Surgery For Congenital Heart Disease Research Articles

Factors contributing to severe scoliosis after open chest surgery for congenital heart disease: a case–control analysis

Abstract Purpose Previous reports have identified factors associated with open chest surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) and scoliosis. However, these reports included conditions such as Down syndrome and Marfan syndrome, which involve both cardiac disease and scoliosis. The relationships between these factors and open chest surgery remain unclear. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to severe scoliosis in CHD patients who have undergone open chest surgery. Methods Seventy-four post-CHD surgery patients with severe scoliosis (Scoliosis group) and 30 post-CHD surgery patients without scoliosis (NS group), excluding those with any syndrome or intellectual disability, were retrospectively analyzed. Patient background characteristics and radiographic parameters were compared between the NS and Scoliosis groups. Furthermore, the patients in the Scoliosis group were classified into three categories, namely, mild scoliosis, moderate scoliosis, and severe scoliosis, and the results were compared among the four groups. Results Eighteen patients in the NS group and 63 in the Scoliosis group met the inclusion criteria. Compared with the NS group, the Scoliosis group included significantly more girls and patients who had younger ages at first CHD surgery and multiple open chest surgeries. Severe scoliosis progression was observed in patients who underwent multiple surgeries for severe CHD with cardiomegaly. Conclusions Progression to severe scoliosis was noted in patients with younger ages at first CHD surgery and those who underwent multiple surgeries for severe CHD. Assessing spinal deformities should be a key aspect of postoperative care for CHD, particularly in patients with severe CHD who are undergoing multiple chest surgeries. Level of evidence III.

Abstract 4120469: Racial and ethnic disparities in catheter based interventions vs. open heart surgery in congenital heart disease

Introduction: Transcatheter cardiac interventions have emerged as a viable alternative to open heart surgery for specific congenital heart disease lesions. There is literature to support racial and ethnic disparities in medicine, indicating that patients from racially and ethnically marginalized populations are less likely to receive advanced less invasive procedures. This study seeks to delve into the existence of such inequities between transcatheter and surgical interventions, shedding light on potential inequalities in access and outcomes. Methods: We analyzed California and Florida's State Inpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Databases from 2005 to 2017 to study patients under 18 admitted with diagnosis of atrial septal defect, pulmonary stenosis, aortic stenosis, and ventricular septal defects. Multivariable logistic regression, adjusted for patient characteristics, assessed race and ethnicity's influence on procedure type and in-hospital mortality. We also used log-transformed linear regression to examine associations with length of stay, hospitalization cost, and cost per day. Results: We identified 13,771 records who had open surgeries, and 2,045 records who had CBI. Compared to non-Hispanic White patients, Black patients were significantly more likely to undergo open surgical procedures (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] 1.49, p < .001). Additionally, Black, Hispanic, and other race patients had higher risks of in-hospital death (aOR 1.92, p = 0.016 for Black; aOR 1.93, p < 0.01 for Hispanic; aOR 2.37, p < 0.01 for other races). Black and Hispanic patients also experienced longer lengths of stay (Adjusted Means Ratio [aMR] 1.34, p < 0.01 for Black; aMR 1.16, p < 0.01 for Hispanic), and higher costs (aMR 1.12, p = .01 for Black; aMR 1.11, p = .01 for Hispanic), but Black patients had a lower cost per day (aMR 0.96, p = .02). Conclusion: Racial and ethnic gaps persist in pediatric cardiac care, with Black patients facing reduced access to less invasive procedures, higher mortality rates, longer hospital stays, and increased costs compared to non-Hispanic whites. However, the higher costs are likely attributed to longer hospital stays rather than expensive interventions. It is imperative to tackle these disparities to prioritize patient-centered care and streamline resource allocation in healthcare.

Abstract 4124281: Dexmedetomidine for junctional ectopic tachycardia in patients undergoing tetralogy of Fallot repair: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background: Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) occurs in 2 to 22% of patients after cardiac surgery for congenital heart diseases, including tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. Dexmedetomidine emerged as a potential drug to prevent JET in these patients. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dexmedetomidine in JET in patients undergoing TOF repair. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) analyzing the use of dexmedetomidine in patients undergoing TOF repair. We pooled risk ratios (RR) for binary outcomes, and mean differences (MD) for continuous outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) with a random-effects model. We performed a trial sequential analysis (TSA) to assess the random risk of incidence of JET. We used R version 4.3.2 and TSA version 0.5.9.10 for statistical analyses. Results: Our meta-analysis included 5 RCTs comprising 546 patients, of whom 268 (49%) were randomized to dexmedetomidine. Compared with control, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the incidence of JET (RR 0.46; 95% CI: 0.30 to 0.71; p<0.05; Figure A). However, there were no significant differences in mortality (RR 0.45; 95% CI: 0.12 to 1.71; p=0.24; Figure B) between groups. In addition, dexmedetomidine also reduced the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (MD -7.75 hours; 95% CI: -15.08 to -0.41; p<0.05; Figure C). There were no significant differences in ionotropic score (MD -0.97 ug.min/Kg; 95 % CI: -1.98 to 0.18; p=0.10; Figure D), and ventilation time (MD -2.29 hours; 95% CI: -8.39 to 2.41; p=0.27; Figure E). For the primary endpoint, TSA suggested a low risk of type 1 error; therefore, this result may be conclusive. Conclusion: In patients undergoing TOF repair surgery, dexmedetomidine significantly reduced the incidence of JET and the length of ICU stay.

Assessing the Predictive Capabilities of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average and Linear Regression Models for Acute Changes in Clinical and Selected Laboratory Parameters in Children After Cardiac Surgery in the ICU

(1) Background: The main objective of this research was to assess the clinical factors related to the condition of pediatric patients with congenital heart defects after they underwent intensive care unit surgery. The information was gathered from the Congenital Heart Disease Surgery Unit at the National Heart Foundation Hospital and Research Institute in Dhaka, Bangladesh. We gathered and examined data from 288 ICU patients. Patients under the age of twelve who required more than a 24-h ICU stay were selected. (2) Methods: The dependent and independent variables were chosen in advance based on expert opinion. The relationships between these pre-specified ICU parameters were determined using the Pearson correlation model and assessed through linear regression and ARIMA modeling to predict subsequent acute changes in the patients’ ICU statuses. (3) Results: A statistically significant relationship (p value < 0.001) was found between CVP and BP (95% CI = 0.2113; 0.353 r = 0.2841249) and between PEEP and FiO2 (95% CI = 0.6992; 0.770 r = 0.7367744). Although the relationships between pH and PO2 were minor (95% CI = 0.161; 0.308 r = 0.2362575), they were statistically significant. The parameters considered statistically significant (p < 0.001) were chosen for forecasting. In this work, the linear regression model and the ARIMA model used the parameters BP, FiO2, and PO2 for prediction. We forecasted the patients’ statuses for the next hour. It was found that the ARIMA model had a lower error rate than the linear regression model. (4) Conclusions: This study helps identify the important parameters for predicting and monitoring patients’ statuses in the ICU, with the ultimate goal of providing physicians with an early warning system to anticipate deterioration in clinical and biochemical parameters. The ability to accurately forecast future patients’ conditions can enable proactive, targeted interventions, potentially improving outcomes and reducing the risk of adverse events.

Free surgery for CHD through philanthropy—a sustainable model?

AbstractAmong the multiple challenges faced by children from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) with congenital heart disease (CHD), the economics of care remains foremost, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality. This paper evaluates the four existing finance models available for healthcare systems and proposes a new model—the GIVE model (government, institutions and individuals, values, and engagements)—as the fifth model for global sustainable healthcare systems. The paper presents an evaluation of a chain of three paediatric cardiac hospitals in India to assess the sustainability of their philanthropy-based operational model, through which surgeries are offered completely free of cost to children with CHD. The three Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Centres for Child Heart Care in India have been proponents of this philanthropic model for over a decade. From February 2013 to January 2024, 19,684 patients with CHD received surgeries at no cost. The average cost of surgery was reported to be USD (United States Dollar) 1800. A case study of one of the Sanjeevani Centres showed that 23.8% of patients were in STAT Category 3 and above, as defined by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, with an in-hospital mortality rate of 2.08%. The evaluation highlighted the institution’s numerous strategies to enable sustainability in key aspects of operations, economics, and social impact. Despite challenges, the Sai Sanjeevani philanthropic model, which encompasses both economic and social impact, is dependable and can be replicated. The proposed GIVE model is recommended for adoption by LMICs as a global way forward to enable free CHD surgeries through sustained philanthropy, strengthened by a shared vision and collaborations.

Associations Between Clinical Factors and Postoperative Thrombosis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Postoperative thrombosis is a significant complication in pediatric cardiac surgery patients, contributing to morbidity and mortality. Identifying clinical factors associated with thrombosis can improve patient outcomes by guiding early detection and intervention. This study aimed to assess factors associated with postoperative thrombosis or thromboembolism in pediatric patients under 12 months old who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD). Design, Setting, and Participants: This retrospective cohort study analyzed electronic medical records from pediatric patients admitted to the Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (PCICU) at the German Paediatric Heart Center, Bonn, between March 1, 2020, and March 1, 2021. A total of 197 children under 12 months old who underwent cardiac surgery were included in the analysis. Thrombosis was diagnosed postoperatively using imaging modalities such as ultrasound, echocardiography, and computed tomography. The primary outcome was the incidence of thrombosis and its association with clinical factors such as age, central venous catheter (CVC) duration, CRP levels, and D-dimer levels. Among 197 patients, the incidence of thrombosis was 8.63%, predominantly venous (70.6%). Initial associations were observed between thrombosis and younger age, lower body weight, higher hematocrit, cyanosis, longer central venous catheter (CVC) use, and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and d-dimer levels. Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated a higher risk in patients with d-dimer levels above 5.47 mg/L. The stepwise multiregression analysis identified longer CVC duration in situ (β = 0.553; p < 0.001), higher CRP levels (β = 0.217; p = 0.022), and younger age at admission (β = -0.254; p = 0.006) as significant predictors of thrombosis. Decision tree analysis identified CVC use longer than 12.5 days and CRP levels above 118.01 mg/L as the most critical risk factors. Postoperative thrombosis is a notable risk in pediatric CHD patients, particularly in neonates. Prolonged CVC use and elevated CRP levels are critical risk factors. Routine monitoring of D-dimer and CRP levels, along with timely sonographic screening, can aid early thrombosis detection and intervention. Further research is warranted to optimize thrombosis prevention strategies in this population.

Non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow during cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease - transfontanellar Doppler as additional tool.

Non-invasive monitoring of cerebral blood flow during cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease - transfontanellar Doppler as additional tool.

Surgery for congenital heart disease in Thailand—lessons to be learnt

Surgery for congenital heart disease in Thailand—lessons to be learnt

Recurrent acute kidney injury is associated with delayed language development in infants with Congenital Heart Disease.

Neurodevelopmental delay is common in children who undergo surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in infancy. Cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) occurs frequently in the paediatric cardiac Intensive care unit (ICU). Cardiac surgery associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is associated with worse neurodevelopmental scores and delay in cognitive, language, and motor domains in children with CHD. No known data exist regarding the association of CS-AKI and motor and language subscales. In this study, we explored the relationship between CS-AKI and receptive and expressive language, as well as gross and fine motor delay. This was a single centre retrospective observational cohort study. Children who underwent surgery for CHD and developed recurrent CS-AKI in the first year of life who had follow-up neurodevelopmental testing using the Bayley Scale of Infant Development Version III were included. Neurodevelopmental delay subscales assessed included: receptive and expressive language, fine and motor skills. The study cohort included 203 children. Recurrent CS-AKI was significantly associated with lower scores in receptive and expressive language, as well as fine and gross motor on unadjusted analyses. On adjusted analyses, recurrent CS-AKI was significantly associated with severe receptive language delay. The independent association of recurrent CS-AKI with severe language delay in children who undergo surgery for CHD in infancy is novel. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of language impairment in this population. Further studies are required to better understand this relationship and any potentially modifiable factors.

Microsurgical assessment of thymus vascular anatomy

BackgroundThe thymus is pivotal for immune system development by facilitating T-cell maturation. Current treatments for congenital athymia typically involve avascular transplantation of allogeneic thymic tissue. However, vascularizing an infant thymus for transplantation could offer improved outcomes, necessitating a detailed understanding of its vascular anatomy. MethodBetween June and November 2022, we conducted a feasibility study at our tertiary care university hospital, examining seven thymus glands that were surgically removed and discarded during corrective surgeries for congenital heart disease in patients aged 16 days to 17 months. ResultsAngiographic analysis revealed distinct vascular pathways in infant thymic lobes, with arteries averaging 0.5 mm and veins 0.8 mm in diameter, both showing adequate perfusion with Belzer solution. ConclusionThese findings provide critical insights into the vascular anatomy of the infant thymus, underscoring its potential for microvascular revascularization and transplantation.

Outcomes in adult congenital heart disease patients with Down syndrome undergoing cardiac surgery.

BACKGROUNDAs the life expectancy of patients with Down syndrome (DS) improves, the number of older DS patients requiring cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease will increase. Perioperative risk factors and outcomes in these patients are unknown. METHODSIn a multicenter retrospective study, teenage and adult DS patients undergoing cardiac surgery between 2008-2018 were matched by age and surgical procedure with non-DS patients. Demographic, medical, and surgical characteristics were compared. Outcome measures were length of stay (LOS), duration of mechanical ventilation, need for non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) and reintubation, additional cardiac interventions, postoperative infections, and early postoperative mortality. Risk factors for extended hospital LOS (>10 days) were explored using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTSWe compared 121 DS patients to 121 non-DS patients. DS patients had a longer median LOS (7 vs. 5 days, p<0.001), longer duration of mechanical ventilation (12.5 vs. 6.7 hours, p<0.001), greater need for NIPPV or reintubation (26% vs. 4%, p<0.001), and higher likelihood of postoperative infections (10% vs. 2%, p=0.035). There was no early mortality. Pre-operative risk factors for extended LOS for DS patients included pulmonary medication use (OR 4.0, p=0.046), history of immunodeficiency (OR 10.4, p=0.004), or ≥moderate tricuspid regurgitation (OR 12.7, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONSTeenage and adult DS patients undergoing congenital cardiac surgery had a longer hospital LOS and more postoperative respiratory and infection complications compared to non-DS patients without increased mortality. Cardiac surgery can be performed safely in older DS patients. Management of pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency, and tricuspid regurgitation may mitigate risk.

Disruption of the Circulating Proteome in Neonates Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Following Congenital Heart Disease Surgery: A Nested Case-Control Study

This nested case-control study identified broad dysregulation of the circulating proteome in neonates receiving post-operative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support after congenital heart disease surgery, including differential responses in those not surviving to hospital discharge. Tissue hypoxia and mitochondrial-associated proteins may represent novel candidate biomarkers for poor ECMO outcomes.

Quantitative and functional changes in platelets and fibrinogen following cardiopulmonary by-pass in children

IntroductionCardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes coagulopathy, increasing the risk of postoperative bleeding and mortality. The underlying causes of post-CPB coagulopathy and the factors associated with its occurrence are not yet fully understood. This study assesses platelet and fibrinogen concentration and function following CPB in children with congenital heart diseases (CHD).MethodsWe analyzed prospective data from 104 patients aged 0–16 years who underwent CPB surgery for CHD. Blood samples were collected before surgery and within 30 min of CPB completion. In addition to usual coagulation tests, functional analyses were performed using point of care systems with thromboelastometry and impedance aggregometry.ResultsPlatelet count, fibrinogen concentration, and platelet and fibrinogen activities significantly decreased after CPB. The duration of CPB was directly associated with a reduction in platelet count and fibrinogen level (r = −0.38, p &amp;lt; 0.001; r = −0.21, p = 0.03, respectively), but not with their measured activity. Postoperative percentages of baseline values for platelet count (58.36% [43.34–74.44] vs. 37.44% [29.81–54.17], p &amp;lt; 0.001) and fibrinogen concentration (73.68% [66.67–82.35] vs. 65.22% [57.89–70.83], p &amp;lt; 0.001) were significantly higher in patients who did not experience hypothermia during surgery. Age was inversely associated with the decrease in platelet count (r = 0.63, p &amp;lt; 0.001), TRAPTEM AUC (r = 0.43, p &amp;lt; 0.001), fibrinogen concentration (r = 0.44, p &amp;lt; 0.001) and FIBTEM MCF (r = 0.57, p &amp;lt; 0.001).ConclusionPost-CPB coagulopathy is multifactorial and not solely attributed to hemodilution. It also involves functional changes in coagulation cascade components, which can be demonstrated by thromboelastometry and impedance aggregometry. Young children, patients requiring prolonged CPB surgery, or those experiencing hypothermia are particularly affected.

Comparison of targeted next-generation sequencing and metagenomic next-generation sequencing in the identification of pathogens in pneumonia after congenital heart surgery: a comparative diagnostic accuracy study

BackgroundThis study aimed to compare targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) with metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for pathogen detection in infants with severe postoperative pneumonia after congenital heart surgery.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective observational study using data from the electronic medical record system of infants who developed severe pneumonia after surgery for congenital heart disease from August 2021 to August 2022. Infants were divided into tNGS and mNGS groups based on the pathogen detection methods. The primary outcome was the efficiency of pathogen detection, and the secondary outcomes were the timeliness and cost of each method.ResultsIn the study, 91 infants were included, with tNGS detecting pathogens in 84.6% (77/91) and mNGS in 81.3% (74/91) of cases (P = 0.55). No significant differences were found in sensitivity, specificity, PPA, and NPA between the two methods (P > 0.05). tNGS identified five strains with resistance genes, while mNGS detected one strain. Furthermore, tNGS had a faster detection time (12 vs. 24 h) and lower cost ($150 vs. $500) compared to mNGS.ConclusiontNGS offers similar sensitivity to mNGS but with greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness, making it a promising approach for respiratory pathogen detection.

Efficacy and safety of early postoperative ablation in patients with congenital heart disease

BackgroundPostoperative arrhythmias are most often transient and medically treated, but some patients may require electrophysiology study (EPS) and ablation. ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to describe the efficacy and safety of early postoperative ablation. MethodsThis study presents a retrospective series of patients who underwent EPS within 12 months of surgery for congenital heart disease between 2000 and 2021. The procedural outcome included complete or partial success, empirical ablation or failure, and complications. The long-term outcome included arrhythmia recurrence and burden according to a 12-point clinical arrhythmia severity score (documented arrhythmia, arrhythmia severity, cardioversion, and antiarrhythmic medication). ResultsAmong 28,902 operations during the study period, 24 patients (0.1%) underwent EPS within 3 months of surgery and 26 (0.1%) 3–12 months after surgery. Most patients had great (n = 27 [50%]) or moderate (n = 21 [42%]) congenital heart disease complexity. Mechanisms of arrhythmias included intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia (n = 23 [46%]), ectopic atrial tachycardia (n = 13 [26%]), accessory pathway (n = 6 [12%]), atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (n = 7 [14%]), twin atrioventricular node (n = 1 [2%]), atrial fibrillation (n = 1 [2%]), junctional ectopic tachycardia (n = 1 [2%]), and ventricular tachycardia (n = 2 [4%]). The procedure was acutely successful in 41 patients (82%), empirical in 5 (10%), and unsuccessful in 4 (8%). Complications occurred in 4 (8%) patients (major in 1, moderate in 1, and minor in 2). The recurrence of arrhythmia was documented in 27 patients (54%), although the burden of arrhythmia was significantly reduced. ConclusionA minority of patients require early postoperative EPS and ablation. For those, the procedure can be performed with reasonable acute success and manageable morbidity even in critically ill patients with complex surgical anatomy.

Risk factors analysis and prediction model construction of major adverse cardiovascular events in pregnant women with valvular heart disease

Objective: To analysis the risk factors for major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) in pregnant women with valvular heart disease (VHD) and to construct a risk prediction model. Methods: The clinical data of 245 pregnant women with VHD who were hospitalized in Beijing Anzhen Hospital from January 1, 2012, to June 1, 2023 were retrospectively analyzed, including general information, pre-pregnancy and pregnancy-associated cardiac conditions, and MACE. Univariate analysis and logistic regression models were employed to identify risk factors for MACE during pregnancy among pregnant women with VHD. Furthermore, a predictive model was constructed and internal validation was conducted using bootstrap techniques. Results: (1) Among 245 pregnant women with VHD, the incidence of MACE was 18.0% (44/245), and the most common MACE was heart failure (61.4%, 27/44). The mitral valve was the most frequently affected valve (64.9%, 159/245). Prior to pregnancy, the most common type of valve surgery undertaken was mechanical valve replacement, representing 31.4% (77/245) of surgeries. In contrast, among those pregnant women who did not undergo valve surgery before pregnancy, the most common lesion type was mitral regurgitation (17.6%, 43/245). (2) Comparing the maternal and infant outcomes of warfarin, low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and LMWH sequential with warfarin, the fetal loss rate (36%, 15/42) and malformation rate (7%, 3/42) were the highest, but the MACE rate (12%, 5/42) was the lowest in warfarin group. The fetal loss rate (1/19), malformation rate (1/19) and artificial valve thrombosis rate (0) of LMWH sequential with warfarin were the lowest, and the fetal loss rate and artificial valve thrombosis rate of the three anticoagulation methods were statistically significant (all P<0.05). (3) There were no significant differences in gestational age, age of diagnosis of heart disease, weight at delivery, pre-pregnancy body mass index, proportion of multiparous women and chronic medical history between women with MACE and those without MACE (all P>0.05). (4) Binary logistic regression analysis identified the following as risk factors for MACE during the second trimester of pregnancy among pregnant women with VHD: pre-pregnancy cardiac symptoms, history of corrective surgery for congenital heart disease, pregnancy risk grade Ⅴ, anticoagulation with LMWH during pregnancy, and arrhythmia (all P<0.05). Based on the results of multivariate analysis, a receiver operating characteristic curve was constructed, with an area under the curve of 0.837, indicating good discriminative ability. The calibration plot demonstrated a close alignment between the standard curve and the calibration prediction curve, suggesting excellent calibration of the model. Conclusions: Pregnant women with VHD are at a high risk of experiencing MACE during gestation. Five risk factors, including pre-pregnancy cardiac symptoms, history of corrective surgery for congenital heart disease, pregnancy risk grade Ⅴ, anticoagulation with LMWH, and arrhythmia, could aid in identifying high-risk pregnant women.

Postoperative Organ Dysfunction Risk Stratification Using Extracellular Vesicle-Derived circRNAs in Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery.

Breakthroughs in surgical and medical techniques have significantly improved outcomes for children with congenital heart disease (CHD), but research continues to address the ongoing challenge of organ dysfunction after surgery, particularly in neonates and infants. Our study explored circular RNAs (circRNAs) within plasma-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in neonates and infants undergoing CHD surgery. Post-surgery EV circRNAs showed dramatic expression changes between organ dysfunction (OD) and control groups. Tissue injury-related pathways were consistent across pre- and post-surgery in OD. The top two significant predicted tissue sources of these circRNAs originated from the respiratory system, aligning with the fact that all patients in the OD arm experienced respiratory dysfunction. Five of these circRNAs, namely circ-CELSR1, circ-PLXNA1, circ-OBSL1, circ-DAB2IP, and circ-KANK1, significantly correlated with PELOD (Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction) score and demonstrated high performance (AUC = 0.95), supporting the potential of circRNAs as prognostic markers. These findings pave the way for EV circRNAs as promising tools for managing post-surgical organ dysfunction and potentially guiding therapeutic strategies in children with CHD.

Prolonged Inotrope Use After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: A Common Occurrence with a High Burden of Mortality.

Outcomes in patients requiring prolonged inotropes (PI) following surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) have not been well studied. We aimed to describe the burden of PI use in the immediate postoperative period after CHD surgery and identify risk factors for in-hospital mortality. We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Pediatric Health Information System® (PHIS) database. Patients 0-18years with CHD who underwent cardiovascular surgery from 2010 to 2020 were included. Patients who received inotropic medications for > 7 consecutive days after surgery were in the PI group and all others in the control group. Patients who died before 7days were excluded. Multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression was used to examine risk factors for in-hospital mortality. There were 110,271 patients from 48 centers included, 10,292 in the PI group and 99,979 in the control group. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the PI group (24.9% vs. 4.6%, p < 0.001). Ventricular assist device use was rare (1.6%). After adjustment, odds of in-hospital mortality in the PI group was 3.5 (95% CI 3.3-3.8) times higher than in controls. Independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality were age, non-White race, class of CHD, number of complex chronic conditions, preoperative inotrope, preoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, sepsis, stroke, renal failure, number of inotropes at 7days, and discharge year (p < 0.01 for all). Postoperative PI use in CHD is common and carries a considerable burden of mortality. Additional work is needed to understand which risk factors are modifiable and which patients may benefit from reintervention or advanced heart failure therapies.

Intraoperative zero-heat-flux thermometry overestimates nasopharyngeal temperature by 0.39°C: an observational study in patients undergoing congenital heart surgery.

During surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) temperature management is crucial. Vesical (Tves) and nasopharyngeal (TNPH) temperature are usually measured. Whereas Tves slowly responds to temperature changes, TNPH carries the risk of bleeding. The zero-heat-flux (ZHF) temperature monitoring systems SpotOn™ (TSpotOn), and Tcore™ (Tcore) measure temperature non-invasively. We evaluated accuracy and precision of the non-invasive devices, and of Tves compared to TNPH for estimating temperature. In this prospective observational study in pediatric and adult patients accuracy and precision of TSpotOn, Tcore, and Tves were analyzed using the Bland-Altman method. Proportion of differences (PoD) and Lin´s concordance correlation coefficient (LCC) were calculated. Data of 47 patients resulted in sets of matched measurements: 1073 for TSpotOn vs. TNPH, 874 for Tcore vs. TNPH, and 1102 for Tves vs. TNPH. Accuracy was - 0.39°C for TSpotOn, -0.09°C for Tcore, and 0.07°C for Tves. Precisison was between - 1.12 and 0.35°C for TSpotOn, -0.88 to 0.71°C for Tcore, and - 1.90 to 2.05°C for Tves. PoD ≤ 0.5°C were 71% for TSpotOn, 71% for Tcore, and 60% for Tves. LCC was 0.9455 for TSpotOn, 0.9510 for Tcore, and 0.9322 for Tves. Temperatures below 25.2°C (TSpotOn) or 27.1 (Tcore) could not be recorded non-invasively, but only with Tves. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register, DRKS00010720.

Airway Anomalies in Pediatric Patients After Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease: Single-Center Retrospective Cohort Study, Taiwan, 2017-2020.

Airway anomalies increase risk of morbidity and mortality in postoperative pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). We aimed to identify airway anomalies and the association with intermediate outcomes in patients undergoing surgery for CHD. Single-center, hospital-based retrospective study in Taiwan, 2017-2020. A tertiary referral hospital in Taiwan. All pediatric patients who underwent surgery for CHD and were admitted to the PICU and had data about airway evaluation by cardiopulmonary CT scan or bronchoscopy. None. Among 820 CHD patients identified as having undergone airway evaluation in the PICU, 185 (22.6%) were diagnosed with airway anomalies, including structural lesions in 146 of 185 (78.9%), and dynamic problems were seen in 87 of 185 (47.0%). In this population, the explanatory factors associated with greater odds (odds ratio [OR]) of airway anomaly were premature birth (OR, 1.90; p = 0.002), genetic syndromes (OR, 2.60; p < 0.001), and in those with preoperative ventilator use (OR, 4.28; p < 0.001). In comparison to those without airway anomalies, the presence of airway anomalies was associated with higher hospital mortality (11.4% vs. 2.7%; p < 0.001), prolonged intubation days (8 d [1-27 d] vs. 1 d [1-5 d]; p < 0.001), longer PICU length of stay (23 d [8-81 d] vs. 7 d [4-18 d]; p < 0.001), and greater hazard of intermediate mortality (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.60; p = 0.001). In our single-center retrospective study, 2017-2020, between one-in-five and one-in-four of our postoperative CHD patients undergoing an airway evaluation had airway anomalies. Factors associated with greater odds of airway anomaly included, those with premature birth, or genetic syndromes, and preoperative ventilator use. Overall, in patients undergoing airway evaluation, the finding of an airway anomalies was associated with longer postoperative intubation duration and greater hazard of intermediate mortality.