BACKGROUND: There is no consensus regarding the choice of anesthetic method for patients with pulmonary hypertension (PH). We report two cases in which neuraxial anesthesia was safely performed without general anesthesia during open abdominal surgery in patients with severe PH.
METHODS: Case 1: A 59-year-old woman had an atrial septal defect and a huge abdominal tumor with a mean pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) of 39 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 3.5 Wood units. Case 2: A 23-year-old woman who had hereditary pulmonary artery hypertension (mean PAP, 65 mmHg; PVR, 16.45 Wood units). Both patients underwent open abdominal surgery under neuraxial anesthesia without circulatory collapse with intraoperative administration of vasoconstrictors.
CONCLUSIONS: Although anesthetic care must be personalized depending on the pathology and severity of PH, neuraxial anesthesia may be an option for patients with severe PH undergoing abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Present an updated overview of the prevention, diagnosis, and management of infective endocarditis in adult patients with congenital heart disease.
RESULTS: Care for patients with infective endocarditis is changing in the areas of specialized teams, diagnostics, and prevention. Endocarditis teams should be involved in the care of ACHD patients. The 2023 Duke Criteria for Infective Endocarditis and the 2023 European Society of Cardiology Guidelines have updated the criteria for diagnosis including new major criteria such as CT and positron emission computed tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) scans. Immunological, PCR, and nucleic acid-based tests are now acceptable means to isolate infective organisms. Clindamycin is no longer recommended for antibiotic prophylaxis due to resistance and side effect profile. Special considerations for antibiotic prophylaxis and management must be made for specific congenital heart diseases in adulthood and pregnant ACHD patients. Infective endocarditis (IE), a potentially devastating clinical entity, is a feared threat to the health of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD). IE needs a systematic approach for its prevention, early diagnosis and management with a multidisciplinary IE team\'s involvement. There have been changes in the diagnostics and management of IE, which is reflected in updated diagnostic criteria. Timely blood cultures and imaging continue to be the mainstay of diagnosis, however the timing of blood cultures, microbiological testing, and types of diagnostic imaging such as the positron emission computed tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) scan are new. Bicuspid aortic valves, ventricular septal defects, transcatheter pulmonary valve replacements, and tetralogy of Fallot are diagnoses at higher risk for IE in the ACHD population. The following article will focus on the preventive strategies, in addition to novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches of IE in ACHD patients.

UNASSIGNED: The adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population is growing and risk prediction is important to predict adverse outcome and consult patients during their lifecourse.
UNASSIGNED: This study aims to describe the long-term prognostic value of blood biomarkers in ACHD.
UNASSIGNED: In this prospective observational cohort study, 602 patients with moderate or complex ACHD were included (median age 32.5 years [IQR: 24.7-41.2], 42% female, 90% New York Heart Association I). N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), high-sensitive-troponin T, growth differentiation factor 15, high-sensitive-C-reactive protein, suppression of tumorigenicity-2 and galectin-3, as well as full blood count, renal function, LDL, and HDL were measured. Cox models were applied to relate the selected biomarkers with the primary end point of all-cause mortality and secondary end point of mortality or heart failure. Standardized HRs adjusted for relevant prognostic factors, including age, sex, and complexity of diagnosis, were reported.
UNASSIGNED: Abnormal biomarker levels were present in 424 (70.4%) patients. During a median follow-up of 10.1 years, 41 (6.8%) patients died and 81 (13.5%) developed heart failure. Associations were observed between the primary and secondary end point and red cell distribution width, NT-proBNP, and growth differentiation factor 15. In a multibiomarker model, only NT-proBNP remained associated with mortality (HR: 2.74; 95% CI: 2.01-3.74). NT-proBNP significantly improved the C-statistic of the clinical prediction model (0.85-0.92). Based on NT-proBNP alone, low-risk patients could be identified. Patients with NT-proBNP <76 ng/L showed a 10-year heart failure-free survival of 98.5%.
UNASSIGNED: Blood biomarkers have prognostic value in ACHD. NT-proBNP improves risk prediction and is able to identify low-risk patients. Its routine use should be implemented in ACHD.

Atrial septal defects (ASDs), comprising a significant portion of congenital cardiac anomalies, encompass a rarer and more diagnostically challenging subset known as sinus venosus ASDs (SVASDs). ASDs are more prevalent in females, and the prognosis for patients under 40 years of age is generally favorable with advancements in surgical and transcatheter interventions. However, undiagnosed ASDs in adults above 40 years old, especially females, often lead to severe complications, including pulmonary hypertension, atrial fibrillation, Eisenmenger syndrome, and a mortality rate exceeding 50%. Our detailed case study focuses on an obese 42-year-old Hispanic migrant female with chronic respiratory failure misattributed to pulmonary hypertension, resulting in the progression of complications from undiagnosed SVASD. Further investigation using contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) elucidated the correct diagnosis four years after her initial presentation. This report explores the potential factors contributing to the patient\'s delayed diagnosis and development of advanced cardiac complications of pulmonary hypertension leading to Eisenmenger syndrome that precluded her from procedural intervention. Furthermore, this report pioneers the first thorough review of case reports in adults newly diagnosed with SVASD, revealing sex-based differences in complications.

UNASSIGNED: Little is known regarding the characteristics, treatment patterns, and outcomes in patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) admitted to cardiac intensive care units (CICUs).
UNASSIGNED: The authors sought to better define the contemporary epidemiology, treatment patterns, and outcomes of ACHD admissions in the CICU.
UNASSIGNED: The Critical Care Cardiology Trials Network is a multicenter network of CICUs in North America. Participating centers contributed prospective data from consecutive admissions during 2-month annual snapshots from 2017 to 2022. We analyzed characteristics and outcomes of admissions with ACHD compared with those without ACHD. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess mortality in ACHD vs non-ACHD admissions.
UNASSIGNED: Of 23,299 CICU admissions across 42 sites, there were 441 (1.9%) ACHD admissions. Shunt lesions were most common (46.1%), followed by right-sided lesions (29.5%) and complex lesions (28.7%). ACHD admissions were younger (median age 46 vs 67 years) than non-ACHD admissions. ACHD admissions were more commonly for heart failure (21.3% vs 15.7%, P < 0.001), general medical problems (15.6% vs 6.0%, P < 0.001), and atrial arrhythmias (8.6% vs 4.9%, P < 0.001). ACHD admissions had a higher median presenting Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score (5.0 vs 3.0, P < 0.001). Total hospital stay was longer for ACHD admissions (8.2 vs 5.9 days, P < 0.01), though in-hospital mortality was not different (12.7% vs 13.6%; age- and sex-adjusted OR: 1.19 [95% CI: 0.89-1.59], P = 0.239).
UNASSIGNED: This study illustrates the unique aspects of the ACHD CICU admission. Further investigation into the best approach to manage specific ACHD-related CICU admissions, such as cardiogenic shock and acute respiratory failure, is warranted.

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Patients with congenital heart disease now live well into adulthood because of advances in surgical techniques, improvements in medical management, and the development of novel therapeutic agents. As patients grow older into adults with congenital heart disease, many require catheter-based interventions for the treatment of residual defects, sequelae of their initial repair or palliation, or acquired heart disease. The past 3 decades have witnessed an exponential growth in both the type and number of transcatheter interventions in patients with congenital heart disease. With improvements in medical technology and device design, including the use of devices designed for the treatment of acquired valve stenosis or regurgitation, patients who previously would have required open-heart surgery for various conditions can now undergo percutaneous cardiac catheter-based procedures. Many of these procedures are complex and occur in complex patients who are best served by a multidisciplinary team. This review aims to highlight some of the currently available transcatheter interventional procedures for adults with congenital heart disease, the clinical outcomes of each intervention, and any special considerations so that the reader may better understand both the procedure and patients with adult congenital heart disease.

UNASSIGNED: Patients with a patent foramen ovale (PFO) who undergo percutaneous PFO closure are at a greater risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) compared with patients whose PFOs are managed medically. Postclosure AF appears to be well tolerated if treated but may increase the risk for stroke. Postclosure AF is reported to occur in 3.7% to 7.4% of patients; however, incidence across devices remains uncertain. This study aims to evaluate the frequency of postclosure AF, atrial flutter, and arrhythmias in 6 PFO closure devices.
UNASSIGNED: Four hundred forty-five patients underwent percutaneous PFO closure with appropriate follow-up between 2001 and 2021. The procedure was performed using Abbott Amplatzer PFO, Amplatzer ASD, Amplatzer Cribriform, NMT CardioSEAL, Gore Helex, or Gore Cardioform devices. Incidence of AF, atrial flutter, and arrhythmias were assessed by electrocardiogram within 6 months from closure. Multivariate logistic regression evaluated potential predictors of postclosure AF or atrial flutter.
UNASSIGNED: Postclosure AF or atrial flutter occurred in 30 patients (6.7%) within 6 months, and its incidence was significantly different across devices. Gore Cardioform had the greatest frequency of postclosure AF or atrial flutter events (16.8%) compared with other devices. The Gore Cardioform device, larger device sizes, and male sex were associated with greater risk of postclosure AF or atrial flutter.
UNASSIGNED: Postclosure AF or atrial flutter was more likely to occur in the Gore Cardioform device, in males, and in patients who underwent PFO closure with larger devices. Although it is more effective for complete closure, the Gore Cardioform device was shown to be an independent predictor of postclosure AF or atrial flutter.

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