Infant Nasal Nitric Oxide Levels in Congenital Heart Disease
Congenital Heart DiseaseThis pilot study aims to measure nasal nitric oxide (nNO) in a group of neonates and infants (≤ 12 months) with congenital heart disease (CHD) and compare their nNO levels to age matched controls without CHD. CHD patients will be divided into subgroups, based on their cardiac anatomy, to try and identify a level of risk of ciliary dyskinesia within the subgroup of CHD. Each of these sub groups' nNO levels will be compared between groups and against age matched control infants without CHD.
STeroids to REduce Systemic Inflammation After Infant Heart Surgery
Congenital Heart Disease in ChildrenInflammatory ResponseThis study's objective is to determine the pharmacokinetics (PK)/pharmacodynamics (PD), safety and efficacy of methylprednisolone in infants undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. This is a prospective, double blind, multi-center, placebo-controlled safety and efficacy study. Blood samples will be collected from a subset of enrolled study participants to evaluate multiple dose methylprednisolone PK/PD. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion to intravenous methylprednisolone versus placebo. Study drug/placebo will be administered 8 to 12 hours before the anticipated start time of surgery and in the operating room at the time of initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass. Patients will be followed for primary and secondary outcomes for the duration of their hospitalization. Serious study drug-related adverse events will be collected for 7 days after the last dose of study drug.
Safety of Autologous Cord Blood Cells in HLHS Patients During Norwood Heart Surgery
Hypoplastic Left Heart SyndromeHeart Defects2 moreThis study aims to evaluate the safety and feasibility of coronary infusion of autologous placental cord blood mononuclear cells during the Norwood heart operation in newborn hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) patients.
Osteopathy and Children With Congenital Heart Disease Surgery
Congenital Heart DiseaseOsteopathic care impact on postoperative pain assessed by osteopathic session, evaluated by EVENDOL scale surgery on children with congenital heart disease
Optimizing Health Among Children With Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital Heart DefectsQuality of life and heart health are intimately connected to childhood physical activity participation (PAP). Physical activity is critical to childhood growth, development, learning, socialization, and quality of life and is an essential component of life-long heart health. Research by the investigators of this study and others has shown that low PAP levels are common among children with heart defects, and that these sedentary lifestyles are not related to exercise capacity, medical status or heart function.
Preoperative Corticosteroid Therapy in Neonates Undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Congenital Heart DiseaseDisorder of Fetus or NewbornRandomized controlled trial of the use of glucocorticoids to improve the clinical course of neonates post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Congenital Heart Defects
Congenital Heart DefectsThe objective of this multicentre prospective therapeutic study is to evaluate the effects of CRT on the right and left ventricular function of patients with CHD in the medium and long term. Patients who reject the randomization or cannot be paced with right ventricular pacing alone will be enrolled in group C with continuous biventricular pacing, which is the main group in this study. Optional: Immediately after implantation the patients are divided into group A and B (randomized, single blind (for the patient), cross-over design). The treatment and the completing follow-up examination will take approximately 18 months and includes seven visits - one previous to the CRT and six at certain times afterward. At selected time intervals echocardiographic 3D and Tissue Doppler Imaging to evaluate the global and regional ventricular function are performed. Subjective quality of life assessment (questionnaire) will also be performed at the defined follow-up intervals, and if applicable (optional) also objective assessment of the physical performance (VO2 max). 55 patients also including children and adults with CHD are planned to be included in the study. The main target is to provide evidence of the effectiveness of CRT with biventricular stimulation in terms of improved ventricular function (ejection fraction and QRS interval).
Management of Patent Ductus in Premature Infants
Cardiovascular DiseasesDefect4 moreTo evaluate the effects (up to one year of age) of indomethacin on the clinical course of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants (24 hours old or less) and to assess the relative merits of indomethacin and surgery in infants with persistent respiratory distress who were not treated early with indomethacin. Two concurrent trials were performed.
Protecting Brains and Saving Futures - the PBSF Protocol
Brain InjuriesCongenital Heart Disease15 moreBackground: Multiple neonatal disorders are associated with risks of neurological injury. Thus, management of these infants should involve a coordinated approach to permit early diagnosis with improved clinical care. Such initiative involves the use of standardized protocols, continuous and specialized brain monitoring with electroencephalography (EEG), amplitude integrated EEG (aEEG) and Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS), neuroimaging and training. Brazil is a very large country with disparities in health care assessment; some neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) are not well structured and trained to provide adequate neurocritical care. However, the development and implementation of these neurocritical care units requires high expertise and significant investment of time, manpower and equipment. In order to reduce the existing gap, a unique advanced telemedicine model of neurocritical care called Protecting Brains and Saving Futures (PBSF) protocol was developed and implemented in some Brazilian NICUs. Methods: A prospective observational cohort study will be conducted in 20 Brazilian NICUs that have adopted the PBSF protocol. All infants receiving the protocol during January 2021 to December 2023 will be eligible. Ethical approval will be obtained from the participating institutions. The primary objective is to describe the use of the PBSF protocol and clinical outcomes, by center and over a 3 years period. The use of the PBSF protocol will be measured by quantification of neuromonitoring, neuroimaging exams and sub-specialties consultation. Clinical outcomes of interest after the protocol implementation are length of hospital stay, detection of EEG seizures during hospitalization, use of anticonvulsants, inotropes, and fluid resuscitation, death before hospital discharge, and referral of patients to high-risk infant follow-up. These data will be also compared between infants with primarily neurologic and primarily clinical diagnosis. Discussion: The implementation of the PBSF protocol may provide adequate remote neurocritical care in high-risk infants with optimization of clinical management and improved outcomes. Data from this large, prospective, multicenter study are essential to determine whether neonatal neurocritical units can improve outcomes. Finally, it may offer the necessary framework for larger scale implementation and help in the development of studies of remote neuromonitoring.
Automated Fetal Cardiac Function in Babies Affected by Heart Diseases
Congenital Heart DefectCardiac FunctionThe goal of this international multicentre prospective observational cohort study with a nested case-control study is to test some automated fetal heart functional parameters in healthy babies compared to those affected by a congenital heart condition. The main questions it aims to answer are: If there is a significant difference between the two populations of infants Whether these parameters could significantly improve the predictive value of actual cardiovascular profile score to predict hydrops Participants will be offered two automated cardiac function assessments between 27+6 and 29+6 gestational weeks and between 34+6 and 36+6 weeks of gestation. Functional parameters will be compared between the two study groups and evaluated over time.