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Background/purpose: Pediatric cardiac computed tomography (CT) is a noninvasive imaging modality used to clearly demonstrate the anatomical detail of congenital heart diseases. We investigated the impact of cardiac CT on the utilization of cardiac catheterization among children with congenital heart disease.Methods: The study sample consisted of 2648 cardiac CT and 3814 cardiac catheterization from 1999 to 2009 for congenital heart diseases. Diagnoses were categorized into 11 disease groups. The numbers of examination, according to the different modalities, were compared using temporal trend analyses. The estimated effective radiation doses (mSv) of CT and catheterization were calculated and compared.Results: The number of CT scans and interventional catheterizations had a slight annual increase of 1.2% and 2.7%, respectively, whereas that of diagnostic catheterization decreased by 6.2% per year. Disease groups fell into two categories according to utilization trend differences between CT and diagnostic catheterization. The increased use of CT reduces the need for diagnostic catheterization in patients with atrioventricular connection disorder, coronary arterial disorder, great vessel disorder, septal disorder, tetralogy of Fallot, and ventriculoarterial connection disorder. Clinicians choose either catheterization or CT, or both examinations, depending on clinical conditions, in patients with semilunar valvular disorder, heterotaxy, myocardial disorder, pericardial disorder, and pulmonary vein disorder. The radiation dose of CT was lower than that of diagnostic cardiac catheterization in all age groups.Conclusion: The use of noninvasive CT in children with selected heart conditions might reduce the use of diagnostic cardiac catheterization. This may release time and facilities within the catheterization laboratory to meet the increasing demand for cardiac interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Congenital heart disease (CGHD) can be considered a chronic disease for many patients. To adopt a healthy lifestyle and to avoid complications, patients with CGHD and their parents need to have good knowledge of the heart defect and its consequences. Objective: The aims of this study were to evaluate patient and parental knowledge of CGHD and to explore the related factors of their respective disease knowledge. Methods: This study included 116 dyads of adolescents with CGHD (43.1% male adolescents; aged 12 18 years) and one of their parents (79.3% mothers; median age, 46 years). All participants completed the Leuven Knowledge Questionnaire for Congenital Heart Disease, and then we calculated a correct rate score to determine the overall disease knowledge of the respondents. Results: The correct rate score was 38.8% for adolescents with CGHD and 51.4% for parents (t = 7.69; P < .001). The only determinant of knowledge in parents was their educational level (standardized estimate = 6.160, P < .001). In adolescents, knowledge was determined by age (standardized estimate = 2.242, P = .002) and parental knowledge (standardized estimate = 0.311, P < .001). Conclusions: Although parents have significantly greater disease knowledge than their children do, the level of knowledge in both parents and adolescents is suboptimal. Because parents' knowledge influenced their adolescents' knowledge, educational interventions should target both adolescent patients and parents. Transition programs can play a pivotal role in this respect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on long-term survival and risks of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) among Asians. The study made use of patient medical record of 819 patients who received total correction between 1970 and 2002. It found that long-term survival following cardiac repair was good, with late death associated with accidents and suicide.