Congenital heart disease (CHD) is a series of structural cardiac abnormalities resulting from abnormal fetal heart development. With the prolongation of survival time, their cognitive function problems begin to be concerned. From fetus period to adulthood, people with complex CHD are more likely to have abnormalities in brains. Children with complex CHD have a significantly increased risk of developmental disorders in cognitive functions, such as intelligence, attention and psychosocial disorders. These diseases persist into their adulthood. Adults with CHD have earlier neurocognitive decline, poorer performance in intelligence, executive function, attention and academic achievement, and are more likely to have mood disorders, higher incidence of mental disorders and lower quality of life. This paper reviews the studies on cognitive function of adult patients with CHD from the dimension of the whole life cycle.

Objective     To summarize the clinical experience of cardiac surgery during pregnancy in a single center for the past 11 years. Methods    The clinical data of 26 pregnant patients (mean age 28.6±4.9 years) complicated with heart diseases who underwent non-emergency cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from 2010 to 2020 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the gestational age at the time of surgery: a change group (gestational age<21 weeks) and a stable group (gestational age≥ 21 weeks). The hospitalization data and follow-up data of the patients were collected. Results    Mean gestational age at surgery was 23.4±4.2 weeks. Eleven patients had congenital heart diseases and fifteen had valvular heart diseases. Mean postoperative ICU stay was 2.5±2.4 d, and mean total hospital stay was 22.5±9.5 d. There were 5 postoperative fetal losses. There was no maternal death during follow-up. No statistical difference in the maternal postoperative outcomes between two groups. Conclusion    The number of patients undergoing cardiac surgery during pregnancy is increasing. The maternal mortality rate is low and the prognosis is good, but the fetal loss remains concern. Cardiac surgery performed before or after the establishment of cardiopulmonary adjustment in pregnancy does not change the maternal postoperative outcomes.

Objective    To compare the effect of different treatment strategies of vertical vein on the postoperative efficacy of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in newborns. Methods    The clinical data of 72 TAPVC newborns who underwent correction in our hospital from June 2008 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 59 males and 13 females, with an average age of 9.93±8.13 d. According to different vertical vein treatment strategies, the patients were divided into an unligated group (22 patients), a partially ligated group (23 patients) and a completely ligated group (27 patients). The mortality and incidence of common complications among the groups were compared. Results    In the completely ligated group, the aortic cross-clamp time was longer (P=0.001), intraoperative circulatory arrest cases were less (P=0.005), and the early velocity of pulmonary vein was faster (P=0.029), but there was no significant difference in the velocity of pulmonary vein for the last follow-up among three groups (P=0.393). There was no significant difference in other perioperative indicators among groups, including the early mortality, the incidence of pulmonary vein obstruction and the non-closure of vertical vein after surgery (P>0.05). The mean follow-up time was 4.47±2.63 years. The follow-up mortality was not significantly different among groups (P>0.05). The cardiac function (NYHA) of all the 64 survived patients was classⅠ-Ⅱ. Conclusion    Proper vertical vein treatment strategies may be conducive to a smooth transition after surgery, ensuring the success of surgeries.