Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Early Adolescence: The Pediatric Heart Network’s Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial
Authors' conclusion
In early adolescence, transplant-free survivors of surgical palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome show concerning impairments across all domains of neurodevelopment. The distribution of affected outcomes is broad and associated with demographic, medical, and, most frequently, socioeconomic factors.
Study context
- Population
- Transplant-free survivors of HLHS after staged single ventricle palliation (SVRIII), mean age 11 yearsof 237 SVRIII participants
- Participants
- 200 survivors
- Comparison
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes vs normative populations; association with Norwood shunt type
Methodological detailsfollow-up evaluation in early adolescence, Evaluated vs not evaluated: male 63% vs 51%, White 87% vs 76%, Childhood Opportunity Index 61±26 vs 46±39
- Follow-up evaluation in early adolescence
- Evaluated vs not evaluated: male 63% vs 51%, White 87% vs 76%, Childhood Opportunity Index 61±26 vs 46±39
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Neurodevelopmental outcomes vs normative population · mean age 11 years (range, 10 to 14 years)
- Full-scale IQ (mean±SD), significantly lower than normative population
- 88±18
- Full-scale IQ >1 SD below normative mean
- 39%
- Full-scale IQ >2 SD below normative mean
- 15%
- Reading >1 SD below normative mean
- 38%
- Reading >2 SD below normative mean
- 16%
- Math >1 SD below normative mean
- 38%
- Math >2 SD below normative mean
- 19%
Further findings
Predictors of neurodevelopment
- Socioeconomic status, number of medical complications and gastrostomy tube each independent predictors; socioeconomic status most consistently significant
Norwood shunt type
- Group differences by shunt type inconsistent across domains, no clear benefit of one surgical strategy
Original publication
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Early Adolescence: The Pediatric Heart Network’s Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial. Circulation. Published 17 July 2025. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it