Active clinical trials for "Heart Defects, Congenital"

Cardiac surgery under extracorporeal circulation (ECC) in newborns with congenital heart disease causes significant morbidity and mortality. The perioperative period is a period of major vulnerability implicated in the appearance of these sequelae, and it is therefore essential to monitor brain function during ECC. The quality of cerebral oxygenation in the perioperative period is routinely monitored non-invasively by infra-red spectroscopy, which makes it possible to estimate cerebral tissue oximetry from a surface electrode (NIRS). The association between time spent outside the limits of cerebral self-regulation and the occurrence of perioperative encephalopathy is not known. The purpose of this study is to determine whether disturbances in brain self-regulation during the operative period are associated with the occurrence of postoperative encephalopathy in children operated on for congenital heart disease in the neonatal period. The main objective of the research is to determine the association between time spent outside individually determined cerebral self-regulation limits and the appearance of brain lesions suggestive of low brain output. Secondary objectives will investigate the association between time spent outside self-regulatory limits and the occurrence of postoperative encephalopathy defined by clinical and encephalographic criteria and will study factors predictive of the development of postoperative encephalopathy.

The overall objective of this project is to optimize the use of diagnostic methods and follow-up programs in infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs) in order to reduce death and complications

Pulse oximetry screening (POS) for critical congenital heart diseases (CCHD) could identify 90% of these infants. However, this approach is not designed to detect cardiac defects without hypoxemia, especially congenital malformations of aorta (CMoA). More than 60% of CMoA was late diagnosed. Infants with CMoA were supposed to present with blood pressure (BP) gradient between four limbs. But a large sample size retrospective study of four-limb BP screening showed a negative result. The possible reason is that this study ran in population with a very low risk of CMoA. Whether four-limb BPs measurement could be used in infants with high risk of congenital malformation of aorta is still to be determined. The investigators retrospectively collected four-limb BPs, which was prospectively measured, in infants with high risk of CMoA. These data were divided into two groups, the discovery group and the validation group. The best cutoff of four-limb BP gradient was generated by Youden Index. The BP gradients by age were analyzed. Pre-operative hypotension and post-operative hypertension were also analyzed.

Study Title The SSSH Study: SNOO Smart Sleeper Use in Post-Operative Infants with Congenital Heart Disease is a single site, cross-sectional, feasibility study of an infant smart sleeper. The Primary Objective is to evaluate the feasibility of collecting and integrating clinical data and SNOO data. The secondary Objective(s) is To assess the feasibility of conducting a future broader trial by evaluating the parents willingness to give parental permission for participation in the use of the SNOO. Research Intervention(s)/ Investigational Agent(s) SNOO Smart Sleeper from Happiest Baby, Inc.There are approximately 300 new infants per year who undergo cardiac surgery at Children's Mercy Kansas City (CMKC) who are 6 months of age and 11kg or less at the time of surgery Sample Size. A maximum of 15 patients will be enrolled for this feasibility study over the study Duration for Individual Participant Length of hospitalization on 4Sutherland, average length of stay for this patient population is 30 days.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs in 40% of children following heart surgery. Serum creatinine (Scr) is a late biomarker of AKI, rising 24-48 hours after surgery. Thus, for medicines excreted in the urine, AKI could potentially lead to toxic levels in the blood. Urinary biomarkers have the ability to detect AKI earlier. Whether early detection of AKI through urinary biomarkers can predict altered drug levels is unknown. Milrinone is used to improve heart function after surgery, but accumulates in AKI resulting in low blood pressure. Dose adjustments are not currently possible because of the late rise in SCr, and are based on clinical parameters that may lead to clinically relevant over or under-dosing. Thus, this study will address an important knowledge gap being the first to use elevations of AKI biomarker concentrations to anticipate increased milrinone levels.

One known risk of pediatric heart surgery is the possibility for brain damage. This problem results from a lack of oxygen rich blood flow to the brain during surgery. In order to provide the patient's brain with blood during this operation, selective cerebral perfusion is sometimes used. This technique allows for adequate blood flow to the brain, and is monitored using special sticker sensors. The sensors are applied to the patient's forehead, and a corresponding monitor indicates oxygen levels in the front part of the brain. The goal of this study is to find out if these same stickers can be applied to the base of the skull to measure cerebral oxygenation at the back of the brain, and to determine if the back of the brain is adequately oxygenated during selective cerebral perfusion in patients undergoing complex aortic arch reconstruction.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an effective and radiation free method of diagnosing Congenital Heart Disease (CHD). MRI works by taking images of the anatomy and physiology. These images also provide information on the hearts function and blood flow. The clarity of these images is enhanced by the use of contrast agents (dyes). However these agents only stay in the blood vessels for a short time and therefore limit the time in which the better quality images can be obtained. This study aims to determine whether MRI using Vasovist (a dye that stays in the vessels for a prolonged period of time) can improve the diagnosis of Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) by allowing more areas to be imaged and the improved assessment of various parameters (anatomy, volumes, flow) as well as vastly improving image quality.

Malformations of the heart (congenital heart disease) are the most common congenital birth defects, occurring in about 1% of children. Each year, between 150-200 children will undergo open heart surgery at British Columbia Children's Hospital (BCCH) to repair the defect(s) in their heart. The abnormal structure of the heart or the open heart surgery may cause damage to the electrical system of the heart which can disturb the rhythm of the heart (arrhythmias), prolong recovery or be life-threatening. For this reason, temporary pacing wires are placed in the heart following surgery to ensure the heart rhythm is as normal as possible during the post-operative period (pacing). In recent years, scientists have recognized that pacing the heart from one area is not necessarily the same as pacing it from a different area. In fact, in some individuals with arrhythmias and poor heart function, pacing the heart from different areas can improve the pumping of the heart, resulting in better heart function. This form of treatment is called Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) because it endeavours to optimize the pumping of the heart by changing the electrical activation of the heart. CRT has been used to a very limited extent in children. A few pediatric cardiologists have used CRT to help children who are in heart failure. We would like to determine whether pacing the heart from different areas after open heart surgery improves the child's heart function and aids his or her recovery.

First, we, the researchers, hope to find out the PCT response to heart surgery in children by taking blood before surgery and each day for four days after surgery. These blood draws will help us figure out the typical Procalcitonin (PCT) response, the normal increase in PCT after heart surgery, and when the PCT level returns to baseline. Second, we, the researchers, hope to determine the accuracy of PCT as a marker of infection. Hypothesis Our hypothesis is that Procalcitonin is superior to other currently used markers of infection and will prove to be a clinically useful tool for evaluation of infection in children following cardiac surgery.

Each year in the United States, thousands of babies are born with heart defects. Women who take folic acid during pregnancy have a lower risk of giving birth to infants with heart defects, but the reason for this remains unknown. This study will examine the relationship between genes, nutrition, and the occurrence of heart defects in infants.