Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Congenital Heart Disease: A Review

Purpose of ReviewWe review the etiologies of neurodevelopmental outcomes in patients with congenital heart disease.Recent FindingsDevelopmental delays have been identified in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Though historically neurodevelopmental morbidity in patients with CHD was thought to be surgically related, recent advances in imaging technology and the ability to prospectively provide longitudinal follow-up indicate multiple complex etiologies of neurodevelopmental delay in this group. It has been suggested that alterations in cerebral perfusion is related to cerebral dysgenesis and immaturity. Additionally, while there has been significant improvement in surgical technique, the brain is still vulnerable to ischemia and injury, further placing the patient at risk for developmental delays.SummaryThe neurodevelopmental and cognitive delays span many domains and may not be detected until adolescence when cognitive and neurobehavioral demands increase. Given these comorbidities, there is a need for early and frequent multidisciplinary assessments of the patient and early identification of delays to provide access to resources to improve these patients' quality of life.