Pediatric Cardiology News, Clinical Research

CDC: Screening Policies for Critical Congenital Heart Diseases Are Widespread

All 50 states and the District of Columbia have implemented newborn screening policies for critical congenital heart disease.

First Trimester Maternal Ondansetron Use Not Linked With Cardiac Malformation Risk

Maternal use of ondansetron during the first trimester of pregnancy was not found to be associated with cardiac or congenital malformation in offspring but may be linked to oral cleft development.

Infant, congenital heart disease, incubator

Rising Temperatures May Increase Burden of Congenital Heart Disease

Projected increases in maternal heat exposure may result in increased congenital heart defect burden.

Risk for Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring of Mothers With Obesity

Although congenital heart defects are more frequent in offspring of mothers with overweight or obesity, the relationship between maternal overweight and obesity and risk for complex and specific heart defects is not well defined.

Percutaneous Transcatheter Occlusion Device Approved for PDA Closure

The pea-sized device is a self-expanding wire mesh that is inserted through an incision in the leg and guided through vessels to the heart, where it is placed to seal the opening.

Tetralogy of Fallot: Long-Term Outcomes After Surgical Repair

Overall long-term transplant-free survival in repaired Tetralogy of Fallot is favorable.

Cardiac Malformations Not Increased With Ondansetron Use in First-Trimester

HealthDay News — First-trimester ondansetron use is associated with a small increased risk for oral cleft but no increased risk for congenital malformations or cardiac malformations, according to a study published in the Dec. 18 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Krista F. Huybrechts, Ph.D., from Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston,…