About this Research Topic

Background

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) remains the most common birth defect, affecting almost 1% of new-borns globally. Owing to the pioneering advancements in the diagnosis and management of CHD over the previous decades, the field of congenital cardiac surgery has attained a level of achievement that was once inconceivable. For example, improvements in echocardiography have facilitated early and accurate diagnosis of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), through the detection of restrictive or intact atrial septum. Earlier detection allows for prompt surgical intervention.

Surgical intervention for CHD is more often palliative rather than reparative. Significant improvements in post and pre-operative outcomes, technology, and minimally invasive surgical approaches over the years have led to increased survival rates; >85% CHD neonates are expected to reach adulthood. As a consequence, an increased number of adults present with conditions that require additional operations, all of which are commonly associated with post-operative complications such as endocarditis. Subsequently, treatment of CHD requires a multidisciplinary approach.

Currently, congenital heart interventions have gained considerable attention in the management of CHD, replacing conventional palliative surgical approaches; ductal stents have demonstrated favourable outcomes against systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunting. As congenital cardiac surgery continues to evolve, closer collaborations between cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists is essential to ensure patients with CHD get optimal treatment.

Other emerging opportunities in this field could have a significant impact on CHD patient care, including:
1) Tissue Engineering for the treatment of congenital heart diseases; bioengineered cells.
2) New Image Modalities: Virtual reality for planning and patient education.
3) Late outcomes in DORV Fallot: Focus on the right ventricle.
4) Challenges in patients with single ventricle physiology.
5) Challenges in paediatric pulmonary hypertension.

In this Research Topic, led by experts in this field, we will accept manuscripts within this area of research, with the purpose to provide readers and clinicians a broad overview on the current and emerging surgical techniques designed for CHD patients of all ages. This article collection will also emphasise the importance of collaborative interdisciplinary efforts between cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists to ultimately improve clinical outcomes in this high risk patient population. It is for this reason, all article types accepted by Frontiers are welcomed.

Keywords: congenital cardiac surgery, transplantation, tetralogy of fallot, single ventricle, experimental, imaging

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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