In children with univentricular heart, intellectual and neurologic deficits are common. Perioperative and postoperative risk factors related to the primary phase and bidirectional Glenn operation contribute to these deficits.
Although median cognitive performance was within the normal range, neurodevelopmental and brain MRI abnormalities were found in the majority of the patients with UVH, and especially in those with HLHS, at preschool age. Both a narrowed ascending aorta and operation-related factors contributed to these findings.
At age 1 year, the level of development of children with univentricular heart was significantly lower than for control subjects only in motor skills, whereas children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome had a more widespread developmental delay. The diagnosis, a clinical seizure history, and increased plasma lactate levels after the bidirectional Glenn operation emerged as risk factors.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a severe congenital heart defect, increases parenting stress. The reported emotional maladjustment in affected children might in part be owing to somatic complaints.
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