Blood Based Assessment of sST2, Taken During and After Surgery, for Pediatric Patients With Heart Defects to Predict Heart Failure.

Single-center prospective biomarker validation study for Soluble suppression of tumorigenicity 2 (sST2). All data will be collected upfront to ensure accuracy. The study's findings aim to improve risk stratification and guide better management for pediatric cardiac surgery patients. Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common congenital abnormality, affecting about 1 in 100 live births. While surgical interventions have significantly improved survival rates, a considerable number of patients experience long-term complications like ventricular dysfunction and heart failure, which are major causes of death. Biomarkers are crucial tools that can aid clinicians in risk stratification, treatment guidance, and predicting outcomes. sST2 has shown utility in adult heart surgery cases and is included in the guidelines of the American Heart Association (AHA), while it's use in pediatric cases is largely unexplored. This study tests if sST2 as biomarker can be a useful prognostic tool for children with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery. The primary objective is to assess if a specific cut-off level of post-surgery sST2 can predict future heart failure. Secondary objectives include comparing sST2 to other established biomarkers.