Congenital Cardiac Catheterization in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: The International Quality Improvement Collaborative Catheterization Registry.

Background: No published data are available on the patient, procedural characteristics, and outcomes of congenital heart disease (CHD) cardiac catheterization performed in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objectives: The objective of this study was to describe procedural characteristics and patient outcomes of CHD cardiac catheterizations in LMICs. Methods: Cases performed between January 2019 and December 2020 from 15 centers in the International Quality Improvement Collaborative Congenital Heart Disease Catheterization Registry (IQIC-CHDCR) data were included. The Procedural Risk in Congenital Cardiac Catheterization (PREDIC3T) classification was used to stratify risk. Outcomes of interest included mortality, severe adverse events (SAEs), and procedural efficacy. Procedural efficacy, based on technical and safety endpoints, was categorized into optimal, adequate, and inadequate for 5 common interventional procedures. Results: There were 3,287 cases, of which 60% (n = 1,973) were interventional cases. Most of the cases (66%) were in patients between the ages of 1 to 18 years with a median patient age of 4 years. PREDIC3T risk class 1 and 2 were most common in 37% and 38% of cases, respectively. SAEs occurred in 2.8% while the death was reported within <72 hours post catheterization 1%. The majority of device implantation procedures patent ductus arteriosus (67%) and atrial septal defect (60%) had optimal procedure efficacy outcomes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that congenital cardiac catheterization is safely performed in LMICs. Future work addressing predictors of SAEs and adverse procedural outcomes may help future quality improvement initiatives.

Mathematical law of cardiac dynamic systems: reduction of its evaluation time to 18 hours / [Ley matemática de los sistemas dinámicos cardiacos: reducción de su tiempo de evaluación a 18 horas]

Introduction: Previously, a physical-mathematical law was developed for the evaluation of continuous electrocardiographic and Holter registers, with which all cardiac attractors were deduced and normality, pathological states and evolution between states were differentiated.There were taken 200 cardiac dynamics, 150 with different types of cardiac pathologies and 50 normal ones, to which the exponential law was applied in 18 and 21 hours. For this, a sequence of heart rates was simulated, with which the chaotic attractor was constructed. Next, the mathematical diagnosis was determined with the law based on the spatial occupation of the attractor, and the fractal dimension was calculated. Finally, statistical validation of the mathematical method in 18 hours was performed against the Gold Standard. Results: Subjects with normal chaotic cardiac dynamics presented values in the Kp grid between 205 and 384, whereas subjects with pathological dynamics presented values between 61 and 191 in 18 hours. The evaluation of the concordance between the mathematical diagnosis in 18 hours and the conventional evaluation, taken as Gold Standard resulted in sensitivity and specificity values of 100% and a Kappa coefficient of 1. Conclusion: It was confirmed the clinical capacity of the law to diagnose objectively and with reproducibility in 18 hours.

Pilot phase experience of the International Quality Improvement Collaborative catheterization registry.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the development of a quality collaborative for congenital cardiac catheterization centers in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) including pilot study data and a novel procedural efficacy measure. BACKGROUND: Absence of congenital cardiac catheterization registries in LMICs led to the development of the International Quality Improvement Collaborative Congenital Heart Disease Catheterization Registry (IQIC-CHDCR). As a foundation for this initiative, the IQIC is a collaboration of pediatric cardiac surgical programs from LMICs. Participation in IQIC has been associated with improved patient outcomes. METHODS: A web-based registry was designed through a collaborative process. A pilot study was conducted from October through December 2017 at seven existing IQIC sites. Demographic, hemodynamic, and adverse event data were obtained and a novel tool to assess procedural efficacy was applied to five specific procedures. Procedural efficacy was categorized using ideal, adequate, and inadequate. RESULTS: A total of 429 cases were entered. Twenty-five adverse events were reported. The five procedures for which procedural efficacy was measured represented 48% of cases (n = 208) and 71% had complete data for analysis (n = 146). Procedure efficacy was ideal most frequently in patent ductus arteriosus (95%) and atrial septal defect (90%) device closure, and inadequate most frequently in coarctation procedures (100%), and aortic and pulmonary valvuloplasties (50%). CONCLUSIONS: The IQIC-CHDCR has designed a feasible collaborative to capture catheterization data in LMICs. The novel tool for procedural efficacy will provide valuable means to identify areas for quality improvement. This pilot study and lessons learned culminated in the full launch of the IQIC-CHDCR.

Quality of life in children with infrequent congenital heart defects: cohort study with one-year of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: The evidence regarding patient related outcomes in children with infrequent congenital heart defects (I-CHD) is very limited. We sought to measure quality of life (QoL) in children with I-CHD, and secondarily, to describe QoL changes after one-year of follow-up, self-reported by children and through their caregivers' perspective. METHODS: We assembled a cohort of children diagnosed with an I-CHD in a cardiovascular referral center in Colombia, between August 2016 and September 2018. At baseline and at one-year follow-up, a clinical psychology assessment was performed to establish perception of QoL. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) 4.0 scale was used in both general and cardiac modules for patients and for their caregivers. We used a Mann-Whitney U test to compare scores for general and cardiac modules between patients and caregivers, while a Wilcoxon test was used to compared patients' and caregivers' baseline and follow-up scores. Results are presented as median and interquartile range. RESULTS: To date, QoL evaluation at one-year follow-up has been achieved in 112/157 patients (71%). Self-reported scores in general and cardiac modules were higher than the QoL perceived through their caregivers, both at baseline and after one-year of follow-up. When compared, there was no statistically significant difference in general module scores at baseline between patients (median = 74.4, IQR = 64.1-80.4) and caregivers scores (median = 68.4, IQR = 59.6-83.7), p = 0.296. On the contrary, there was a statistical difference in baseline scores in the cardiac module between patients (median = 79.6, IQR = 69.7-87.4) and caregivers (median = 73.6, IQR = 62.6-84.3), p = 0.019. At one-year of follow-up, scores for the general module between patients (median = 72.8, IQR = 59.2-85.9) and caregivers (median = 69.9, IQR = 58.1-83.7) were not statistically different (p = 0.332). Finally, a significant difference was found for cardiac module scores between patient (median = 75.0, IQR = 67.1-87.1) and caregivers (median = 73.1, IQR = 59.5-83.8), p = 0.034. CONCLUSIONS: QoL in children with I-CHD can be compromised. However, children have a better perception of their QoL when compared with their caregivers' assessments. To provide high-quality care, besides a thorough clinical evaluation, QoL directly elicited by the child should be an essential aspect in the integral management of I-CHD.

Challenges to the improvement of Colombian medical brigades aimed at the diagnosis of congenital heart disease: A qualitative approach.

Qualitative research of brigades and the family experience of congenital heart disease is of current interest and has been previously neglected. This study aimed to explore the social factors conditioning outcomes of paediatric cardiology care in the setting of Colombian medical brigades and to identify feasible strategies to improve the experience of the beneficiary populations. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of logistic and health care teams, caregivers and custodians of beneficiary children of the Programme. The data collected provided an understanding of the health culture, social background, household and intrafamily dynamics. The outcomes of the Programme are influenced by sociocultural dynamics such as communication gaps and the socioeconomic status of the beneficiary populations. Findings may be specific to brigades, but also cross-relevant to any family experience of a new diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) communicating with healthcare professionals. It is important to foresee the role and further development of the Programme. Recommendations are provided suggesting innovative work by means of telemedicine and other sociocultural measures to reduce healthcare inequity and strengthen comprehensive healthcare programmes.

Diferencias regionales en cardiopatías congénitas / Regional differences in congenital heart disease

Resumen Objetivo: Estimar la frecuencia relativa de las cardiopatías congénitas detectadas en el periodo post-natal en población pediátrica de once Departamentos de Colombia, y comparar cuáles son más frecuentes por Departamentos y regiones del país. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional de corte transversal, teniendo como fuente de información la base de datos recolectada entre los años 2008 y 2013 durante las brigadas de cardiología pediátrica para la detección de cardiopatías congénitas, realizadas por la Fundación Cardioinfantil-Instituto de Cardiología, en alianza con entidades civiles y gubernamentales de cada Departamento. Resultados: Se analizaron datos de 5.900 sujetos, estudiados con historia clínica y ecocardiograma. Se detectaron 3.309 (56,1%) casos de cardiopatía congénita, 54,3% correspondientes al género masculino. En el ámbito nacional, las cardiopatías más frecuentes en orden de frecuencia fueron: comunicación interventricular, obstrucción del tracto de salida del ventrículo derecho, comunicación interauricular, ductus arterioso persistente y obstrucción del tracto de salida del ventrículo izquierdo. Se encontró diferencia estadísticamente significativa en la comparación de la distribución de las cardiopatías congénitas más frecuentes (p < 0,0001), como también diferencias al comparar la distribución de estas cinco cardiopatías entre las regiones, de la siguiente manera: entre la región Caribe y Andina (p < 0,0001), Caribe y Pacífico (p < 0,0001), Caribe y Orinoquia (p = 0,0024), Andina y Pacífico (p = 0,0015), Andina y Orinoquia (p = 0,0068), Pacífico y Orinoquia (p = 0,0001). Conclusiones: Existen diferencias significativas en la distribución de las cardiopatías congénitas post-natales más frecuentes por regiones del país, que no han sido reportadas con anterioridad en Colombia ni en Latinoamérica, y que no parecen atribuibles al rol del azar.

Abstract Motivation: To estimate the relative frequency of congenital heart diseases detected during the postnatal period in a pediatric population of eleven Colombian departments, and to compare which ones are more frequent according to the country's departments and regions. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted, using as an information source the databased collected between 2008 and 2013 during the pediatric cardiology brigades organised by The Cardioinfantil Foundation-Institute of Cardiology, in alliance with civil and government entities in each department. Results: Data from 5,900 individuals were analysed, studied with their medical records and echocardiogram. 3,309 (56%) of congenital heart disease were detected, 54.3% of which were for male patients. Within the national range, the most common congenital heart diseases according to their frequency were: ventricular septal defect, right ventricular outflow tract obstruction, atrial septal defect, persistent ductus arteriosus and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. There was a statistically significant difference in the comparison of the distribution of the most frequent congenital heart diseases (p < 0.0001), as there were differences when comparing the distribution of these five conditions within regions, as follows: Caribbean and Andean (p < 0.0001), Caribbean and Pacific (p < 0.0001), Caribbean and Orinoquía (p = 0,0024), Andean and Pacific (p = 0.0015), Andean and Orinoquía (p = 0.0068), Pacific and Orinoquía (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Significant differences exist in the distribution of the most frequent postnatal congenital heart diseases within the different regions of the country. These have never been reported previously neither in Colombia nor in Latin America, and they do not seem attributable to chance.

Differences by Altitude in the Frequency of Congenital Heart Defects in Colombia.

More evidence is needed that links the diagnosis of different congenital heart diseases (CHD) identified after birth, with intermediate altitudes above sea level in geographically and ethnically diverse populations. Our aim was to estimate relative frequencies of CHD diagnosis by altitude and gender in the pediatric population of 12 cities in Colombia. This was a cross-sectional study based on the information collected between 2008 and 2013 in Colombia, during annual congenital heart disease (CHD) case detection campaigns in the post-natal period. All children underwent physical examination, pulse-oximetry, and echocardiography. The odds ratio (OR) was used as the summary statistic to assess associations with altitude in the relative frequency of CHD diagnosis. Data from 5900 children who attended the campaigns were evaluated (54.3 % male), out of which 3309 (56.1 %) were diagnosed with CHD. There were statistically significant differences in the relative distribution of the different CHD by city altitude and gender (p < 0.0001). When compared with sea level, altitudes between 1285 and 3000 m above sea level were associated with increased Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) (ORmh 1.68, 95 % CI 1.34-2.09; p < 0.0001) and left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) diagnoses (ORmh 2.06, 95 % CI 1.63-2.61; p < 0.0001), while the opposite was true for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOTO) diagnosis (OR 0.60; 95 % CI 0.49-0.74, p < 0.0001). These associations were not modified by gender differences. In a geographically and ethnically diverse population, altitudes between 1285 and 3000 m above sea level carried an independent and clinically important excess diagnostic risk of PDA and of LVOTO, when compared to all other CHD.

Diagnóstico matemático de ecocardiografías pediátricas con medidas de dimensión fractal evaluadas con armonía matemática intrínseca / Mathematical diagnosis of pediatric echocardiograms with fractal dimension measures evaluated through intrinsic mathematical harmony

Antecedentes y objetivos: la geometría permite la caracterización matemática objetiva de las formas; la geometría fractal caracteriza objetos irregulares. La forma de los estados dinámicos del ventrículo izquierdo que se observa mediante eco-cardiografía, puede evaluarse de manera objetiva a partir de medidas de dimensiones fractales. Métodos: se midió la dimensión fractal a través del método de Box-Counting de tres objetos definidos en 28 imágenes eco-cardiográficas, 16 de infantes normales (grupo A) y 12 enfermos (grupo B), a fin de establecer diferencias entre salud y estados patológicos a partir de su comparación con las dimensiones fractales de dos prototipos de normalidad y dos de enfermedad. Resultados: se desarrolló una nueva metodología diagnóstica de aplicación clínica basada en el concepto de "armonía matemática intrínseca", y se halló que las dimensiones fractales de los objetos definidos para un ecocardiograma enfermo presentan similitudes hasta en su cuarta cifra significativa, con lo que se evidencia la posibilidad de seguir la evolución de normalidad a enfermedad. De acuerdo con los cálculos realizados 68,75% de los casos del grupo A podrían tener mejor evaluación con el diagnóstico desarrollado y los enfermos podrían diagnosticarse de modo más efectivo. Conclusiones: las imágenes ecocardiográficas pediátricas pueden caracterizarse de manera objetiva con medidas de dimensión fractal, lo cual permite desarrollar una metodología de diagnóstico clínico de la eco-cardiografía en menores de edad, a partir del concepto de armonía matemática intrínseca.

Background and objectives: Geometry allows the objective mathematical characterization of forms. Fractal geometry characterizes irregular objects. The left ventricle dynamical states form observed through echocardiography can be objectively evaluated through fractal dimension measures. Methods: A measurement of fractal dimension was performed using the Box-counting method of three defined objects in 28 echocardiographic images, 16 from normal children (group A) and 12 ill children (group B), in order to establish differences between health and illness from its comparison with the fractal dimensions of 2 normality prototypes and 2 disease prototypes. Results: A new diagnostic, clinical application methodology was developed based in the "intrinsic mathematical harmony" (IMH) concept, and it was observed that the fractal dimensions of the defined objects for an abnormal echocardiogram show similarity to its fourth significant number, thus demonstrating the possibility of following up the evolution from normality towards disease. According to the performed calculations, 68.75% of the cases in group A could be better evaluated with the developed diagnostic methodology, and the ill ones could be diagnosed more effectively. Conclusions: The pediatric echocardiography images can be objectively characterized with fractal dimension measurements, thus enabling the development of a clinical diagnostic methodology of echocardiography in children from the IMH concept.

Cierre percutaneo de ductus arterioso con resorte / Percutaneus closure of arterial ductus with spring

Objetivos. Se desea revisar en forma retrospectiva la experiencia de cierre percutáneo de ductus arterioso persistente (DAP) de enero de 1997 a enero del 2000, no fueron sometidos a cierre 12 DAP silentes. Métodos: Todos los pacientes con diagnóstico de DAP fueron ingresados al protocolo de estudio, se dividieron en dos grupos 1. Tratamiento percutáneo (diámetro 3 mm o menos). 2. Tratamiento quirúrgico (defecto mayor de 3 mm). Resultados: Se estudiaron un total de 334 pacientes 215 pacientes operados (1997 : 99 pacientes, 1998: 74 pacientes, 1999: 42 pacientes). 119 cierre percutáneo, de los cuales cinco fueron considerados no aptos para cierre por defectos muy grandes en cateterismo. El tamaño del DAP medido por Eco no tiene una buena correlación respecto al medido mediante cateterismo. De los 114 pacientes intervenidos en cateterismo se colocaron 124 resortes distribuidos así: Jackson 103 (81 por ciento), Gianturco 21 (11 por ciento) colocando doble resorte en 10 pacientes (8.4 por ciento) todos los casos fueron evaluados a las 24 horas, 6 y 12 meses, encontrando cierre total a las 24 horas en 83 por ciento, cortocircuito (C-C) residual en 19 de los cuales fue mínimo en 16 y moderado en tres. Uno de estos pacientes fue sometido a nuevo cierre percutáneo por hemolisis y C-C residual moderado. A los seis meses: se controlaron 15 de 19 pacientes con C-C residual, seis evolucionaron a cierre y en los seis restantes persistió el C-C, dos de los pacientes con C-C moderado evolucionaron a C-C mínimo, el restante persiste igual y esta pendiente de control del año. De los ocho pacientes con C-C residual, fueron controlados seis al año con cierre espontáneo en uno. Finalmente se logró un cierre total del defecto en 92 por ciento, con C-C residual mínimo en cinco y moderado en uno, perdiéndose para seguimiento seis pacientes con C-C mínim

Consenso sobre los requerimientos y pautas de la ecocardigrafía y hemodinamia

Con la finalidad de buscar una mejor calidad-atención a los pacientes y garantizar la calidad de los estudios, se convocó a un grupo de cardiólogos expertos a participar en una serie de reuniones para llegar a un consenso sovre los requisitos mínimos para el funcionamiento de los laboratorios de Ecocardiografía y Hemodinamia. Se analizaron las características del laboratorio y del equipo, así como el nivel de entrenamiento del cardiólogo responsable y de los otros colaboradores profesionales, técnicos y auxiliares que trabajan en cada modalidad de estudio. La Sociedad Colombiana de Cardiología consideró estas normas como sus recomendaciones para la práctica de procedimientos de diagnóstico No Invasivo e Invasivos

Validación clínica y estadística de cuatro métodos de mediación de gasto cardíaco y Qp/Qs por Doppler en niños

Se midieron por Ecocardiografía Doppler los gastos sistémicos y pulmonar en 31 pacientes sanos y 26 pacientes conocidos por tener C.I.A ó C.I.V. La obtención de los gastos sistémico y pulmonar se realizó con cuatro métodos diferentes, ya validados y presentados en la literatura. Se partió de la premisa que los pacientes sanos no deben tener cortocircuito, por lo que, el Qp/Qs debe ser cercano a uno. Se realiza un análisis estadístico enfrentando cada uno de los cocientes obtenidos por los métodos a evaluar, entre ellos mismos y contra el cociente teórico ideal. Además se analizan Sensibilidad, Especificidad, Valor Predictivo positivo y negativo con el grupo de pacientes enfermos. Se obtienen los siguientes resultados: que los cuatro métodos son diferentes entre sí, que el más confiable desde todo punto de vista es el método Distancia latido por Planimetría, con menor variabilidad al compararlo con normales y mejor Sensibilidad, Especificidad y Valores Predictivos al compararlo con pacientes enfermos. El método Convencional (usado rutinariamente) no cumple parámetros estadísticamente aceptables para su uso, según el presente estudio

Imagen del flujo con doppler a color: evaluación de nuestra experiencia inicial

Se presenta la experiencia obtenida en la valoración Ecocardiográfica y con Dopper continuo, pulsado y color, en los 500 casos iniciales estudiados en la Fundación Cardio Infantil. Se discuten las posibilidades de error y las aplicaciones consideradas de mayor utilidad en las cardiopatías más frecuentes