Chapter 1 - Neurologic complications of pediatric congenital heart disease

Abstract

Improved medical management and surgical outcomes have significantly decreased mortality in children with congenital heart disease; however, with increased survival, there is a greater lifetime exposure to neurologic complications with serious long-term neurodevelopmental consequences. Thus, recent focus has shifted to recognition and reduction of these extracardiac comorbidities. Vascular and infective complications, such as arterial ischemic stroke, infective endocarditis, and localization-related epilepsy are some of the most common neurologic comorbidities of congenital heart disease. In addition, it is now well recognized that congenital heart disease has an impact on overall brain development and contributes to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes across multiple domains. The goal of this chapter is to summarize the most common neurologic comorbidities of congenital heart disease and its management.