Active clinical trials for "Heart Defects, Congenital"

Exercise intolerance is a major burden for patients with complex congenital heart disease (CHD), significantly affecting their quality of life. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing provides a reliable tool both for assessing exercise capacity of CHD patients and for risk stratification and is becoming part of the routine clinical assessment of these patients. Exercise has an effect on the muscular, metabolic and circulatory systems. While exercise training has been widely studied in chronic heart failure, its efficacy in adults with CHD remain unknown. The investigators hypothesize that structured exercise training will improve exercise intolerance, in particular peak VO2. The aim of this multicenter, randomized study is to evaluate the impact of structured exercise training on exercise intolerance in patients with complex CHD.

Shunt quantification in atrial septal defect (ASD) is estimated by Echocardiography-Doppler, with the pulmonary-to-systemic blood flow ratio: Qp/Qs. Higher is the ratio, more important is the shunt, and the consequence on right ventricular function. A value higher than 1.5 is one of the criteria for percutaneous closure of Secundum ASD. Maatouk and al. have demonstrated that a shunt fraction (Qp/Qs) over 3 is a predictive factor of an incomplete reversibility of the right ventricular remodeling [1]. Even if the accuracy of Doppler echocardiography is admitted for Qp/Qs measurement, there is still some technical difficulties. Thus, the right cardiac catheterization for O2 consumption measurement by the direct Fick method is used. The major inconvenient is the potential risk of adverse effects. Non-invasive methods have been developed using physical properties (as the thoracic bioimpedance) or inert gas rebreathing technique. Thoracic Bioimpedance (TB) and inert gas rebreathing (IGR) techniques have been studies on healthy individual and different respiratory or cardiac diseases to evaluate the cardiac output (CO). TB and IGR measure the systemic and pulmonary blood flow respectively. Without shunt the pulmonary blood flow is equal to the systemic blood flow. Thus, Investigator suppose that combine the two techniques in disease with shunt, will allow a quantification of the shunt fraction Qp/Qs as accurate as with the gold standard technique (Fick method and Echocardiography Doppler). The purpose of the study is to evaluate the feasibility and the accuracy of the non-invasive measurement of the Qp/Qs ratio in secundum ASD using the IGR technique and the TB versus the two gold standard techniques: the Fick method and the Echocardiography-Doppler. The study hypothesizes that the values of Qp et Qs determined by IGR et TB respectively are in the same range of values that the one determined by gold standard techniques.

In this pilot study investigators propose to explore the effects of a locally delivered inhaled pulmonary vasodilator (inhaled treprostinil) on exercise performance, pulmonary blood flow, venous pressure response and vascular function in stable Fontan patients. Investigators will also assess the effects of resting and acute rises in exercise induced systemic venous pressure on liver stiffness and will also assess whether treprostinil will attenuate the acute stiffness increase that investigators expect to see. This will be a prospective, randomized, double-blinded placebo controlled, crossover trial. Following recruitment and informed consent, each participant will undergo three study visits, including baseline testing (visit 1), followed by two sets of exercise and vascular function tests (visit 2 and visit 3) at CCHMC. Twenty-six patients will be enrolled in this study.

We are seeing how well a remote monitoring device that looks like a sticker placed on the chest, under the arm can monitor a child's vital signs including oxygen levels compared to the way that we usually get these measurements. The goal of this study is to see if the new sticker can be used for monitoring patients with cardiac shunt dependent heart conditions from home once they are discharged home. Participating children will be monitored for 6-72 hours with the new sticker in addition to his/her usual hospital monitors so the new sticker device can be compared to our hospital monitors.

This is post-market clinical follow-up study on 25 consecutive patients in two centers to evaluate the safety and performance of magnetic resonance imaging conditional guide wire and the acceptability of identified risks in the clinical evaluation and to detect emerging risks on the basis of factorial evidence.The procedure will be done in patients with a clinical indication for cardiac magnetic resonance and conventional catheterisation.

Background: Children with congenital heart defects (CHD) are reported to have poorer oral health compared with healthy children. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of an intensive oral health care program among children with CHD followed from infancy to the age of five years, by comparing their oral health status at five years with a control group of children with CHD who had not received the program. Methods: In this longitudinal study, children in western Norway with a need for lifelong follow-up due to congenital heart defects were invited to participate (n=119). Children born in 2008-2011 were offered a promotive oral health intervention program from infancy to the age of five years. The outcome measures for evaluating the intervention were dental caries prevalence, dental erosion, plaque index and gingival bleeding index. The data of the intervention group were compared with cross sectional oral health data of five year old controls with CHD born 2005-2007 (already published).

This study will adapt a physical activity lifestyle intervention to adolescent and emerging adult congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors with the primary goal of increasing physical activity levels. The study will be split into 2 phases. In Phase 1, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, wear an accelerometer around the waist for 7 days, and undergo an exercise stress test. The accelerometer and exercise stress test will be used to determine whether participants are eligible to be randomized for the intervention study. For adolescent participants, a parent will be asked to complete questionnaires at baseline as well. In Phase 2, participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: 1) receiving a physical activity tracker (a Fitbit) or 2) receiving a Fitbit AND engaging in videoconferencing sessions with a physical activity coach. During Phase 2, participants will also be asked to complete 3 assessments (weeks 9 and 22, and a 6-month follow-up). The week 9 assessment will consist of completing questionnaires and wearing an accelerometer for 7 days. Week 22 will be similar to week 9 with the addition of a final exercise stress test. The 6-month follow-up will mirror the week 9 assessment. For adolescent participants, the same parent will be asked to complete questionnaires at the final assessment as well. Participants who are randomized to the videoconferencing condition will be asked to meet with a physical activity coach 8 times over the course of 20 weeks. Coaches will help participants to (1) change attitudes toward physical activity, (2) increase perception of others' approval of physical activity (e.g., family members, peers), and (3) increase participants' perceived control by troubleshooting barriers and increasing efficacy for physical activity. Coaches will use the Fitbit to facilitate self-monitoring and goal setting. Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to participate in a focus group at the conclusion of the study to share their experiences.

Our cluster randomized controlled trial of a novel clinical practice change will IMPACT the physical activity (PA) of children living with congenital heart defects (CHD) through our Innovative and pragmatic approach to systematically incorporate PA counselling within each clinic visit. Long-term, the focus is to prevent or treat the most common secondary morbidities of these patients (atherosclerosis, anxiety, depression) through enhanced PA. We have previously shown that home-based, PA interventions can increase daily PA and enhance PA motivation, motor skill and fitness when delivered via an intensive research intervention. Our objectives for this study are to Measure the feasibility and efficacy of PA counselling using clinical resources among paediatric CHD patients (daily PA, PA motivation, competence, quality of life) and on clinic systems (% patients counselled, clinic/kinesiology personnel support required, clinic visit time, # of PA questions). Our Patient-empowering, ready-to-use, self-explanatory "tool kit" of clinician PA resources and patient/family/clinician friendly searchable electronic PA database will be used to promote the Active lifestyles that are critically important to physical/mental health, peer socialization & childhood growth/development. 90% of children are not active enough for optimal health. We initially target children with CHD because they are less active than peers, and their most important secondary morbidities can be prevented or treated through PA. Our Collaborative approach with patients, their families and leaders in paediatric cardiac healthcare will optimize our "PA tool kit" and novel practice change for Translation to all paediatric CHD healthcare systems (primary, secondary, tertiary) through our pan-Canadian Cardiac Kids Quality of LIFFE Research and Knowledge Exchange Network, a collaborative of 10 patient/family support networks and 10 paediatric cardiac clinics in 6 provinces focused on Learning, Independence, Friends, Fitness & Emotional health (LIFFE).

Before birth, the placenta (a structure with many blood vessels attached to the inside of your womb) and the umbilical cord (the umbilical cord is attached to the placenta) are sending oxygen and nutrients from the mother's blood through the umbilical cord to the baby. After a baby is born the cord is clamped and babies have to start breathing and support themselves. At the moment when a baby with congenital heart disease is born they will have their cord clamped immediately (this is called immediate cord clamping (ICC)). After ICC the clinical team will start to help a baby transition by carefully monitoring their oxygen saturation (give oxygen if needed), provide warmth, and dry and stimulate. Several animal studies have shown that clamping the cord right after birth might causes the baby to miss the benefits of receiving blood from the umbilical cord / placenta. Delayed Cord Clamping (DCC) is when the baby stays attached to the cord for a longer time. Studies show that DCC has many benefits especially for a newborn baby, such as higher iron storage, less need for blood transfusions, and improved circulation. This can be done while the baby is breathing on its own or while we help you baby breath (this is called resuscitation). This study aims to examine whether DCC while providing resuscitation in infants with CHD is helpful compared to immediate cord clamping. Prior to the birth of your baby, a sealed envelope will be opened and your baby will be randomly assigned to either the DCC with resuscitation group or the ICC group. 40 babies will be enrolled into this study, 20 in each group. In the DCC group, the umbilical cord will be clamped after 120 seconds during which time your baby will receive the care he/she requires by the NICU team. In the ICC group, the umbilical cord will be clamped immediately and he/she will be brought over the resuscitation bed to be cared for by the same team.

This study will adapt a physical activity lifestyle intervention to emerging adult congenital heart disease (CHD) survivors with the primary goal of increasing physical activity levels. The study will be split into 2 phases. In Phase 1, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires, wear an accelerometer around the waist for 7 days, and undergo an exercise stress test. The accelerometer and exercise stress test will be used to determine whether participants are eligible to be randomized for the intervention study. In Phase 2, participants will be randomized to one of two conditions: 1) receiving a physical activity tracker (a Fitbit) or 2) receiving a Fitbit AND engaging in videoconferencing sessions with a physical activity coach. During Phase 2, participants will also be asked to complete 3 assessments (weeks 9 and 22, and a 6-month follow-up). The week 9 assessment will consist of completing questionnaires and wearing an accelerometer for 7 days. Week 22 will be similar to week 9 with the addition of a final exercise stress test. The 6-month follow-up will mirror the week 9 assessment. Participants who are randomized to the videoconferencing condition will be asked to meet with a physical activity coach 8 times over the course of 20 weeks. Coaches will help participants to (1) change attitudes toward physical activity, (2) increase perception of others' approval of physical activity (e.g., family members, peers), and (3) increase participants' perceived control by troubleshooting barriers and increasing efficacy for physical activity. Coaches will use the Fitbit to facilitate self-monitoring and goal setting. Participants in the intervention arm will be asked to participate in a focus group at the conclusion of the study to share their experiences.