Respiratory syncytial virus infection in children with congenital heart disease: A review

This paper reviews recent changes in morbidity and mortality of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants with congenital heart disease. Mortality since the late 1970s has declined substantially, from approximately 37% to 3%. Although the frequency of admission to intensive care units has declined from approximately 60% to 30%, the frequency for mechanical ventilatory support has not changed significantly. Because mortality dropped prior to the widespread use of ribavirin, it is difficult to ascribe the improvement to this therapy. In infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), nosocomial infection remains a significant problem, accounting for approximately 33% of the RSV cases. Some authors report significant reductions in hospital-acquired RSV by use of gloves and gowns for contacts with infectious cases. Efforts at primary prevention have encountered problems with development of an RSV vaccine. Preliminary data from studies of passive immunization using immune globulins with high RSV antibody titers suggest that this therapy may reduce the severity of RSV infection in infants with serious heart disease.     

Malformation patterns in children with congenital heart disease

We prospectively examined 1016 infants and children with congenital heart disease (CHD) to detect additional malformation patterns. They were divided into two major groups. In the first group (n = 881), the CHD either occurred alone or was accompanied by a major extracardiac malformation (n = 68, 7.7%). In the second group (n = 135, 13.3%), the CHD was part of a malformation syndrome, embryopathy, association, or complex. In one fourth of the 56 chromosomal syndromes, the underlying cytogenetic anomaly differed from trisomy 21. Fourteen of the 30 children with non-chromosomal malformation syndromes had Noonan's syndrome. Thirteen of the 27 embryopathies were due to rubella infection, but alcohol embryopathy occurred nearly as often (n = 10). In those children with malformation associations (n = 16) seven showed cardiofacial association. Three of the five children with malformation complexes had Ivemark disease. In this study, underlying disorders were found in one of eight children with CHD, a considerably higher percentage than that reported in earlier studies.     

Exercise testing in children with congenital heart disease

In children with congenital heart disease, interest concerning cardiovascular performance capacity is directed mainly to the operated patient. Indirect and/or submaximal tests to assess cardiovascular ability are based on assumptions that are at least partially incorrect, so that test results may not be valid. Standardization of values should be performed according to body height, but should also account for age. There is a lack of information concerning the cardiovascular performance capacity of children following Senning or Mustard operations for transposition of the great arteries and following Fontan procedures for different malformations. In considering participation in sports, it should be realized that it is not the cardiovascular performance capacity that generally plays a dominant role. In technical disciplines and in short-term efforts, motor performance may be more important. Endurance training cannot be recommended in view of the anatomical disorders still present in many patients after cardiac surgery. Ergometry can add information on dysrhythmias, which may cause problems postoperatively, but may also be present without organic heart disease.     

Growth pattern in children with congenital heart disease

Summary Growth study of 25 acyanotic children with left-to-right shunt and 5 cyanotic children with right-to-left shunt (tetralogy of Fallot) is reported. Data were collected at the time of operation and on followup 4 1/2–12 months later. No significant differences in the two measurements were seen. Weight was more impaired at the time of operation than height. The literature is reviewed. From the Child Development Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.     

Keeping children with congenital heart disease healthy

Keeping children with congenital heart disease healthy is vital to their long-term survival and quality of life. Nurse practitioners are in an excellent position to keep these sometimes fragile children healthy before, between, and after their cardiac surgeries. Primary care visits should address developmental morbidity. Referral for in-depth evaluations and intervention should be initiated for children with hemodynamically significant heart disease. Infants may also experience poor feeding. Nutritional guidance may include fortifying formulas or enteral tube feedings. Attention to immunization status and prevention of winter illnesses and endocarditis may reduce complications in this high-risk group of children.     

Academic outcomes in children with congenital heart disease

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is often associated with intellectual, developmental, and academic late effects related to the diagnosis itself and treatment. This literature review examines what is currently understood about these intellectual and academic deficits. It appears that children with CHD, and particularly those with cyanotic CHD, are at risk for significant impairments in visual spatial skills, visual motor skills, and overall processing speed. Early neurocognitive interventions, especially with younger children, may prove beneficial for remediating some of these deficits.     

Auditory brainstem responses in children with congenital heart disease

BACKGROUND: Cyanotic congenital heart diseases usually lead to growth and developmental delay in children due to chronic hypoxemia and undernourishment that may affect the central nervous system. The auditory brainstem responses are determined to assess the maturation and function of the brainstem. Therefore, we used the auditory brainstem responses to investigate the effect of cyanotic congenital heart diseases on brainstem maturation. METHODS: The auditory brainstem responses were investigated in 45 children (23 cyanotic, 22 acyanotic) with congenital heart diseases and compared with the results of 30 healthy counterparts (all children were aged between 2 months and 15 years). RESULTS: The results of auditory brainstem responses were similar in acyanotic patients and in normal children. The cyanotic patients under 1 year of age had more prolonged I-V interpeak latencies than those of control and acyanotic patients (P < 0.05). There was no difference between all groups older than 1 year of age. In cyanotic children, I-V interpeak latencies showed significant negative correlation with arterial oxygen saturation and partial oxygen pressure (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cyanotic congenital heart diseases may cause significant retardation on brainstem maturation due to chronic hypoxemia, especially in infants under 1 year of age, whereas acyanotic congenital heart diseases have no effect on auditory brainstem responses.