Thesis PDF

About the Authors

Kapanova A.A. – First-Year Master's Student, Specialization: Medicine, Semey Medical University, Semey, Republic of Kazakhstan;

Alimbaeva A.R. – Candidate of Medical Sciences, Associate Professor, Head of the D.M. Tusupova Department of Pediatrics and Medical Rehabilitation, Semey Medical University, Semey, Republic of Kazakhstan;

Abylgazinova A.Zh. – PhD, Assistant Professor, D.M. Tusupova Department of Pediatrics and Medical Rehabilitation, Semey Medical University, Semey, Republic of Kazakhstan;

Dairbekov E.E. – Assistant Professor, D.M. Tusupova Department of Pediatrics and Medical Rehabilitation, Semey Medical University, Semey, Republic of Kazakhstan;

Relevance

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common developmental anomalies, diagnosed in approximately 8–10 newborns per 1,000 live births [1]. Advances in cardiac surgery and intensive care in recent decades have significantly increased the survival rate of children with this pathology, including severe and critical forms. However, alongside improved survival rates, increasing attention is being paid to the long-term quality of life of patients, particularly aspects of their neuropsychological development.

A number of studies indicate that children with CHDs who undergo surgery at an early age are at high risk of delays in motor, cognitive, and speech development [2]. Such impairments are caused by both the underlying cardiac pathology and a complex of associated factors, such as chronic hypoxemia, unstable cerebral perfusion, the need for prolonged respiratory support, and the effects of anesthetic drugs on the immature central nervous system [3]. Despite the evidence base supporting neurodevelopmental outcomes in this category of children, most medical institutions lack standardized approaches to early rehabilitation after cardiac surgery.

This underscores the importance of systematically analyzing the effectiveness of early intervention programs. This study aims to evaluate the impact of multidisciplinary rehabilitation, including physical, cognitive, and psychosocial components, on neurodevelopmental outcomes and quality of life in infants who underwent surgical treatment for severe congenital heart disease.

References

1. Van der Linde D, Konings EE, Slager MA, Witsenburg M, Helbing WA, Takkenberg JJ, Roos-Hesselink JW. Birth prevalence of congenital heart disease worldwide: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2011;58(21):2241–2247. DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2011.08.025
2. Bellinger DC, Wypij D, du Plessis AJ, Rappaport LA, Jonas RA, Wernovsky G, Newburger JW. Neurodevelopmental status at eight years in children with dextro-transposition of the great arteries: The Boston Circulatory Arrest Trial. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003;126(5):1385–1396. DOI: 10.1016/S0022-5223(03)00711-6
3. De Silvestro AA, Kellenberger CJ, Gosteli M, O’Gorman R, Knirsch W. Postnatal cerebral hemodynamics in infants with severe congenital heart disease: a scoping review. Pediatr Res. 2023;94(3):931–943. DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02543-z