The microbiome’s relationship with congenital heart disease: more than a gut feeling

Abstract Patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) are at risk for developing intestinal dysbiosis and epithelial barrier dysfunction due to abnormal gut perfusion or hypoxemia in the context of low cardiac output cyanosis. Intestinal may contribute systemic inflammation thereby worsening clinical outcomes this patient population. Despite significant advances management survival patients CHD, morbidity remains questions have arisen as role microbiome inflammatory process. experienced population increasingly implicated critical illness. This review highlights possible CHD-microbiome interactions, illustrates underlying signaling mechanisms, discusses future directions therapeutic translation basic research.