Congenital Cardiac Anomalies Diagnosis and Surgical Management

Congenital cardiac anomalies encompass a spectrum of structural heart defects present at birth, ranging from septal defects and outflow tract malformations to complex lesions such as interrupted aortic arch and aortopulmonary window. Early and accurate diagnosis relies on a combination of prenatal ultrasound, fetal echocardiography and postnatal imaging modalities including transthoracic echocardiography, cardiac MRI and CT angiography. Detailed anatomical characterisation enables risk stratification, timing of intervention and selection of surgical techniques. Surgical management has evolved towards single-stage repairs in the neonatal period, utilising tailored approaches such as direct end-to-side anastomosis, intra-arterial baffles and arterial reimplantation. Multidisciplinary teams comprising paediatric cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and specialised imaging specialists collaborate to optimise outcomes. Advances in perioperative care and long-term follow-up have markedly improved survival, growth and quality of life, underscoring the global significance of systematic diagnosis and innovative surgical strategies.

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Congenital Cardiac Anomalies Diagnosis and Surgical Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in congenital cardiac anomalies diagnosis and surgical management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Interrupted aortic arch (IAA): A discontinuity between the ascending and descending aorta, classified by site of interruption into types A, B or C.

Aortopulmonary window (APW): A communication between the ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery, resulting in left-to-right shunting.

Transthoracic echocardiography: Non-invasive ultrasound imaging of cardiac structures and blood flow, often first-line in neonatal diagnosis.

CT angiography: Cross-sectional imaging using contrast-enhanced computed tomography to visualise cardiovascular anatomy in high detail.

Intra-arterial baffle: A surgical patch or conduit placed within the vessel lumen to redirect blood flow and close septal defects.

References

1. Interrupted Aortic Arch: Assessment of Morphology and Associated Cardiovascular Anomalies on Computed Tomography Angiography. Journal of Cardiac Surgery (2024).
2. CT Assessment of Aortopulmonary Septal Defect: How to Approach It?. Journal of Clinical Medicine (2024).
3. Intermediate outcome for the single-stage surgical repair of aortopulmonary window associated with interrupted aortic arch. Interdisciplinary CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery (2023).