EF Intervention in Children With Severe Congenital Heart Disease

Executive Function and Brain Development in Adolescents With Severe Congenital Heart Disease (Teen Heart Study)

Survival rates of children with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) have increased with ongoing medical progress over the past decades. However, many children with CHD face academic challenges during adolescence, which are associated with executive dysfunction. Executive functions (EF), higher-order cognitive processes allowing goal-directed behavior, can be particularly affected in children with CHD. To improve EF in affected children, a specific EF intervention has been developed.

The intervention lasts a total of 8 weeks and is structured in 3 modules. The first module consists of a weekly strategy training in which problems resulting from executive dysfunction are addressed. Online games form the second module. These are games implemented online to promote EF through play. The third module is also based on games: The families receive several board games to play together at home. This third module is voluntary. This intervention is tested on its feasibility. As the intervention was built in a patient centered manner, we expect it to be feasible, showing in a high adherence rate and satisfaction.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Born with CHD
• Underwent cardiopulmonary bypass surgery
• No genetic syndrome detected, no known dysmorphic-syndrome
• Aged 10 to 12
• written informed consent of parents and verbal informed consent of children
• EF deficits showing in screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• Failure to provide a signed Informed Consent
• Heart surgery without cardiopulmonary bypass
• Heart surgery not performed in Switzerland
• Any genetic syndrome detected
• large cerebral lesions (stroke, HIE) or severely neurologically impaired as a result of a serious event