The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) just concluded its 2026 annual conference in Montreal, Canada. The annual SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions is for cardiologists, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, technologist, and any other medical professional keen on learning about the latest in interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine.

Today, we have a curated selection of abstracts presented at the 2026 SCAI Scientific Sessions that are related to congenital heart disease. Some descriptions and conclusions were edited for clarity and brevity. Visit the official SCAI 2026 Scientific Sessions abstracts archive for a complete look at the following abstracts, and more.

Congenital Heart Disease Abstracts from the SCAI 2026 Annual Meeting

Five-Year Cardiovascular Outcomes Following Hormone Therapy in Menopausal Women with Adult Congenital Heart Disease

  • Description: Cardiovascular safety of hormonal therapy (HT) remains controversial, with studies reporting both potential cardio-protective and adverse effects in menopausal women. Data examining the association between HT and cardiovascular outcomes in menopausal women with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) are scarce and inconclusive.
  • Conclusion: In menopausal women with ACHD, hormone therapy was not associated with an increased risk of MACE over 5 years. However, HT was associated with elevated risk of venous thromboembolism and a reduced risk of hospitalization, emphasizing the need for individualized risk–benefit assessment.

Comparative Outcomes of Percutaneous Versus Surgical Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: A National Inpatient Sample Analysis

  • Description: Pulmonary valve replacement is frequently required in adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Comparative real-world outcomes between percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) and surgical replacement (PVR) remain incompletely characterized. We evaluated outcomes and resource utilization for both approaches.
  • Conclusion: In adults with CHD, PPVI was associated with significantly lower complication rates, shorter hospitalization, and reduced costs compared with surgical replacement. While mortality was low for both, substantial differences in morbidity and resource utilization favor PPVI when anatomically feasible, highlighting the value of transcatheter options in this population.

Sex-Based Differences in Clinical Outcomes Among Adults with Congenital Heart Disease and Atrial Fibrillation

  • Description: As survival into adulthood improves, congenital heart disease (CHD) patients increasingly experience atrial fibrillation (AF), leading to complex inpatient management challenges. Although sex-based differences in AF outcomes have been described in the general population, data examining sex-specific in-hospital outcomes among adults with CHD and AF remain limited.
  • Conclusion: Among adults hospitalized with CHD and AF, women were older yet exhibited a distinct inpatient clinical profile with lower rates of severe complications and invasive therapies, while in-hospital mortality was similar between sexes. These findings highlight important sex-based differences in the inpatient presentation and management of atrial fibrillation in adults with congenital heart disease.

Predicting Outcomes in Pediatric Intraluminal Pulmonary Vein Stenosis Using a Comprehensive Standardized Catheterization Assessment: Validation of the Invasive Pulmonary Vein Score (iPVS)

  • Description: An Invasive Pulmonary Vein Score (iPVS) prediction tool based on angiographic and intravascular ultrasound data was developed in a previously reported single-center prospective trial (NCT04696289) of 50 pediatric patients with pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS) undergoing standardized catheterization assessment. This study aimed to externally validate the iPVS model.
  • Conclusion: iPVS accurately predicted 12-month vein outcomes in an independent cohort of PVS patients with significant distribution of patient and vein-level characteristics. This underscores the external validity of the iPVS model and its value as a practical tool for both clinical management and research design in PVS.

Impact of Adult Congenital Heart Disease on Clinical Outcomes after Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: A Propensity-Matched Analysis

  • Description: Patients with adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) undergoing TAVR may have distinct anatomic and physiologic risks that influence periprocedural management and outcomes. We compared clinical outcomes after TAVR between patients with and without ACHD using a multi-institutional EHR.
  • Conclusion: Our study shows that ACHD patients undergoing TAVR are associated with increased mortality, MCS use, PVL, stroke, aortic dissection, and readmissions compared with non-ACHD patients, suggesting that ACHD confers added vulnerability with TAVR and highlights the need for tailored periprocedural management and follow-up in this complex population.

Transcatheter Brachial Arteriovenous Fistula Creation in Stage 2 Palliated Single Ventricle Patients with Cyanosis

  • Description: To describe the feasibility of transcatheter brachial arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation in young children with congenital heart disease.
  • Conclusion: Transcatheter brachial AVF creation using the WavelinQ™ system is technically feasible in carefully selected Stage 2 palliated SV patients with cyanosis to increase pulmonary blood flow. Further investigation is required to refine patient selection and understand the safety and long-term clinical outcomes of this technology.

Sign up for alerts and stay informed on the latest published guidelines and articles.