Table 1. Defining Severity Groups.

LS: Less Severe

Children whose surgical or catheter procedures were presumed to have corrected their cardiac defect and who were not on regular medication. These children had Cardiac Prognostic Severity (CPS) scores of 0 or 1. These children have a cardiac defect that can be corrected by surgery during infancy and this will leave them with a midline chest scar in almost all cases. Subsequently they are likely to have infrequent contact with health services and are unlikely to experience significant physical limitations or educational challenges.

MS: More Severe

Children whose surgery was palliative or staged (CPS score 2) or who required regular cardiac medication. Children with severe and complex cardiac defects may never achieve normal physical health, although infant cardiac surgery may palliate their problem. These children will require further interventions after infancy, regular medication and regular hospital visits (‘more severe’ group). Some children with severe CHDs will continue to have low blood oxygen (cyanosis), which gives the lips and extremities a blue appearance, and they will have a chest scar.