[The best of congenital heart disease in 2005]

The end of 2004 and the year 2005 have seen several publications on congenital heart disease, with studies performed in the fetus, infant, child and adult. In the fetus, cardiac malformations as well as rhythm or conduction defects have been revealed, cardiomyopathies with diverse origins. In infants affected by congenital heart disease, respiratory complications due to respiratory syncitial virus can be serious, and vaccination is therefore recommended for poorly tolerated cardiopathies. Myocardial non-compaction has been the subject of several publications with an excellent review by Freedom. Coronaropathies are not confined to adults, and intravascular echography has been used in children. Aortic biscuspidy, which is more frequent in men, has also been the subject of several publications this year. They have all shown the frequency of dilatation of the ascending aorta in this anomaly, and the different consequences depending on fusion of the commissures. Residual hypertension following correction of coarctation remains a problem; the geometry of the aortic arc and arterial rigidity are responsible for it in certain cases. Late complications in the aortic wall are common. Percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects is beneficial for the anatomy and function of the heart. Articles on the foramen ovale have not been lacking, and have shown the importance of its closure in cases of transient ischaemic attacks, cerebrovascular accidents, migraines, especially with an aura, and in cases of sub-aqua diving accidents. Percutaneous implantation of intracardiac valves is becoming more and more topical, with pulmonary and even tricuspid valves in animals. Finally, there have been several publications on the long term outlook for patients undergoing Mustard, Senning or Fontan procedures.