Academic performance and behavioral difficulties after neonatal and infant heart surgery

Although advances in medical and surgical arenas have allowed the ability to “mend” children born with congenital heart disease, the increasing number of survivors has created a growing cohort of children with potential academic difficulties. This article reviews the current understanding of the midterm neurologic outcomes of children who underwent neonatal and infant cardiac surgery. Lesions including transposition of great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, hypoplastic left heart syndrome, total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and single ventricle lesions requiring Fontan palliation or cardiac transplantation are discussed.