Polyvalvular Dysplasia and Vascular Abnormalities in a Neonate With an FLNA Variant.

There is growing appreciation for inherited structural heart diseases and their genetic causes. One causal gene for congenital cardiac and vascular lesions is FLNA which encodes a critical protein for cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix development. A newborn infant male, with prenatally diagnosed polyvalvular dysfunction, presented with low cardiac output and postnatally detected aortic arch hypoplasia and coarctation. Attempted palliative coarctation intervention resulted in vascular complications that ultimately contributed to his demise. This case report highlights polyvalvular dysplasia, vascular abnormalities, and a likely causal de novo missense variant in the FLNA gene (c.5180 C>T p.P1727L) not previously described.

Contemporary characteristics, outcomes and novel risk score for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a national inpatient sample analysis.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an established differential diagnosis of myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronaries with significant interest but limited data on prognostication. We reviewed the characteristics and in-hospital outcomes and developed a novel risk score for TC. METHODS: Using the National Inpatient Sample data from 2016 to 2020, we identified adult patients (≥18 years) with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and TC. We divided the cohort into ACS with and without TC and retrieved baseline data. Multivariable regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with TC diagnosis and adverse outcomes, leading to the development of a risk-scoring system. RESULTS: Among 7 219 004 adult ACS admissions, 78 214 (1.0%) were diagnosed with TC, with a mean age of 68.2 years, 64 526 (82.5%) being female and 5475 (7.0%, compared with 8.4% for other ACS) in-hospital mortality events. Factors significantly associated with TC were female sex (OR 6.78 (95% CI 6.47 to 7.09), p<0.001) and chronic heart failure (OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.54 to 1.66), p<0.001). A novel risk score was developed, including the following parameters: male sex, age >70 years, non-white race, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, history of coronary artery bypass grafting, history of percutaneous coronary intervention, cardiac arrhythmias, renal failure, cardiogenic shock and vasopressor use. The area under curves for in-hospital mortality was 0.716 in the derivation and 0.725 in the validation cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: TC remains a high-risk diagnosis in a minority of ACS cases, with mortality rates similar to other ACS causes. Our novel risk score offers a valuable tool for risk stratification in patients with TC, but external validation is needed to confirm its utility.

Pulmonary Atresia and Ventricular Septal Defect Without Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries: Diagnostic Evaluation and the Role of Ductal Stenting.

Patients with pulmonary atresia (PA) and a ventricular septal defect (VSD), similar to those with tetralogy of Fallot and PA without major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, lack antegrade pulmonary blood flow, and thus require a neonatal intervention for stabilization or augmentation of pulmonary blood flow. The role of ductal stenting in the management of these patients, and the current literature supporting it, will be reviewed.

The variations in health cost based on the traditional obesity parameters among patients with coronary artery diseases undergoing cardiac catheterization.

BACKGROUND: In the literature, obesity has been correlated with coronary artery diseases (CADs) and high health costs. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between obesity parameters and the health costs among patients with CADs undergoing cardiac catheterization. METHOD: A secondary data analysis was done for an original study. The original study was conducted among 220 hospitalized patients undergoing cardiac catheterization from two main hospitals located in the Middle and Northern regions of Jordan. Bivariate Pearson's correlation and forward linear regression analysis were calculated in this study. RESULTS: The average health cost for the participants was 1,344 JOD (1,895.63 USD). A significant positive moderate correlation (r = 0.4) was found between hip circumference (HC) and health cost. There were significant positive weak correlations between low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and depression, and the health cost (correlation coefficient 0.17, 0.3, 0.29, 0.22 and 0.17, respectively. HC, waist circumference (WC), waist-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and body adiposity index (BAI) were significantly associated with health costs among male participants. In contrast, among females, none of the obesity parameters was significantly associated with health costs. The forward regression analysis illustrated that an increase of HC by 3.9 cm (ß (0.292) * SD (13.4)) will increase the health cost by 1 JOD (0.71 USD). The same analysis revealed that HS-CRP increased by 0.4 mg/dl (ß (0.258)*SD (1.43)), or triglycerides increased by 8.3 mg/dl (ß (0.241)* SD (34.3)), or depression score increased by 0.32 score (ß (0.137)* SD (2.3)), or total cholesterol increased by 4 mg/dl (ß (0.163)* SD (24.7)), the health cost will increase by one JOD (0.71 USD). CONCLUSION: Healthcare providers, including nurses, should significantly consider these factors to reduce the health costs for those at-risk patients by providing the appropriate healthcare on time.

Cardiac Catheterization Post Congenital Cardiac Surgery: Analysis of Risk Factors for Mortality and Literature Review.

Background Diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization plays a significant role in the management of congenital heart defects with acceptable risks. Its role has also evolved in sick children but is associated with higher risks due to technical difficulties and co-morbidity factors. Some of the post-cardiac surgery children who show resistance to conventional management during the early postoperative period usually have residual defects or obstructions. Trans-catheter intervention (TCI) in such high-risk circumstances and relatively sick children is challenging, demands much expertise, and should be backed up by a competent multidisciplinary team. Some cases improve clinically, while others may require surgical or transcatheter re-intervention for a positive outcome. There is minimal data so far regarding the major complications after interventional cardiac catheterization during the immediate postoperative period after cardiac surgery. We analyzed multiple factors, including age, sex, weight, the initial diagnosis, and the time interval between surgery and TCI, to stratify the possible risks for mortality after TCI during the immediate postoperative period after cardiac surgery. Results Thirty-five patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and underwent 43 interventional procedures. Five patients could not survive. Four had stent angioplasties on natural vasculature and one patient had in synthetic conduit. None of the mortality was related to the procedure. Multivariable risk factor analysis confirmed a moderate positive correlation coefficient (r) of 0.8017 between the variables. Still, it was not statistically significant if compared among subgroups or among the mortality and survival groups. Conclusion Interventional cardiac catheterization in sick children during the immediate postoperative period can be carried out without much-added risks in expert hands and under the supervision of a multi-disciplinary team. Though no conclusions could be drawn, our study adds to the limited existing data that could inspire others to perform such procedures on sick children. Moreover, the trend in our results indicated a large sample size could have identified a possible risk factor for mortality.

How We Would Treat Our Own Congenital Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory Patient.

The field of congenital cardiac catheterization (CCC) has changed dramatically since it began 8 decades ago. New techniques and devices have expanded the indications for interventional catheterization. Heart teams who care for patients in the pediatric and congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory are confronted with a growing number of patients presenting for a wide range of increasingly technically challenging cases. Multiple societies have published expert guidelines for CCC management to provide recommendations for best practice. We reviewed risk stratification strategies for CCC and describe our institution's comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to the periprocedural management of patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiac catheterization, using the index case of a 6-year-old patient with multiple heart defects. We concluded that risk stratification and a comprehensive, multidisciplinary team approach that begins when a procedure is booked is essential to inform management and optimize outcomes. Clinical decision-making should be informed by expert guidelines and evolving risk stratification research.

Delivery systems for transcatheter therapies of congenital heart disease.

INTRODUCTION: Delivery systems are crucially important for the implantation of medical devices in patients with congenital heart disease. However, very little data is available comparing the advantages and disadvantages of the various delivery systems. AREAS COVERED: This article describes the delivery systems and methods used for delivery of atrial septal occluder devices, ventricular septal occluder devices, devices to occlude patent arterial ducts, and transcatheter pulmonary valves. Delivery systems are compared relating to prepping and loading, positioning of the delivery sheath/catheter, deployment, ability to recapture and reposition, as well as device release. EXPERT OPINION: For most ASD/VSD/PDA occluder devices, the basic delivery mechanism has changed very little over the preceding 20 years. Future modifications may focus on meaningful modifications to the cable systems that reduce stiffness and improve angulation at the connection to the device. Over the next 5-10 years, it is expected to see significant changes to delivery systems used for transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation, that result in improvements in the ability to recapture and reposition self-expandable transcatheter valves during the deployment process, combined with kink resistant sheaths that facilitate easy tracking across often complex right ventricular outflow tracts.

Circle of Vieussens: Its Importance in the Presence of Significant Coronary Artery Stenosis in a 26-Year-Old Female With Kawasaki Disease.

In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), collateral circulation aids in sustaining myocardial perfusion and cardiac function. The circle of Vieussens is a rare collateral pathway between the right coronary artery and the left anterior descending artery (LAD) that plays a significant role specifically in patients with chronic total occlusions (CTOs). This article presents a unique case of the circle of Vieussens in a 26-year-old Asian female with a history of Kawasaki disease and CTO of the proximal LAD. Despite the CTO, the patient remains asymptomatic and maintains normal left ventricular function, attributed to an effective collateral network including a right-to-left arterial ring providing TIMI 3 flow. The case illustrates the crucial role of collateral circulation in managing complex coronary anomalies and underscores the need for comprehensive cardiac evaluations in patients with Kawasaki disease. This finding also highlights the potential of the circle of Vieussens as a lifesaving alternate conduit in severe CAD scenarios.

Impact of Time to Initiation of Targeted Temperature Management Among Patients with Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention.

Delays in initiation of targeted temperature management (TTM) have been observed in randomized trials evaluating immediate or delayed coronary angiography among survivors of ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), but whether delays are associated with adverse clinical outcomes is unknown. Resuscitated survivors of VT/VF OHCA who received TTM between April 2011 and June 2015 were identified and time to TTM initiation was described. The association between TTM initiation <2 versus ≥2 hours, neurologically favorable, and overall survival to hospital discharge was assessed. In a propensity-weighted analysis of 2954 patients, a significantly larger proportion of patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) had TTM initiation ≥2 hours (48.6%) as compared to patients undergoing angiography (41.4%) or those who did not undergo a procedure (33.0%; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). In this cohort, the odds of neurologically favorable survival (odds ratios [OR]: 0.88, 95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.75-1.02) and overall survival (OR: 0.92, 95% CI = 0.83-1.03) to hospital discharge were similar among ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients who underwent PCI with TTM initiation <2 versus ≥2 hours. Patients without STEMI who underwent PCI with TTM initiation ≥2 hours and did not have a "do not resuscitate" order or withdrawal of life-sustaining care had decreased odds of neurologically favorable survival to hospital discharge (OR: 0.45, 95% CI = 0.22-0.93) compared to TTM initiation <2 hours. PCI was associated with delays in TTM initiation ≥2 hours among resuscitated survivors of VT/VF OHCA. Delays in TTM initiation ≥2 hours were associated with decreased odds of neurologically favorable survival among patients without STEMI who underwent PCI.

Experience and perspective with intravascular imaging and invasive coronary physiology: Insights from allied health professionals.

BACKGROUND: Although intravascular imaging (IVI) and invasive coronary physiology (ICP) are utilized in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with robust positive clinical evidence, their adoption in cardiac catheterization laboratories (CCLs) is still limited. AIMS: The aim of our survey was to assess the perspectives on the experiences of allied health professionals in CCLs' utility of IVI and ICP. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was conducted through multiple channels, including the Cardiovascular Research Technologies (CRT) 2023 Nurses and Technologists Symposium, social media, Cath Lab Digest link, and field requests, leading to diverse representation of allied health professionals. RESULTS: A total of 101 CCL members participated in the survey. First, 59% of responders noted an increased use of IVI in their institutions over recent years. For those experiencing an increase, 49% credited training, 45% emerging evidence, and 34% attributed new CCL members. Barriers to IVI usage were perceived increased procedure time (58%), staff resistance (56%), procedural cost (48%), and difficulty interpreting findings (44%). Regarding ICP, 61% reported using it in approximately 25% to 75% of cases, while 10% utilized it in 75% to 100% of CCL procedures. Interpreting ICP results was mixed, with 56% confident in interpreting all ICP results and 6% unable to interpret any ICP results. CONCLUSION: Our findings highlight opportunities for increasing routine utilization of IVI and ICP in the CCL through allied health professionals. By providing education and training, we can elevate familiarity with the equipment and subsequently build a CCL culture that advocates for both IVI and ICP.

Off-label uses of the Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder in children with congenital and acquired heart diseases.

Aim: The Amplatzer Piccolo Occluder (APO) is approved for patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion in infants weighing >700 g but could offer versatility to treat other lesions.Methods: Retrospective review of children in whom APO was utilized for defects other than PDA between January 2022 and June 2023.Results: The APO was used in nine patients; three for ventricular septal defects, four with coronary fistulas, one for a ventricular pseudoaneurysm and one where APO deployed within a fenestration of a previously placed Amplatzer Septal Occluder. All nine patients had successful occlusions without complications.Conclusion: The APO is a versatile device that can be used to treat various small diameter lesions in children besides the PDA for which it is currently approved for.

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Biplane 3D overlay guidance for congenital heart disease to assist cardiac catheterization interventions-A pilot study.

Cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease (CHD) performed under fluoroscopic guidance still lacks definition and requires exposure to ionizing radiation and contrast agents, with most patients needing multiple procedures through their lifetime, leading to cumulative radiation risks. While fusion overlay techniques have been employed in the past to aid, these have been limited to a single plane, while interventions are traditionally performed under biplane fluoroscopy. We describe our initial experience performing cardiac catheterizations guided by an enhanced biplane GuideCCI system© (Siemens Healthcare, Germany) augmented by 3D magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography modeling. Twenty-one children and young adults with CHD undergoing catheterization procedures between October 2019 and May 2021 were chosen based on their degree of complexity of cardiac anatomy. 3D stereolithography models were generated, overlayed, and displayed in real time, alongside angiographs in both planes on the screen during these procedures. We report successful implementation of this novel technology for performance of 26 interventions including stent placements, balloon dilations, vessel occlusion and percutaneous valve and transvenous pacemaker implantation all in patients with various complex cardiac anatomies. A statistically significant reduction in radiation and contrast use was noted for coarctation of the aorta stent angioplasty and transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement when compared with national benchmarks and local institutional metrics (with and without single plane overlay). No complications were encountered with the use of this technology. Use of a tracheal registration technique provided very good correlation in most cases. Operators preferred using biplane augmented catheterization over traditional fluoroscopy in patients with complex cardiac anatomy undergoing interventions.

A Retrospective Comparative Study of the Frequency of Hypotension in Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization under General Anesthesia: Remimazolam versus Sevoflurane.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the incidence of hypotension between remimazolam and sevoflurane under general anesthesia for cardiac catheterization in patients with congenital heart disease. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: A single university hospital with 300 pediatric cardiac catheterizations by general anesthesia performed annually. PARTICIPANTS: Patients younger than 15 years who underwent cardiac catheterization under general anesthesia between March 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022. Exclusion criteria were general anesthesia maintained with other than remimazolam or sevoflurane, receipt of remifentanil, American Society of Anesthesiologists score 4 or 5, emergency procedures, and no direct arterial pressure measurement. INTERVENTIONS: General anesthesia was maintained with remimazolam or sevoflurane. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 309 patients were analyzed, including 28 in the remimazolam group and 281 in the sevoflurane group. Propensity score matching adjusted for confounding factors resulted in 28 patients in each arm, with no apparent differences in background factors. Hypotension was defined as a time-averaged area > 1, in which systolic arterial pressure fell below 80% of the baseline from the start of anesthesia to the end of procedure. The significance level was set at P < .05. The incidence of hypotension was 39.3% in the remimazolam arm and 46.4% in the sevoflurane arm, with no significant difference (P = .79), although the ratio of the median systolic arterial pressure to the baseline value was significantly higher in the remimazolam arm (91.4 ± 15.2% vs 83.2 ± 11.4% in the sevoflurane arm; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Remimazolam was not associated with a lower incidence of hypotension compared to sevoflurane during pediatric cardiac catheterization for congenital heart disease while maintaining significantly higher blood pressure overall.

Fast, automated, real-time 3D passive balloon catheter tracking during MRI-guided cardiac catheterization using orthogonal projection imaging and real-time image-based catheter detection.

PURPOSE: MRI-guidance of cardiac catheterization is currently performed using one or multiple 2D imaging planes, which may be suboptimal for catheter navigation, especially in patients with complex anatomies. The purpose of the work was to develop a robust real-time 3D catheter tracking method and 3D visualization strategy for improved MRI-guidance of cardiac catheterization procedures. METHODS: A fast 3D tracking technique was developed using continuous acquisition of two orthogonal 2D-projection images. Each projection corresponds to a gradient echo stack of slices with only the central k-space lines being collected for each slice. To enhance catheter contrast, a saturation pulse is added ahead of the projection pair. An offline image processing algorithm was developed to identify the 2D coordinates of the balloon in each projection image and to estimate its corresponding 3D coordinates. Post-processing includes background signal suppression using an atlas of background 2D-projection images. 3D visualization of the catheter and anatomy is proposed using three live sagittal, coronal, and axial (MPR) views and 3D rendering. The technique was tested in a subset of a catheterization step in three patients undergoing MRI-guided cardiac catheterization using a passive balloon catheter. RESULTS: The extraction of the catheter balloon 3D coordinates was successful in all patients and for the majority of time-points (accuracy >96%). This tracking method enabled a novel 3D visualization strategy for passive balloon catheter, providing enhanced anatomical context during catheter navigation. CONCLUSION: The proposed tracking strategy shows promise for robust tracking of passive balloon catheter and may enable enhanced visualization during MRI-guided cardiac catheterization.

Are Hospital Admissions (Costs) and Mortality Rate Impacted by Guideline-driven Treatment of Heart Failure?: A Comparison between Participants in the "CorBene" CMP and Standard-care Patients on the Basis of Propensity Score Matching.

Heart failure (HF) is one of the most common diagnoses on admission to hospital in Germany, and one which incurs high costs. Integrated care in case management programs (CMPs) aims to improve treatment quality in the sense of guideline-driven treatment, while reducing hospital admissions, hospital costs, and mortality. A total of 1,844 patient data records from 11 German statutory health insurance companies enrolled in the CMP (intervention group [IG]) were compared with 1,844 standard-care patients (control group) using propensity score matching. The two groups were assessed over three follow-up observation periods regarding the endpoints' treatment costs, hospitalization rate, indicators for treatment quality (diagnostics, physician contact), and mortality. The evaluation revealed no significant differences regarding overall costs. The IG incurred significantly higher outpatient costs, but the medication costs and inpatient costs were not significantly different. There were also no significant differences in the number of hospital admissions. Patients within the CMP had significantly more frequent contact with a cardiologist, and underwent echocardiographic examination significantly more frequently. Mortality during the first follow-up observation year was considerably more favorable for the IG. There are indications that treatment quality is improved in HF patients.

Hidradenitis suppurativa patient requiring cardiac procedure with inguinal access: Case management with ertapenem.

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that usually presents in young adults with painful abscesses in intertriginous areas. We present a case of severe hidradenitis suppurativa (Hidradenitis Suppurativa Investigator Global Assessment (HS-IGA) = 5; Hurley stage III) investigated by cardiology and respirology specialists for dyspnea. The patient's symptoms required right-sided cardiac catheterization via the right femoral vein in the inguinal area. The patient was able to undergo this invasive cardiac procedure without infectious complications using multidisciplinary management (dermatology, cardiology, respirology, internal medicine, and infectious diseases specialists), intravenous ertapenem 1 g/day for 6 weeks perioperatively, biologic therapy, and treatment of diabetes with semaglutide. The administration of ertapenem preoperatively and postoperatively of an invasive procedure can be beneficial, particularly when the upcoming intervention requires access to skin areas severely affected by hidradenitis suppurativa. Comorbidities such as obesity and diabetes should be addressed as their treatment might contribute to improve hidradenitis suppurativa.

Advancements in Cardiac Catheterization Safety: Novel Radiation Protection Approaches Redefining Occupational Health.

Radiation exposure poses a substantial occupational risk for healthcare professionals in the catheterization laboratory (cath lab). The escalating complexity and frequency of interventional procedures, such as cardiac catheterizations and percutaneous coronary interventions, underscore the need for innovative strategies to mitigate radiation exposure. While traditional measures like lead aprons, thyroid collars, and goggles have been pivotal in reducing radiation exposure, they have limitations, especially during prolonged and intricate procedures. Consequently, there is a growing demand for advanced radiation protection methods that prioritize safety without compromising procedural efficacy. Recent strides in radiation protection technology have given rise to novel shielding devices and zero-radiation approaches tailored for cath lab use. The novel shields leverage innovative materials and designs to achieve superior attenuation of both scattered and direct radiation. Their ergonomic and adjustable features also ensure optimal shielding coverage without impeding the operator's skill or workflow. Multiple studies have validated the effectiveness of these advanced radiation protection methods in diminishing occupational radiation exposure in the cath lab. Initial findings suggest a significant reduction in doses for operators and staff, potentially lowering the risk of radiation-induced health complications over the long term. This article provides a comprehensive review of the current landscape of radiation protection shields in the cath lab, emphasizing the efficacy and potential of these cuttingedge shielding technologies.

Assessing the Readability of Patient Education Materials on Cardiac Catheterization From Artificial Intelligence Chatbots: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a burgeoning new field that has increased in popularity over the past couple of years, coinciding with the public release of large language model (LLM)-driven chatbots. These chatbots, such as ChatGPT, can be engaged directly in conversation, allowing users to ask them questions or issue other commands. Since LLMs are trained on large amounts of text data, they can also answer questions reliably and factually, an ability that has allowed them to serve as a source for medical inquiries. This study seeks to assess the readability of patient education materials on cardiac catheterization across four of the most common chatbots: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Meta AI. METHODOLOGY: A set of 10 questions regarding cardiac catheterization was developed using website-based patient education materials on the topic. We then asked these questions in consecutive order to four of the most common chatbots: ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Meta AI. The Flesch Reading Ease Score (FRES) was used to assess the readability score. Readability grade levels were assessed using six tools: Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL), Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Coleman-Liau Index (CLI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG) Index, Automated Readability Index (ARI), and FORCAST Grade Level. RESULTS: The mean FRES across all four chatbots was 40.2, while overall mean grade levels for the four chatbots were 11.2, 13.7, 13.7, 13.3, 11.2, and 11.6 across the FKGL, GFI, CLI, SMOG, ARI, and FORCAST indices, respectively. Mean reading grade levels across the six tools were 14.8 for ChatGPT, 12.3 for Microsoft Copilot, 13.1 for Google Gemini, and 9.6 for Meta AI. Further, FRES values for the four chatbots were 31, 35.8, 36.4, and 57.7, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that AI chatbots are capable of providing answers to medical questions regarding cardiac catheterization. However, the responses across the four chatbots had overall mean reading grade levels at the 11th-13th-grade level, depending on the tool used. This means that the materials were at the high school and even college reading level, which far exceeds the recommended sixth-grade level for patient education materials. Further, there is significant variability in the readability levels provided by different chatbots as, across all six grade-level assessments, Meta AI had the lowest scores and ChatGPT generally had the highest.

Congenital heart disease cardiac catheterization at Uganda Heart Institute, a 12-year retrospective study of immediate outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac catheterization is an invasive diagnostic and treatment tool for congenital heart disease (CHD) with potential complications. OBJECTIVE: To describe the immediate outcomes of patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for CHD at the Uganda Heart Institute (UHI). METHODS: The study was a retrospective chart review of 857 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for CHD at UHI from 1st February 2012 to 30th June 2023. Precardiac catheterization clinical data, procedure details, and post-procedure data were recorded. The statistical software SPSS was used for data analysis. RESULTS: We studied 857 patients who underwent cardiac catheterization for CHD at UHI. Females comprised 62.8% (n = 528). The age range was 3 days to 64 years, with a mean of 5.1 years (SD 7.4). Advanced heart failure was present in 24(2.8%) of the study participants. The most common procedures were patent ductus arteriosus device closure (n = 500, 58.3%), diagnostic catheterization (n = 194, 22.5%), and balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty (n = 114, 13.0%). PDA device closure had 89.4% optimal results while BPV had 75.9% optimal performance outcome. Adverse events occurred in 52 out of 857 study participants (6.1%). Clinically meaningful adverse events (CMAES) occurred in 3.9%, (n = 33), high severity adverse events in 2.9% (n = 25) and mortality in 1.5% (n = 13). Advanced heart failure at the time of cardiac catheterization, was significantly associated with clinically meaningful adverse events (OR 52 p-value < 0.001) and mortality (OR 564, p value < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Many patients with CHD have benefited from the cardiac catheterization program at UHI with high optimal procedure outcome results. Patients with advanced heart failure at the time of cardiac catheterization have less favorable outcomes emphasizing the need for early detection and early intervention.