Neurobehavioural functioning in school-aged children with a corrected septal heart defect

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Neuropsychology
• Developmental Pediatrics

Background:

• Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are common birth abnormalities.
• Surgical repair is standard treatment for many CHDs.
• Neurobehavioral outcomes post-surgery require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess neurobehavioral consequences in children aged 5-12 years after surgical treatment for acyanotic CHDs.
• To compare neuropsychological and behavioral functioning between surgically treated children and healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study design.
• Neuropsychological assessments including WISC-III-NL and Nepsy.
• Parent-reported behavioral and emotional functioning using Child Behaviour Checklist.
• Self-perception questionnaires for older children.

Main Results:

• Children with acyanotic CHDs showed significant group differences in attention, fine motor skills, and language abilities compared to controls.
• Parents reported more withdrawn behavior, social difficulties, attentional problems, and lower competence in daily activities for the patient group.
• Intelligence scores were within the average range, but specific cognitive and behavioral deficits were observed.

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention for acyanotic CHDs is associated with subtle neurobehavioral difficulties, particularly in language and fine motor skills.
• Behavioral problems are prevalent in this patient population.
• Identifying risk factors for adverse neurobehavioral outcomes is crucial for future research and clinical management.