• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.411-422
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• 2010

Purpose: In the present study, an analysis of the life of adolescents with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) was done using grounded theory. Consideration was given to the socio-cultural context of Korea. Methods: After approval from the institutional review board of Y hospital, 12 patients ranging in age from 14 to 35 were recruited. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews. Theoretical sampling was performed until the concepts were saturated. Results: The results confirmed the life of adolescents with complex CHD as a 'journey to finding uniqueness of oneself as a person with CHD'. The life consisted of 3 stages. In the crisis stage, participants had a feeling of threat to self-existence, and made an effort to be the same as others. In the self-recognition stage, participants who had sufficient role-performance built self-esteem while those who did not fell into self-accusation. In the self-establishment stage, participants who reached sufficiency in independence and knowledge planned the future, whereas those who did not conformed to the realities of life. Conclusion: The results of present study provide help in understanding the experiences of adolescents with CHD and provide a basis for developing nursing intervention strategies for these patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.101-106
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• 2013

Despite developments in surgical techniques and other interventions, right ventricular (RV) failure remains an important clinical problem in several congenital heart diseases (CHD). RV function is one of the most important predictors of mortality and morbidity in patients with CHD. RV failure is a progressive disorder that begins with myocardial injury or stress, neurohormonal activation, cytokine activation, altered gene expression, and ventricular remodeling. Pressure-overload RV failure caused by RV outflow tract obstruction after total correction of tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary stenosis, atrial switch operation for transposition of the great arteries, congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries, and systemic RV failure after the Fontan operation. Volume-overload RV failure may be caused by atrial septal defect, pulmonary regurgitation, or tricuspid regurgitation. Although the measurement of RV function is difficult because of many reasons, the right ventricle can be evaluated using both imaging and functional modalities. In clinical practice, echocardiography is the primary mode for the evaluation of RV structure and function. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is increasingly used for evaluating RV structure and function. A comprehensive evaluation of RV function may lead to early and optimal management of RV failure in patients with CHD.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.150-156
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• 2012

Purpose: The main purposes of this study were to assess maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) of the expectant mothers of a fetus with a prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) and to identify factors associated with MFA. Methods: The methodology was a cross sectional survey study using a self-administered questionnaire. Thirty pregnant women carrying a fetus with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD and 30 pregnant women with a normal fetus were enrolled in this study. The MFA Scale and PPS (The Prenatal Psychosocial Profile) were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS 20.0 Window version. Descriptive statistics, $X^2$-test and t-test were used to compare the two groups. The factors associated with MFA were identified by multiple regression analysis. Results: There was no significant difference between the two groups in MFA and social support from spouse was the only variable showing a significant difference. The model from the multiple regression analysis explained 33.8% of MFA for both groups. Conclusion: MFA of expectant mothers with a prenatal diagnosis of CHD and of mothers with a normal fetus were not significantly different. It is important that health care providers encourage expectant fathers to support the expectant mothers to increase MFA.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.282-293
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• 1993

From Sep. 1985 to Dec. 1992, total 1000 cases of open heart surgery [OHS] were performed in the department of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Pusan Paik Hospital, College Of Medicine, Inje University.Among the total 1,000 cases of OHS, there were 823 cases with congenital heart diseases [CHD] and 177 cases with acquired heart diseases [AHD]. The age distribution was 9 days [4.0 kg] to 49 years in CHD and 11 to 64 years in AHD, In the 823 cases of CHD, there were 763 acyanotic cases and 60 cyanotic cases. The CHD cases consisted of 520 VSD [63.2 %], 177 ASD [21.5 %], 60 TOF[7.3 %], 27 PS [3.3 %], 17 ECD [2.1%], 7 Valsalva sinus rupture [0.9 %], 4 TGA [0.5 %], 3 Ebstein`s anomaly [0.4%], 3 DORV[0.4%], and others. The corrective operations were applied for congenital heart disease with the result of 2. 8 % hospital mortality. In the 177 AHD, 168 cases were valvular heart diseases, 7 cases were cardiac tumors and one LA thrombus and one annuloaortic ectasia. In the 168 valvular heart diseases, there were 115 single valve replacement cases [16 AVR, 99 MVR], 20 cases of double valve replacement[AVR & MVR], 15 cases of MVR with TVA, and 10 cases of AVR, MVR with TVA. The total implanted prosthetic valves were 199`. In MVR, 66 of St. Jude Medical valves, 78 ofCarpentier-Edward valves, and 5 of Ionescu-Shiley valves were used. In AVR, 38 of St. Jude Medical valves and 12 of Carpentier-Edward valves were used.The hospital operation mortality rate of congenital acyanotic, cyanotic, and acquired heart diseases were 1.6%, 18.3 % and 3.4% respectively. The overall mortality rate was 2.9 % [29/1000].

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.55 no.7
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• pp.232-237
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• 2012

Purpose: With feasibility in the diagnoses of congenital heart disease (CHD) in the antenatal period, we suspect changes have occurred in its incidence. No data have been reported about the current incidence of simple forms of CHD in Korea. We have attempted to assess the recent incidence and characteristics of CHD in the neonatal care unit of a secondary referral medical center. Methods: Medical records of 497 neonatal care unit patients who underwent echocardiography in the past 5 years were reviewed. Preterm infants with patent ductus arteriosus and other transient, minimal lesions were excluded from this study. Results: Although the number of inpatients remained stable, the incidence of simple forms of CHD showed a gradual decrease over the 5-year study period; a markedly low incidence of complex forms was seen as well. CHD was observed in 3.7% full-term and 6.8% pre-term infants. CHD was observed in 152 infants weighing >2,500 g (3.5% of corresponding birth weight infants); 65 weighing 1,000 to 2,500 g (9.3%); and 6 weighing <1,000 g (8.0%). The incidence of CHD was higher in the pre-term group and the low birth weight group than in each corresponding subgroup (P<0.001); however, the incidence of complex CHD in full-term neonates was high. The number of patients with extracardiac structural anomalies has also shown a gradual decrease every year for the past 5 years. Conclusion: Findings from our study suggest that the recent incidence and disease pattern of CHD might have changed for both complex and simple forms of CHD in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.183-191
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• 2011

Although antenatal diagnostic technique has considerably improved, precise detection and proper management of the neonate with congenital heart disease (CHD) is always a great concern to pediatricians. Congenital cardiac malformations vary from benign to serious conditions such as complete transposition of the great arteries (TGA), critical pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis/atresia, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR), which the baby needs immediate diagnosis and management for survival. Unfortunately, these life threatening heart diseases may not have obvious evidence early after birth, most of the clinical and physical findings are nonspecific and vague, which makes the diagnosis difficult. High index of suspicion and astute acumen are essential to decision making. When patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is opened Widely, many serious malformations may not be noticed easily in the early life, but would progress as severe acidosis/shock/cyanosis or even death as PDA constricts after few hours to days. Ductus dependent congenital cardiac lesions can be divided into the ductus dependent systemic or pulmonary disease, but physiologically quite different from each other and treatment strategy has to be tailored to the clinical status and cardiac malformations. Inevitably early presentation is often regarded as a medical emergency. Differential diagnosis with inborn error metabolic disorders, neonatal sepsis, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) and other pulmonary conditions are necessary. Urgent identification of the newborn at such high risk requires timely referral to a pediatric cardiologist, and timely intervention is the key in reducing mortality and morbidity. This following review deals with the clinical presentations, investigative modalities and approach to management of congenital cardiac malformations presenting in the early life.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.394-397
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• 2014

Numerous technical modifications and various complications of the Senning procedure have been described in the literature. We describe the excellent clinical status and anatomic result of a 33-year-old patient who underwent a modified Senning operation using the left atrial appendage for reconstruction more than 30 years prior to presentation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.209-216
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• 2016

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the characteristics of infective endocarditis (IE) between children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) at a single tertiary care center. Methods: In this retrospective medical record review, we extracted the demographic characteristics, diagnostic variables, and outcomes of patients diagnosed with IE and CHD between 2000 and 2016. Results: We identified a total of 14 pediatric patients (nine male; median age at diagnosis, 3 years). Of the 14 patients, six had a history of previous open heart surgery, while four had undergone tetralogy of Fallot repair, with transannular patch or Rastelli procedure. Among the 10 children with positive blood cultures, the most common isolated organism was Staphylococcus spp. (8/10, 80%). Eleven adult patients had IE and CHD. Among the adult patients, only four were diagnosed with CHD before IE, and ventricular septal defect was the most common CHD. The most common isolated organism was Streptococcus spp. (6/11, 55%). Compared with adult patients, pediatric patients had a higher incidence of previously diagnosed CHD (P=0.001), with Staphylococcus spp. as the causative organism (P=0.027). The median duration between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis of IE was 9 days in children and 42 days in adults (P=0.012). Conclusions: Significant differences with regard to the diagnosis and progress of IE were observed between children and adults. Age-adjusted and systematic reassessment may be necessary for the diagnosis and management of IE.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.454-466
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• 2007

Purpose: To explore the experiences of parenting from the mothers of children with severe CHD and to develop a grounded theory about their experiences. Method: Grounded theory method guided the data collection and analysis. A purposeful sample of 16 mothers of children with severe CHD participated during the period 2003. The data were collected by semi-structured individual interviews. Results: "Raise with dignity" emerged as the core phenomenon. 'Powerlessness' came up as the central concept. The causal conditions working on powerlessness was 'living with a bomb in the heart': uncertainty and the context were 'confronting people's eyes', 'developing child's adaptability'. An intervening condition was 'forming a support system' and consequences for coping with powerlessness were 'overcome' or 'ambivalence' using the strategies for mother's positive personality, care role perception, accepting, acknowledgement, and managing the body and mind. Conclusions: In the results of this study, the mothers of children with severe CHD are continue to struggle with life during children's growth and repeated attacks of disease. They need to be provided with skills to cope with physical and mental problems in rearing the children with expertized information for the entire period of growth.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.158-167
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• 2022

Background: This study investigated mortality and morbidity in patients requiring postcardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after operations for congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods: CHD patients requiring postoperative ECMO support between May 2011 and May 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into non-survivors and survivors to hospital discharge. Survival outcomes and associations of various factors with in-hospital death were analyzed. Results: Fifty patients required postoperative ECMO support. Patients' median age and weight at the time of ECMO insertion were 1.85 months (interquartile range [IQR], 0.23-14.5 months) and 3.84 kg (IQR, 3.08-7.88 kg), respectively. Twenty-nine patients (58%) were male. The median duration of ECMO support was 6 days (IQR, 3-12 days). Twenty-nine patients (58%) died on ECMO support or after ECMO weaning, and 21 (42%) survived to hospital discharge. Postoperative complications included renal failure (n=33, 66%), bleeding (n=11, 22%), and sepsis (n=15, 30%). Prolonged ECMO support (p=0.017), renal failure (p=0.005), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) application (p=0.001), sepsis (p=0.012), bleeding (p=0.032), and high serum lactate (p=0.002) and total bilirubin (p=0.017) levels during ECMO support were associated with higher mortality risk in a univariate analysis. A multivariable analysis identified CRRT application (p=0.013) and a high serum total bilirubin level (p=0.001) as independent risk factors for death. Conclusion: Postcardiotomy ECMO should be considered as an important therapeutic modality for patients unresponsive to conventional management. ECMO implementation strategies and management in appropriate patients without severe complications, particularly renal failure and/or liver failure, are crucial for achieving positive outcomes.