Correction Of Congenital Heart Disease Research Articles

Intraoperative characterization of cardiac tissue: the potential of light scattering spectroscopy.

Damage to the cardiac conduction system remains one of the most significant risks associated with surgical interventions to correct congenital heart disease. This work demonstrates how light-scattering spectroscopy (LSS) can be used to non-destructively characterize cardiac tissue regions. To present an approach for associating tissue composition information with location-specific LSS data and further evaluate an LSS and machine learning system as a method for non-destructive tissue characterization. A custom LSS probe was used to gather spectral data from locations across 14 excised human pediatric nodal tissue samples (8 sinus nodes, 6 atrioventricular nodes). The LSS spectra were used to train linear and neural-network-based regressor models to predict tissue composition characteristics derived from the 3D models. Nodal tissue region nuclear densities were reported. A linear model trained to regress nuclear density from spectra achieved a prediction r-squared of 0.64 and a concordance correlation coefficient of 0.78. These methods build on previous studies suggesting that LSS measurements combined with machine learning signal processing can provide clinically relevant cardiac tissue composition.

Decreased Intraoperative Renal Tissue Oxygenation after Cardiopulmonary Bypass Predicts Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury in Neonates.

(1) Background: Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a noninvasive tool frequently used during cardiac surgery and postoperatively in the cardiac intensive care unit to monitor regional tissue oxygen saturation. A relationship between trends of intraoperative renal oxygenation and the risk of developing cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) post-operatively has not yet been established in the neonatal population. The objective of this study is to evaluate the relationship of cerebral and renal oxygenation during cardiopulmonary bypass with cardiac surgery-associated AKI in the first 72 h post-operation in neonates < 30 days of age. (2) Methods: A prospective cohort study at a tertiary care children's hospital was performed. Renal and cerebral oxygenation measured were collected intraoperatively from neonates < 30 days of age who underwent cardiopulmonary bypass for the correction of congenital heart disease. AKI was defined accordance with the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria modified for neonates. Variables were compared between groups. (3) Results: 32 neonates with 35 cardiopulmonary bypass cases were included. AKI was diagnosed in 60% of cases. Intra-operative renal oxygenation, both on- and off-bypass, did not differ among the three AKI groups (p > 0.19). Renal oxygenation after coming off, but not during, cardiopulmonary bypass steadily decreased with increasing levels of AKI (Jonckheere's test, one-sided p = 0.024). (4) Conclusions: Renal oxygenation decreased in proportion to AKI severity after coming off, but not during, cardiopulmonary bypass.

A career in solving clinical-pathological conundrums: Heyde syndrome, anti-platelet factor 4 disorders, and microvascular limb ischemic necrosis.

Hematology is a clinical specialty with strong roots in the laboratory; accordingly, the lab can help solve perplexing clinical problems. This review highlights clinical-pathological conundrums addressed during my 35-year hematology career at McMaster University. Heyde syndrome is the association between aortic stenosis and bleeding gastrointestinal (GI) angiodysplasia where the bleeding is usually cured by aortic valve replacement; the chance reading of a neonatal study showing reversible deficiency of high-molecular-weight (HMW) multimers of von Willebrand factor (vWF) following surgical correction of congenital heart disease provided the key insight that a subtle deficiency of HMW multimers of vWF explains Heyde syndrome. The unusual immunobiology of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT)-a highly prothrombotic, antibody-mediated, anti-platelet factor 4 (PF4) disorder featuring rapid appearance and then disappearance (seroreversion) of the pathological heparin-dependent platelet-activating antibodies-permitted identification of key clinical features that informed development of a scoring system (4Ts) to aid in HIT diagnosis. Atypical clinical presentations of HIT prompted identification of heparin-independent anti-PF4 antibodies, now recognized as the explanation for vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT), as well as VITT-like disorders triggered by adenovirus infection. Another unusual feature of HIT is its strong association with limb ischemia, including limb necrosis secondary to deep-vein/microvascular thrombosis (venous limb gangrene). The remarkable observation that supratherapeutic warfarin anticoagulation predisposes to HIT- and cancer-associated venous limb gangrene provided insight into disturbed procoagulant/anticoagulant balance; these concepts are relevant to microvascular thrombosis in critical illness (symmetrical peripheral gangrene), including a pathophysiological role for proximate "shock liver" (impaired hepatic synthesis of natural anticoagulants).

Analysis of the endocardial stage of treatment of tachyarhythmias after open interventions for atrial fibrillation. Experience of one center

AIM: To study EFI parameters and features of recurrent atrial tachyarrhythmias in patients who underwent surgical correction of AF.&#x0D; MATERIALS AND METHODS: from January 2013 to December 2021, 447 combined interventions were performed to eliminate AF using the labyrinth-3 and left atrial labyrinth techniques with correction of CHD (congenital heart disease) and/or coronary artery disease.&#x0D; Rhythm disturbances were detected in 57 (12.7%) patients at various follow-up periods. Endovascular interventions were performed in 39 patients. The average follow-up period after the endocardial stage was 34.37 (standard deviation 24.32) months. The median age of patients was 64 (58–67) years, 21 (54%) were men. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 — after the classic biatrial (BA) labyrinth-3 — 23 (59%) patients, group 2 — after the left-atrial variant (LA) labyrinth-3 — 16 (41%) patients.&#x0D; At the endocardial stage, electrophysiological studies (EFI) were performed to clarify the mechanism of arrhythmia, and ablation eliminated tachyarrhythmia. EFI protocol: revision of the pulmonary veins, determination of the isolation of the posterior wall of the LA assessment of atrial arrhythmia, elimination of arrhythmia, control induction of arrhythmia after ablation. After repeated intervention, patients were observed in the operating clinic every 3 months.&#x0D; RESULTS: After the endocardial stage, a regular rhythm was determined in 19 (82.6%) patients of the BA group, 13 (92.9%) patients of the LA group (p = 0.914). Relapses in the form of AF were noted in 5 patients (4 — group 1 and 1 — group 2) group (p = 0.306) All relapses of tachyarrhythmia with an irregular cycle (AF) were detected in patients with AF before the endovascular stage In both groups, there were cases of restoration of conduction in the pulmonary veins — 10 (43.5%) patients after BA ablation and 1 (5.3%) patient after LA ablation. There are no recurrences of atrial arrhythmia after ablation of atrial flutter (arrhythmia with a stable cycle).&#x0D; CONCLUSION: The endocardial stage is highly effective and demonstrates subsequent freedom from atrial arrhythmia in patients who have tachycardia with a regular cycle after both methods of surgical ablation of AF. Recurrent tachyarrhythmia in the form of AF (irregular cycle) is associated with a low probability of maintaining a regular atrial rhythm after a repeated endocardial procedure, due to the presence of structural and electrophysiological changes in the atrial myocardium.

СТРУКТУРНО-ФУНКЦИОНАЛЬНОЕ СОСТОЯНИЕ СЕРДЦА У ПАЦИЕНТОВ МОЛОДОГО ВОЗРАСТА С ЖЕЛУДОЧКОВОЙ ЭЛЕКТРОКАРДИОСТИМУЛЯЦИЕЙ В ОТДАЛЕННОМ ПОСЛЕОПЕРАЦИОННОМ ПЕРИОДЕ

Aim. To study the structural and functional state of the heart in young patients with ventricular pacing in the long-term postoperative period. Materials and methods. The study included 60 people aged 18 to 35 years (35 men and 25 women) with AV blocks that required the implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PM). The first group consisted of 30 people with permanent PMs implanted after surgical correction of CHD due to postoperative AV blockage. The second group consisted of 30 people with non-surgical AV block. All patients underwent a general clinical examination, echocardiography, and medical documentation was retrospectively studied. The duration of pacing in group 1 was 15.6 (13.1; 18.0) years, in group 2 - 15.7 (13.9; 18.5) years. All patients of both groups at the time of the study were implanted with two-chamber PMs. The median percentage of ventricular stimulation in both groups was 100%.Results. In the study groups, significant differences were revealed in the anteroposterior size of the left atrium (LA): 36.5 (33.5; 39.5) mm and 33.5 (31.0; 36.0) mm (U = 281.0, p = 0.030), suggesting initial changes in LA geometry in patients of group 1. Signs of LV remodeling (concentric and eccentric hypertrophy and concentric remodeling) were detected in 40% (12 people out of 30) of patients in group 1 and in 10% (3 people out of 30) in group 2 (χ2 = 7.20, p = 0.007). In group 1, LV ejection fraction (EF) in B mode was significantly lower than in group 2 and made up 59.0 (52.0; 63.0) % and 61.5 (56.0; 66.0)% (U = 307.5, p = 0.034), respectively. 40% of patients in group 1 and 17% in group 2 had LVEF &lt; 55% (χ2 = 4.02, p = 0.045). LV diastolic dysfunction was detected in 26% of people in group 1; in group 2, no patients with diastolic dysfunction were identified (F = 0.154, p = 0.005).Conclusion. In patients with long-term ventricular stimulation after surgical correction of congenital heart disease, significant structural and functional changes in the heart were revealed (signs of remodeling of the left heart, systolic and diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle), which appear to be significant predictors of cardiovascular events, including heart failure and mortality. In patients with non-surgical AV block and long-term ventricular pacing no significant impairment of cardiac function was detected.

Changes of serum TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels in infants received surgical correction of congenital heart disease under cardiopulmonary bypass

ObjectiveThis study aimed to explore the fluctuations and clinical relevance of serum thyrotropin (TSH), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels in infants undergoing surgical correction for congenital heart disease (CHD) using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsIn a retrospective design, 58 infants who underwent CHD surgical correction under CPB between January 2021 and January 2022 at our institution were incorporated. These infants were categorized into two groups: simple CHD (n = 34) and complex CHD (n = 24). TSH, FT3, and FT4 serum concentrations were assessed at four intervals: 24 h pre-surgery (T0) and 24 h (T1), 48 h (T2), and 72 h (T3) post-surgery.ResultsThe simple CHD group displayed a significantly reduced CPB duration compared to the complex CHD group (P < 0.001). Both groups exhibited a notable decline in serum thyroid hormone concentrations at T1 compared to T0. However, from T1 to T3, an upward trend in hormone levels was observed. By T3, though the levels in both groups had risen notably from T1, they remained significantly diminished from T0 (P < 0.01). In both the simple and complex CHD cohorts, significant fluctuations in thyroid hormone levels (TSH, FT3, FT4) were noted across the different timepoints (T0, T1, T3) (P < 0.01). While no significant disparities were found between the two groups’ hormone concentrations at T0 and T1 (P > 0.05), at T2 and T3, the simple CHD group manifested higher TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels compared to the complex CHD group (P < 0.05).ConclusionsInfants undergoing CHD surgical correction under CPB experience significant declines in TSH, FT3, and FT4 serum levels. The post-surgery thyroid hormone recovery was more pronounced in infants with simple CHD compared to those with complex CHD. As such, vigilant monitoring of thyroid hormone levels during the perioperative phase is imperative, and timely intervention measures should be employed when necessary.

Analysis of the Use of Non-Invasive Lung Ventilation Support in Newborns and Young Children after Cardiac Surgery

Background. Non-invasive ventilatory support for artificial lung ventilation (ALV) in infants with congenital heart disease after cardiac surgery helps to reduce the duration of invasive ALV, reduce the number of mechanical and infectious complications, and reduce or eliminate the need for sedation.&#x0D; The aim. To analyze the experience of using non-invasive ventilatory support after surgical correction of congenital heart disease in infants and compare its effectiveness with invasive mechanical ventilation.&#x0D; Materials and methods. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the use of non-invasive ALV and its effectiveness compared to invasive mechanical ventilation in children under 1 year of age after cardiac surgery from 2020 to 2022 at the Department of Cardiac Arrest in Newborns and Young Children of the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. During this period, 134 patients were operated on (38 children under 1 month old, 96 children under 1 year old). In the postoperative period, 85 children (55.9%) needed prolonged mechanical ventilation (more than 24 hours), of which non-invasive ventilation support was used in 32 patients (37.6%) and invasive ventilation in 53 (62.3%) patients.&#x0D; Results. The patients on non-invasive ALV (n = 32) had lower weight (p = 0.23), shorter ventilation time (p = 0.56), and the time spent at the intensive care unit (p = 0.61), required less sedation (p = 0.29), and had lower mortality (p = 0.42) compared to the group of children who received only invasive ventilatory support (n = 53), but this difference was not statistically significant. The need for non-invasive ventilation was higher in 9 (28.12%) infants than in 8 (15.09%) other infants and was statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001).&#x0D; Conclusions. Our study showed that the use of non-invasive ALV can shorten the length of stay at the intensive care unit and the time spent on ventilation, reduce or avoid the use of sedation, and prevent pulmonary complications (infectious and mechanical) with long-term treatment. However, there was no significant difference between non-invasive and invasive ventilation in terms of mortality.

Red cell distribution width in the prognosis of surgical correction of congenital heart diseases

Red cell distribution width in the prognosis of surgical correction of congenital heart diseases

Hospital Mortality and Adverse Events Following Repair of Congenital Heart Defects in Developing Countries.

Mortality associated with the correction of congenital heart disease has decreased to approximately 2% in developed countries and major adverse events are uncommon. Outcomes in developing countries are less well defined. The World Database for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery was utilized to compare mortality and adverse events in developed and developing countries. A total of 16,040 primary procedures were identified over a two-year period. Centers that submitted procedures were dichotomized to low/middle income (LMI) and high income (HI) by the Gross National Income per capita categorization. Mortality was defined as any death following the primary procedure to discharge or 90 days inpatient. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized to identify independent predictors of mortality. Of the total number of procedures analyzed, 83% (n = 13,294) were from LMI centers. Among all centers, the mean age at operation was 2.2 years, with 36% (n = 5,743) less than six months; 85% (n = 11,307) of procedures were STAT I/II for LMI centers compared with 77% (n = 2127) for HI centers (P < .0001). Overall mortality across the cohort was 2.27%. There was a statistical difference in mortality between HI centers (0.55%) versus LMI centers (2.64%) (P < .0001). After adjustment for other risk factors, the risk of death remained significantly higher in LMI centers (odds ratio: 2.36, 95% confidence interval: 1.707-3.27). Although surgical expertise has increased across the globe, there remains a disparity with some outcomes associated with the correction of congenital heart disease between developing and developed countries. Further studies are needed to identify specific opportunities for improvement.

Red cell distribution width in the prognosis of surgical correction of congenital heart diseases

To evaluate the capacity of red cell distribution width (RDW) to predict mortality in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery at the Fundación Hospital Infantil Napoleón Franco Pareja, in Colombia. Retrospective cross-sectional analytical study that included 45 individuals aged 0 to 17 years operated for congenital heart disease. The RACHS-1 (Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery) scale and laboratory variables including the RDW were applied. The association between RDW and mortality was determined by ROC curve analysis and Spearman’s rho correlation. An RDW greater than 15.52% represented 1.6 times more risk, compared to individuals below that value (95% confidence interval: 1.01-2.6; p = 0.034). The RDW values did not correlate with days of hospital stay or complications. The preoperative RDW and RACHS-1 score were significantly higher in the mortality group. The relationship between presurgical RDW and the RACHS-1 score was significant. In our study, the preoperative RDW had moderate power to discriminate perioperative mortality in the surgical correction of congenital heart disease. More studies with a larger sample size are required.

Pacemaker Implantation in the Pediatric Population

Introduction: The development of pediatric arrhythmology, as a segment of pediatric cardiology, is conditioned by surgical correction of congenital heart diseases (CHD). The beginning of pediatric cardiosurgery is also the time of pacemaker implantation. The aim of this article is to present indications and results of pacemaker implantation in children in our conditions from April 1997 to April 2020 in the Clinical Center University of Sarajevo (CCUS). Patients and Methods: The article is descriptive and includes the period from April 1997 to April 2020. The data were extracted from the official medical documentation of patients hospitalized at the Paediatric Clinic, CCUS (protocol of operated CHD in children, register of continuous electrocardiogram [ECG] Holter monitoring, register of implanted pacemakers in children). Results: During this period, 46 pacemakers were implanted, 29 (63%) in male patients, of which 13 (28%) were due to congenital atrioventricular (AV) block, and 33 (71.7%) were mostly in children with a postoperative block. Postoperative block occurred in 28 children (84.8%). Given that 771 children with CHD were operated on in the same period, a complication of postoperative complete heart block arose in 3.6% of children, which had to be tackled immediately after surgery in seven patients (21.2%), and later in 26 patients (78.8%). In regard to the age of pacemaker implantation, the interval was between 7 days and 18 years. The local team implanted 37 (80.4%) pacemakers. Reimplantation was done in four patients (8.7%). In April 2020, we followed 42 patients, four of whom died (three after surgery and one child due to congenital heart block). With the help of continuous ECG Holter monitoring (5,839 registrations and analysis), we recognized second- or third-degree or high-degree AV block, which was the indication for pacemaker implantation in 8.2% of all performed ECG Holter monitorings, with a respective indication for control of implanted pacemaker in 3.2% of ECG Holters. Conclusion: Children with implanted pacemakers require close monitoring, frequent medical examinations, recognition of the right time for generator exchange, as well as reimplantation of the pacemaker. This can be achieved principally with the help of continuous ECG Holter monitoring, with an adequately developed pediatric cardiology/cardiosurgery.

Effect of different ventilation strategies during cardiopulmonary bypass on cardiac de-airing in congenital cardiac surgery: A trans-esophageal echocardiography comparative study

ABSTRACT Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of using either low tidal ventilation or continuous positive pressure ventilation on the quality of de-airing procedure during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) surgery for correction of congenital heart diseases. Patients and methods This study was conducted on 48 children under the age of 6 years scheduled for elective correction of congenital heart diseases. Patients were randomly allocated into three groups. In the low tidal volume (LTV) group, ventilator was set to a respiratory rate of 5 breaths per minute with tidal volume of 2–3 ml/kg of ideal body weight and a positive end-expiratory pressure of 3–5 cmH2O. In continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) group, oxygen flow was maintained at 0.5 L/min during CPB, ventilator was shut off and the adjustable pressure-limiting valve (APL) was set at a pressure of 10 cmH2O. In the no ventilation (NV) group, ventilator was shut off, fresh flow air was completely stopped and APL was adjusted on spontaneous position. The primary outcome was the total de-airing time using transesophageal echocardiography. Results The total de-airing time was significantly decreased in CPAP group, with the shortest duration of 246.88 ± 5.40 sec in comparison to both LTV group with 284.25 ± 6.52 sec and NV group with 452.12 ± 26.6 sec with p-value 0.001. Conclusion Use of CPAP 10 cmH2O ventilation during CPB surgery for correction of congenital heart diseases could improve the process of de-airing by decreasing the total time needed to de-air heart chambers.

Vancomycin dosing required to achieve a therapeutic level in children post-surgical correction of congenital heart disease.

The vancomycin dosing range for safe and effective treatment remains uncertain for children who had corrective surgery for a congenital heart disease (CHD). We aimed to determine the vancomycin dosing requirements for this subgroup of patients.This prospective cohort study included children younger than 14 years old with CHD who received intravenous vancomycin for at least 3 days at the Pediatric Cardiology section of King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh.In total, 140 pediatric patients with CHD were included with a median age of 0.57 years (interquartile range 0.21–2.2). The mean vancomycin total daily dose (TDD), 37.71 ± 6.8 mg/kg/day, was required to achieve a therapeutic trough concentration of 7–20 mg/L. The patient’s age group and the care setting were significant predictors of the vancomycin dosing needs. Neonates required significantly lower doses of 34 ± 6.03 mg/kg/day (P = .002), and young children higher doses of 43.97 ± 9.4 mg/kg/day (P = .003). The dosage requirements were independent of the type of cardiac lesion, cardiopulmonary surgery exposure, sex, and BMI percentile. However, the patients in the pediatric cardiac ward required higher doses of vancomycin 41.08 ± 7.06 mg/kg/day (P = .039). After the treatment, 11 (8.5%) patients had an elevated Scr, and 3 (2.3%) patients developed AKI; however, none of the patients’ sociodemographic factors or clinical variables, or vancomycin therapy characteristics was significantly associated with the renal dysfunction.Overall, the vancomycin TDD requirements are lower in pediatric post-cardiac surgery compared to non-cardiac patients and are modulated by several factors.

Long-Term Observational Outcomes after Total Correction of Congenital Heart Disease in Korean Patients with Down Syndrome: A National Cohort Study.

Background: In the present study, the population prevalence and postoperative morbidity and mortality in Down syndrome patients who underwent total correction for congenital heart disease were investigated using data from a large national cohort. Methods: Retrospective administrative data from 2,395,966 participants born between 2008 and 2012 were acquired from the National Investigation of Birth Cohort in Korea. Among Down syndrome patients, 58.3% had congenital heart disease and 32.3% underwent total correction. Propensity score matching (maximum 1:1) and stabilized inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) were performed for each group (153 Down syndrome patients and 4482 non-Down syndrome patients). Results: T late mortality rate was significantly higher in the Down syndrome group than in the non-Down syndrome group (8.1% vs. 3.8%). No differences were observed in postoperative heart failure and arrhythmias, but pulmonary hypertension was significantly greater in the Down syndrome group than in the non-Down syndrome group (26.9% vs. 7.0%). The length of hospitalization was longer in the Down syndrome group than in the non-Down syndrome group (14 days vs. 11 days; interquartile range (IQR): 10–25 vs. 6–19; p < 0.0001). After total correction, readmission frequency for any reason was minimally but statistically significantly higher in the Down syndrome group compared to the non-Down syndrome group (5 times vs. 5 times; IQR: 3–8 vs. 4–9; p < 0.0001). However, the number of emergency room visits was minimally but significantly lower in the Down syndrome group compared to the non-Down syndrome group (2 visits vs. 2 visits (IQR): 2–7 vs. 1–4; p = 0.016). Conclusions: Down syndrome patients with congenital heart disease undergoing total correction showed pulmonary hypertension after surgery, longer length of hospitalization, frequent hospitalization after surgery, and a higher rate of late mortality.

Cardiac MRI to evaluate right ventricular function after surgical correction of congenital heart diseases

Background: Cardiac MRI (CMR) is a noninvasive imaging technique that plays an important role during clinical follow-up of postoperative CHD patients. MRI can provide valuable information on cardiac anatomy, ventricular function, valvular function, and on the presence and location of myocardial scar tissue. Our study aimed to assess the right ventricular function after surgery in patients with congenital heart diseases &amp; assessment of myocardial viability with particular attention to scar tissue in the ventricular myocardium aside from sites of previous surgery (e.g., ventricular septal defect and right ventricular outflow tract patches). Results: The most common encountered CHD in this study were tetralogy of Fallot &amp;transposition of great arteries. The most common postoperative complication detected by CMR was pulmonary regurgitation particularly in repaired TOF patients. Regarding the RV volume &amp; function, there was statically significant increase in RVEDVI &amp;ESVI in patients with decreased RVEF with good correlation with echocardiographic results. Patients post TGA arterial switch repair showed less complications than atrial switch repair with better RV postoperative function. Most patients showed no residual shunting (QP/QS =1). Conclusion: CMR is able to effectively identify post-procedural anatomical and functional intra- and extracardiac information, thus allowing accurate diagnosis of postoperative complications in most patients.

Surgical correction of congenital heart disease (atrial septal defect) in HIV patient

Presented clinical case demonstrates a successful surgical treatment results of long-term existing hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (secondary atrial septal defect and pulmonary stenosis with secondary tricuspid regurgitation) in a patient with HIV infection after correction the immunodeficiency status and reducing the viral load.

Procedural Feasibility and Long-Term Efficacy of Catheter Ablation of Atypical Atrial Flutters in a Wide Spectrum of Heart Diseases: An Updated Clinical Overview.

Atypical atrial flutters (AAFL) are difficult-to-manage atrial arrhythmias, yet potentially amenable to effective radiofrequency catheter ablation (CA). However, data on CA feasibility are only sparingly reported in the literature in different clinical settings, such as AAFL related to surgical correction of congenital heart disease. The aim of this review was to provide an overview of the clinical settings in which AAFL may occur to help the cardiac electrophysiologist in the prediction of the tachycardia circuit location before CA. Moreover, the role and proper implementation of cutting-edge technologies in this setting were investigated as well as which procedural and clinical factors are associated with long-term failure to maintain sinus rhythm (SR) to find out which patients may, or may not, benefit from this procedure. Not only different surgical and non-surgical scenarios are associated with peculiar anatomical location of AAFL, but we also found that CA of AAFL is generally feasible. The success rate may be as low as 50% in surgically corrected congenital heart disease (CHD) patients but up to about 90% on average after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) or in patients without structural heart disease. Over the years, the progressive implementation of three-dimensional mapping systems and high-density mapping tools has also proved helpful for ablation of these macro-reentrant circuits. However, the long-term maintenance of SR may still be suboptimal due to the progressive electroanatomic atrial remodeling occurring after cardiac surgery or other interventional procedures, thus limiting the likelihood of successful ablation in specific clinical settings.

Peri-Operative Prophylaxis in Patients of Neonatal and Pediatric Age Subjected to Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery: A RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method Consensus Study.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) represent a potential complication of surgical procedures, with a significant impact on mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. Patients undergoing cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery are often considered patients at high risk of developing SSIs. This consensus document aims to provide information on the management of peri-operative antibiotic prophylaxis for the pediatric and neonatal population undergoing cardiac and non-cardiac thoracic surgery. The following scenarios were considered: (1) cardiac surgery for the correction of congenital heart disease and/or valve surgery; (2) cardiac catheterization without the placement of prosthetic material; (3) cardiac catheterization with the placement of prosthetic material; (4) implantable cardiac defibrillator or epicardial pacemaker placement; (5) patients undergoing ExtraCorporal Membrane Oxygenation; (6) cardiac tumors and heart transplantation; (7) non-cardiac thoracic surgery with thoracotomy; (8) non-cardiac thoracic surgery using video-assisted thoracoscopy; (9) elective chest drain placement in the pediatric patient; (10) elective chest drain placement in the newborn; (11) thoracic drain placement in the trauma setting. This consensus provides clear and shared indications, representing the most complete and up-to-date collection of practice recommendations in pediatric cardiac and thoracic surgery, in order to guide physicians in the management of the patient, standardizing approaches and avoiding the abuse and misuse of antibiotics.

Cell saver blood transfusions may be associated with a decrease in inflammation and improved outcome measures in pediatric cardiac surgery patients.

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is a requisite for correction of congenital heart disease by open-heart surgery and induces a systemic inflammatory response that can lead to complications such as acute lung injury and acute kidney injury. In addition, blood transfusions are commonly required for this type of surgery, and they may further exacerbate this inflammatory response and increase morbidity and mortality. We hypothesized that, in contrast to red blood cells, intraoperative cell saver (CS) blood transfusions attenuate the post-CPB proinflammatory cytokine response. Serum cytokine concentrations of IL-10, IL-1RA, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α were measured at four time points (preoperatively and postoperatively on postoperative days 0, 1, and 2). Anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels were significantly lower in the CS group on POD 0 than in the control group (mean 1083.2pg/mL vs 2080.2pg/mL, 95%CI 357.4-1636.6, p = .0026). Of the clinical parameters measured, mean BUN and creatinine levels on POD 2 were significantly lower in the CS group (13.79 vs 21.88, p = .004 and 0.45 vs 0.55, p = .055, respectively). In addition, the duration of milrinone use decreased by 80% in the CS group (0.20, 95%CI 0.04, 0.94; p = .048), the median time to extubation in hours was significantly lower in the CS group (3.5 vs 6.5; 95%CI -38.00, -0.50; p = .026), and hospital length of stay was decreased by 60% in the CS group (p = .003). CS transfusions in children may lower postoperative anti-inflammatory IL-10 levels, possibly due to an overall decrease in proinflammatory state, and may be associated with improvements in renal and pulmonary functions.

Impact of perinatal management on neurodevelopmental outcomes in congenital heart disease

With advancements in cardiopulmonary bypass technique and perioperative care, there has been a progressive decline in mortality associated with neonatal surgical correction of congenital heart disease (CHD). Thus, there is now increased focus on improving neurodevelopmental outcomes in CHD survivors. While the cause of these neurodevelopmental impairments is multifactorial, there is increasing evidence that structural and functional cerebral abnormalities are present before cardiac corrective repair. This suggests that in addition to patient specific risk factors, underlying cardiac physiology and clinical hemodynamics are critical to brain health and development. Prenatal diagnosis of CHD and subsequent optimization of perinatal care may therefore be important modifiable factors for long-term neurodevelopmental outcome.This article reviews the impact that prenatal diagnosis of CHD has on perinatal care and the preoperative clinical status of a neonate, as well as the potential influence this may have on lessening the degree of cerebral injury and long-term neurodevelopmental impairments.