulmonary connection and atrial arrhythmia who developed a right atrial thrombus. She was switched to apixaban therapy because of echocardiographic evidence of thrombus progression despite combined therapy with warfarin and aspirin. After 1 year of treatment, there was evidence of complete thrombus resolution, in the absence of bleeding events. Our case shows that direct oral anticoagulants can be effective and safe for the treatment of thrombosis in adult patients with complex CHD.

Changes in the Cath Lab in the Treatment of Adult Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: A 12-Year Experience in a Single Referral Center with the Establishment of a Dedicated Working Group.

BACKGROUND: Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are a growing population needing ongoing care. The aim of this study was to investigate if a dedicated ACHD team impacted the timing and indication of invasive cardiology procedures in these patients at our hospital. METHODS: Our retrospective single-center study enrolled adult patients with moderate or complex congenital heart disease and with at least one cardiac catheterization between January 2010 and December 2021. According to the period, procedures were labeled as group A (2010 to 2015) or group B (2016 to 2021) and further divided into diagnostic (DCC) and interventional cardiac catheterizations (ICC). RESULTS: 594 patients were eligible for the study. Both DCC (p < 0.05) and ICC increased between groups A and B (p < 0.05). In group B: Fontan patients accounted for the majority of DCC (p < 0.001), while DCC decreased in arterial switch repair (p < 0.001). In Fontan patients, conduit stenting was prevalent (p < 0.001), while fenestration closures dropped (p < 0.01). In patients with tetralogy of Fallot and native outflow tract, percutaneous pulmonary valve implantations (PPVI) increased, with a concurrent reduction in pulmonary valve replacements (p < 0.001 vs. surgical series). In right ventricular conduits, ICC increased (p < 0.01), mainly due to PPVI. Among Mustard/Senning patients, baffle stenting increased from Group A to Group B (p < 0.001). In patients with pulmonary atresia and biventricular repair, ICC often increased for pulmonary artery stenting. CONCLUSIONS: A dedicated working group could improve ACHD patients' indications for interventional procedures, leading to tailored treatment, better risk stratification and optimizing time until heart transplantation.

Myocardial work in children with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) has been associated with reduced local myocardial deformation, and when left ventricular dysfunction is present, catheter ablation of the accessory pathway may be required, even in asymptomatic patients. We aimed to evaluate the diagnostic value of non-invasive myocardial work in predicting subtle abnormalities in myocardial performance in children with WPW.Seventy-five paediatric patients (age 8.7 ± 3.5 years) were retrospectively recruited for the study: 25 cases with manifest WPW and 50 age- and sex- matched controls (CTR). Global myocardial work index (MWI) was measured as the area of the left ventricle (LV) pressure-strain loops. From MWI, global Myocardial Constructive Work (MCW), Wasted Work (MWW), and Work Efficiency (MWE) were estimated. In addition, standard echocardiographic parameters of LV function were evaluated. Despite normal LV ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS), children with WPW had worse MWI, MCW, MWW, and MWE. At multivariate analysis, MWI and MCW were associated with GLS and systolic blood pressure, and QRS was the best independent predictor of low MWE and MWW. In particular, a QRS > 110 ms showed good sensitivity and specificity for worse MWE and MWW values. In children with WPW, myocardial work indices were found significantly reduced, even in the presence of normal LV EF and GLS. This study supports the systematic use of myocardial work during the follow-up of paediatric patients with WPW. Myocardial work analysis may represent a sensitive measure of LV performance and aid in decision-making.

Prognostic Relevance of Thyroid Disorders in Adults With Congenital Heart Disease.

Adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are frequently affected by thyroid diseases (TDs). However, the clinical relevance of TD in ACHD remains unknown. We aimed to describe the prevalence of TD in the ACHD population and to ascertain whether TD are associated with worse outcome. Patients with ACHD >18 years attending our tertiary center for a day-case between 2014 and 2019 were included. Clinical data between patients' first visit and December 2020 were collected. Primary end point was a combination of death, hospitalization for heart failure (HF), and new-onset of arrhythmic events. Secondary end points were each part of the primary outcome as separate end points. A total of 495 patients with ACHD (32.2 [24.5 to 45.6] years; 54% women) were included. Median follow-up was 9.4 (4.5 to 13.1) years. The prevalence of TD was 30%. TD group showed worse clinical status, as demonstrated by N-terminal pro b-type natriuretic peptide values (243.5 [96.5 to 523] vs 94 [45 to 207] pg/ml, p <0.001) and New York Heart Association class (27% vs 13% in class III to IV, p <0.0001) with higher incident rate of adverse events at follow-up (4.45 [3.43 to 5.69] % vs 1.29[0.94 to 1.75] % per person-year, p <0.001). TD were independently associated with higher risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 4.1, p = 0.009), arrhythmic events (HR 3.8, p <0.0001), and hospitalization for HF (HR 8.02, p <0.0001). There was a fourfold increased risk of primary end point in the TD group even after propensity score matching for clinical variables including age, gender, disease complexity, physiological stage, previous palliative surgery, ventricular function, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cyanosis, and presence of systemic right ventricle (HR 4.47, p <0.0001). In conclusion, TD are predictive of adverse outcome in the ACHD population. Routine screening of thyroid function during follow-up in this population may be helpful to identify those with higher risk of death, arrhythmias, and HF.

Syndromic and Non-Syndromic Patients with Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: Does It Affect the Long-Term Outcome?

BACKGROUND: The impact of genetic syndromes on cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) parameters, particularly on right and/or left ventricular dysfunction, associated with clinical parameters following the repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (rToF) is not well known. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the differences in clinical, surgical, and cMRI data in syndromic and non-syndromic rToF patients. METHODS: All syndromic rToF patients undergoing a cMRI without general anesthesia between 2010 and 2020 who were able to match with non-syndromic ones for birth date, sex, type of surgery, timing of cMRI, and BSA were selected. Demographic, clinical, surgical, MRI, ECG, and Holter ECG data were collected. RESULTS: A total of one hundred and eight rToF patients equally subdivided into syndromic and non-syndromic, aged 18.7 ± 7.3 years, were studied. Del22q11.2 and Down syndrome (DS) were the most frequent syndromes (42.6% and 31.5%, respectively). Regarding the cMRI parameters considered, left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (LVEF < 50%) was more frequently found in syndromic patients (p = 0.040). In addition, they were older at repair (p = 0.002) but underwent earlier pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) (15.9 ± 5.6 vs. 19.5 ± 6.0 years, p = 0.049). On multivariate Cox regression analysis, adjusted for age at first repair, LV dysfunction remained significantly more associated with DS than del22q11.2 and non-syndromic patients (HR of 5.245; 95% CI 1.709-16.100, p = 0.004). There were only four episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in our cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Among the cMRI parameters commonly taken into consideration in rToF patients, LV dysfunction seemed to be the only one affected by the presence of a genetic syndrome. The percentage of patients performing PVR appears to be similar in both populations, although syndromic patients were older at repair and younger at PVR. Finally, the number of arrhythmic events in rToF patients seems to be low and unaffected by chromosomal abnormalities.

[The management of adult congenital heart disease in the emergency department. The Task Force from the Italian Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease]. / Il cardiopatico congenito adulto in Pronto Soccorso. Task Force sulle Emergenze del Cardiopatico Congenito Adulto della Società Italiana di Cardiologia Pediatrica e delle Cardiopatie Congenite.

Over recent years, thanks to remarkable advances in pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery and catheter interventions, survival of children with congenital heart disease has significantly increased with the majority of patients surviving into adulthood. Therefore, the prevalence of adult patients with congenital heart disease has dramatically increased, as well as the need for specific and dedicated programs. Acute heart failure, infective endocarditis and arrhythmias represent the most common causes of visit in the emergency department in this population. Our task force aimed at guiding physicians taking care of this peculiar cohort of patients in the emergency department.

Chylothorax Due to Superior Vena Cava Obstruction in a Patient With Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Obstruction of the superior vena cava represents an under-recognized cause of chylothorax in the adult population. Our case report describes the successful conservative management of chylothorax due to bilateral superior vena cava obstruction in an adult patient with complex congenital heart disease. (Level of Difficulty: Beginner.).

COVID-19 vaccination in adults with congenital heart disease: Real-world data from an Italian tertiary centre.

Background: real-world data on COVID-19 vaccine safety, immunogenicity and acceptance in adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) are lacking. Methods: ACHD patients who were offered COVID-19 vaccination from January to June 2021 were included. Data on adverse events, on patients' attitude towards vaccination and antispike IgG titre were retrospectively collected. A group of healthy individuals with similar age and sex undergoing vaccination was included for comparison. Results: 208 patients followed in a single ACHD tertiary centre (33.3 [26-45] years, 54% male) received COVID-19 vaccine, 65% vaccinated at our institution: 199 (96%) received Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine, 4 (2%) Moderna-1273 and 5 (2%) AstraZeneca-ChAdOx1. Median follow-up after vaccination was 79 [57-96] days. No major adverse event was reported and the incidence of minor events was not different between ACHD patients and the control group. One patient was diagnosed with acute pericarditis. There were two deaths unrelated to the vaccine during follow-up. Three (1.5%) vaccinated patients tested positive for COVID-19. Antispike IgG titre, available in 159 (76%) patients, was 1334 [600-3401] BAU/ml, not significantly different from the control group (p=0.2). One patient with Fontan failure was seronegative. Advanced physiological stage was associated with lower antibody response, independently from previous viral exposure (p<0.0001). Fourteen percent refused COVID-19 vaccination at our institution. However, 50% of vaccinated patients declared to have been influenced by the discussion with the ACHD cardiologist and 66% of those vaccinated in situ reported that undergoing COVID-19 vaccination at the ACHD centre made them feel safer. Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccines appear safe in ACHD with satisfactory immunogenicity. However, the most vulnerable patients showed lower antibody response. ACHD team may play a key role in vaccine acceptance.

Cardiac catheter intervention complexity and safety outcomes in adult congenital heart disease.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the intervention spectrum, complexity, and safety outcomes of catheter-based interventions in a contemporary adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) tertiary cohort. METHODS: All patients over 16 years who underwent a catheter-based intervention for ACHD in our centre between 2000 and 2016 were included. Baseline demographics, clinical characteristics, indications for and complexity of intervention, procedural complications and early and mid-term mortality were analysed. RESULTS: Overall, 1644 catheter-based interventions were performed. Intervention complexity ranged from simple (67.5%) to intermediate (26.4%) and to high (6.1%). Commonly performed procedures were atrial septal defect (33.4%) and patent foramen ovale closure (26.1%) followed by coarctation of the aorta (11.1%) and pulmonary artery interventions (7.0%). Age at index intervention was 40±16 years, 758 (46.1%) patients were male, 73.2% in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, 20.2% in NYHA class II, whereas 6.6% in NYHA class III/IV. In-hospital mortality was 0.7%. Median postinterventional length of stay was 1 day. Complications occurred in 129 (7.9%) with major adverse events in 21 (1.3%). One-year postintervention survival rates were 98.7% (95% CI 98.2 to 99.2). Over the study period, there was a notable shift in intervention complexity, with a predominance of simple procedures performed in early years and more complex procedures in later years. Furthermore, the case mix during the study broadened (p<0.001) with new catheter-based interventions and a more individualised approach to therapy. CONCLUSION: This study shows an increasing complexity and expanding variability of ACHD catheter-based interventions, associated with low major complications, short hospital stays and low early and mid-term mortality. Ongoing investment in ACHD catheter interventions is warranted.

Implantable cardiac electronic device therapy for patients with a systemic right ventricle.

The systemic right ventricle (SRV), defined as the morphological right ventricle supporting the systemic circulation, is relatively common in congenital heart disease (CHD). Our review aimed at examining the current evidence, knowledge gaps and technical considerations regarding implantable cardiac electronic device therapy in patients with SRV. The risk of sinus node dysfunction (SND) after atrial switch repair and/or complete heart block in congenitally corrected transposition of great arteries requiring permanent pacing increases with age. Similar to acquired heart disease, indication for pacing includes symptomatic bradycardia, SND and high degree atrioventricular nodal block. Right ventricular dysfunction and heart failure also represent important complications in SRV patients. Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) has been proposed to improve systolic function in SRV patients, although indications for CRT are not well defined and its potential benefit remains uncertain. Amongst adult CHD, patients with SRV are at the highest risk for sudden cardiac death (SCD). Nevertheless, risk stratification for SCD is scarce in this cohort and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator indication is currently limited to secondary prevention. Vascular access and the incidence of device-related complications, such as infections, inappropriate shocks and device system failure, represent additional challenges to implantable cardiac electronic device therapy in patients with SRV. A multidisciplinary approach with tertiary expertise and future collaborative research are all paramount to further the care for this challenging nonetheless ever increasing cohort of patients.

A Very Late Life-Threatening Complication After Percutaneous Closure of an Atrial Septal Defect.

Percutaneous closure is widely recognized as the first therapeutic option in the majority of cases of secundum atrial septal defect (ASD) because of its high effectiveness and safety. Nonetheless, with the progressive increase of implanted devices and follow-up duration, several adverse events, some of them potentially life-threatening, have been reported. We report the case of an asymptomatic aortic erosion that occurred 13 years after the procedure. The main feature of our case is the very late occurrence of a life-threatening asymptomatic complication of ASD percutaneous closure, which should prompt lifelong surveillance in this population.

Clinical Relevance of Fluid Challenge in Patients Evaluated for Pulmonary Hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Fluid challenge may help in the differential diagnosis between pre- and postcapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, the test is still in need of standardization and better defined clinical relevance. METHODS: Two hundred twelve patients referred for PH underwent a right-sided heart catheterization with measurements before and after rapid infusion of 7 mL/kg of saline. PH was defined as mean pulmonary artery pressure ≥ 25 mm Hg, and postcapillary PH was defined as pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP) > 15 mm Hg. An increase in PAWP ≥ 18 mm Hg was considered diagnostic for postcapillary PH. At baseline, 66 patients received a diagnosis of no PH; 22, of postcapillary PH; and 124, of precapillary PH (mostly pulmonary arterial hypertension). RESULTS: After fluid challenge, five of 66 patients with no PH (8%) and eight of 124 with precapillary PH (6%) had the diagnosis reclassified as postcapillary PH. Fluid challenge was associated with an increase in PAWP by 7 ± 2 mm Hg in postcapillary PH and 3 ± 1 mm Hg in both precapillary PH and no-PH groups. Between-group differences were significant, but there was overlap. There were no adverse events related to fluid challenge. Prediction bands calculated from quadratic fits of the PAWP responses in pooled control subjects with no PH and patients with precapillary PH helped confirm 18 mm Hg as the cutoff for diagnosing postcapillary PH. CONCLUSIONS: Fluid challenge with 7 mL/kg saline increases PAWP, more in postcapillary than in precapillary PH or in control subjects with no PH. A cutoff value of 18 mm Hg allows reclassification of 6% to 8% of patients with precapillary PH or normal hemodynamic characteristics at baseline.