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Open Access
ISSN:3071-1738 (online)
Publication Frequency:Bi-monthly
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease (formerly known as Congenital Heart Disease) is a peer-reviewed journal dedicated to the study and management of heart disease across the lifespan. The journal covers both congenital and structural heart diseases, reflecting the evolving landscape of cardiovascular research and clinical practice.
As the official journal of the Children’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, it is committed to publishing high-quality clinical studies, invited editorials, state-of-the-art reviews, case reports, articles addressing the history and development of heart disease, and continuing medical education (CME) materials.
All manuscripts, including invited submissions, undergo a rigorous and thorough editorial and peer-review process to ensure the reliability, scientific integrity, and clinical relevance of published research.
Formerly Congenital Heart Disease[Science Citation Index Expanded (Clarivate Analytics): 2025 Impact Factor: 2.3; Scopus CiteScore (Impact per Publication 2025): 1.9; SNIP (Source Normalized Impact per Paper 2025): 0.461; Journal Citation Report/Science Edition (JCR); etc.]
Effective with Volume 21, Issue 1 (2026), Congenital Heart Disease was renamed Structural and Congenital Heart Disease.
The journal remains dedicated to high-quality research in congenital and structural heart diseases and continues under the same editorial leadership and peer-review framework.
Read the formal announcement from the Editors-in-Chief, here.
Open Access
REVIEW
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.085936 - 30 September 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Registries in Congenital Heart Disease)
Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) remains the most common birth defect worldwide, with nearly one-quarter of affected infants requiring intervention in the first year of life. Despite global reductions in childhood mortality, 90% of children born with CHD in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) lack access to essential cardiac care, contributing to significantly higher morbidity and mortality from CHD compared to high-income countries. The International Quality Improvement Collaborative for Congenital Heart Disease: Improving Care for Low- and Middle-Income Countries (IQIC) was established in 2008 to address these gaps by supporting LMIC cardiac centers through standardized surgical… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.083722 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognosis and influencing factors in patients who underwent Fontan palliation. We specifically investigated the impact of demographic characteristics, preoperative clinical conditions, surgical techniques, and postoperative variables-particularly liver dysfunction markers such as the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease excluding the international normalized ratio (MELD-XI) score-on survival outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study involving 322 patients who underwent the Fontan procedure. Comprehensive data on demographics, perioperative parameters, and long-term outcomes were collected. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate 1-, 5-, 10-, and 15-year survival rates, with subgroup… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.080384 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Balloon catheters are essential tools in congenital cardiac catheterization and are used for therapeutic balloon dilatation, anatomical balloon interrogation, and stent implantation. Clinical performance data for established devices have become increasingly important under the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR). We evaluated the procedural performance and safety of the Osypka VACS® (Valvuloplasty Catheter System; Osypka AG, Rheinfelden, Germany) II and VACS® III balloon catheters across a broad spectrum of congenital heart interventions. Methods: This retrospective single-center study reviewed the institutional experience with VACS® II and VACS® III balloon catheters over 10 years. Consecutive procedures from predefined indication groups… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.080538 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging following transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement (TPVR) allows for the assessment of right ventricular (RV) volume. This study aimed to evaluate early- to mid-term findings after the procedure. Methods: A total of 21 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot who underwent TPVR were enrolled in the study. CMR data before and after the procedure were compared. The median interval between the procedure and the post-TPVR CMR was 9 months (range: 6–18 months). Results: RV volumes and RV end-diastolic volume indices were significantly lower after TPVR compared to before the procedure. RV volume… More >
Open Access
CASE REPORT
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.078486 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Hypoattenuating leaflet thickening (HALT) is a reported complication following percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) Case description: A 32-year-old man with a history of repaired Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) underwent PPVI for symptomatic severe pulmonary regurgitation (PR). The postoperative course was complicated by HALT diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) within 24 h of the procedure. Anticoagulation therapy was administered, and reassessment CT at 4 months showed resolution of HALT. Conclusion: HALT following PPVI is managed with anticoagulation yet consensus for optimal management strategy is lacking. More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.080591 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) can cause left-heart volume overload and functional mitral regurgitation (MR), although some patients have structural mitral abnormalities requiring repair. We compared MR and cardiac remodeling after isolated PDA closure and PDA closure combined with mitral valvuloplasty (MVP). Methods: This single-center retrospective study included 68 children treated between February 2013 and February 2025: isolated PDA transcatheter occlusion (IPTO, n = 34), isolated PDA surgical ligation (IPSL, n = 20), and PDA ligation with concomitant mitral valvuloplasty (PLMVP, n = 14). Body-size-adjusted cardiac dimensions were analyzed at baseline and discharge, while MR outcomes… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.079461 - 30 September 2026
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mental Health & Behaviour in CHD)
Abstract Background: Fatigue is a prevalent clinical complaint in adolescence, but its determinants—particularly in congenital heart disease (CHD)—remain poorly understood. Objective: This study aimed to compare the severity and multidimensional profile of fatigue symptoms between adolescents with corrected CHD and school-based peers without reported chronic disease, and to evaluate the independent contributions of cardiac severity indices, echocardiographic parameters, and physical work capacity to fatigue severity. Methods: In a cross-sectional comparative study, 229 adolescents (11–17 years), including 154 with corrected CHD (simple, moderate, complex defects) and 75 controls, completed the validated Russian “Degree of Chronic Fatigue” questionnaire. All CHD… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.079240 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease (CHD) is characterized by a high incidence and low detection rate. The shortage of pediatric echocardiologists limits the routine ultrasound screening for CHD in many institutions. Deep learning has emerged as a promising tool to enhance the CHD diagnosis. This study aims to develop and evaluate a two-branch, two-stage intelligent algorithm (OBICnet) based on echocardiographic images to predict and classify common CHD in pediatric patients. Methods: A total of 8543 static color Doppler images from 3134 children were analyzed, with each child contributing 1 to 7 standard sectional views. The dataset was… More >
Open Access
ARTICLE
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.081407 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Infants undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) are at high risk of developing gastrointestinal dysfunction (GID). Although abdominal near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for monitoring tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) has shown clinical promise, its prognostic value remains to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with postoperative declines in abdominal StO2 and to evaluate its correlation with clinical outcomes. Methods: A total of 439 infants undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass between January 2024 and January 2025 were retrospectively enrolled. Continuous postoperative NIRS monitoring was performed during the first 72 h of… More >
Open Access
REVIEW
Structural and Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.21, No.4, 2026, DOI:10.32604/schd.2026.084716 - 30 September 2026
Abstract Background: Patent foramen ovale (PFO) is the most prevalent congenital cardiac anomaly and a key structural heart disease enabling paradoxical embolism, a leading mechanism of cryptogenic stroke. Over the past two decades, the management of PFO-associated stroke has evolved substantially from antithrombotic therapy alone to include percutaneous PFO closure. This systematic review aims to delineate the evolution of therapeutic strategies and clinical evidence in PFO-related stroke research, with particular emphasis on interventional and antithrombotic approaches. Methods: We performed a preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-Analyses (PRISMA)-informed bibliometric systematic review of literature published from 2004… More >
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