Surgery In Young Infants Research Articles

A comparison of the effects of lung protective ventilation and conventional ventilation on the occurrence of atelectasis during laparoscopic surgery in young infants: a randomized controlled trial.

This study utilized lung ultrasound to investigate whether lung protective ventilation reduces pulmonary atelectasis and improves intraoperative oxygenation in infants undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Eighty young infants (aged 1-6 months) who received general anesthesia for more than 2 h during laparoscopic surgery were randomized into the lung protective ventilation group (LPV group) and the conventional ventilation group (control group). The LPV group received mechanical ventilation starting at 6 mL/kg tidal volume, 5 cmH2O PEEP, 60% inspired oxygen fraction, and half-hourly alveolar recruitment maneuvers. Control group ventilation began with 8-10 mL/kg tidal volume, 0 cmH2O PEEP, and 60% inspired oxygen fraction. Lung ultrasound was conducted five times-T1 (5 min post-intubation), T2 (5 min post-pneumoperitoneum), T3 (at the end of surgery), T4 (post-extubation), and T5 (prior to discharge from the PACU)-for each infant. Simultaneous arterial blood gas analysis was performed at T1, T2, T3, and T4. Statistically significant differences were observed in pulmonary atelectasis incidence, lung ultrasound scores, and the PaO2, PaCO2, PaO2/FiO2 ratios at T2, T3, and T4. However, at T5, no statistically significant differences were noted in terms of lung ultrasound scores (4.30 ± 1.87 vs. 5.00 ± 2.43, 95% CI: -1.67 to 0.27, p = 0.153) or the incidence of pulmonary atelectasis (32.5% vs. 47.5%, p = 0.171). In infants aged 1-6 months, lung protective ventilation during laparoscopy under general anesthesia significantly reduced the incidence of pulmonary atelectasis and enhanced intraoperative oxygenation and dynamic lung compliance compared to conventional ventilation. However, these benefits did not persist; no differences were observed in lung ultrasound scores or the incidence of pulmonary atelectasis at PACU discharge. http://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier: ChiCTR2200058653.

Current Epidemiology of Vocal Cord Dysfunction After Congenital Heart Surgery in Young Infants.

Surgery of the aortic arch poses risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury due to the anatomic proximity and can manifest as vocal cord dysfunction after surgery. We assessed risk factors for vocal cord dysfunction and calculated surgical procedure associated rates in young infants after congenital heart surgery. Cross section analysis. Forty-four children's hospitals reporting administrative data to Pediatric Health Information System. Cardiac surgical patients less than or equal to 90 days old and discharged between January 2004 and June 2014. None. Overall, 2,319 of 46,567 subjects (5%) had vocal cord dysfunction, increasing from 4% to 7% over the study period. Of those with vocal cord dysfunction, 75% had unilateral partial paralysis. Vocal cord dysfunction was significantly more common in newborn infants (74%), those with aortic arch procedures (77%) and with greater surgical complexity. Rates of vocal cord dysfunction ranged from 0.7% to 22.4% across surgical procedure groups. Vocal cord dysfunction was significantly associated with greater use of: prolonged mechanical ventilation (53% vs 40%), diaphragmatic plication (3% vs 1%), feeding tube use (32% vs 8%), surgical airways (4% vs 2%), and prolonged length of stay (44 vs 21 d). Vocal cord dysfunction testing increased significantly over the study (6-14 %), and vocal cord dysfunction diagnosis increased almost two-fold (odds ratio, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.7-2.1) comparing the last to first study quarters with the increase in vocal cord dysfunction diagnosis occurring predominately in surgeries to the aortic arch supported by cardiopulmonary bypass. However, aortic procedures without cardiopulmonary bypass and nonaortic arch procedures were common surgeries accounting for 27% and 23% of vocal cord dysfunction cases despite low overall vocal cord dysfunction rates (3.7% and 2.6%). Vocal cord dysfunction complicated all cardiac surgical procedures among infants including those without aortic arch involvement. Increased efforts to determine appropriate indications for prevention, screening and treatment of vocal cord dysfunction among young infants after congenital heart surgery are needed.

Successful Surgical Treatment of Refractory Status Epilepticus in a 12-Day-Old Infant

Medically refractory epilepsy adds to significant morbidity in the infant population and increases the risk for future neurocognitive dysfunction. Epilepsy surgery should be considered an option in young infants who have catastrophic, localizable epilepsy despite the implementation of optimal first-line therapies. 1 Kumar R.M. Koh S. Knupp K. Handler M.H. O’Neill B.R. Surgery for infants with catastrophic epilepsy: an analysis of complications and efficacy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2015; 31: 1479-1491 Crossref PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar , 2 Gowda S. Salazar F. Bingaman W.E. et al. Surgery for catastrophic epilepsy in infants 6 months of age and younger. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2010; 5: 603-607 Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar There is limited literature focusing on epilepsy surgery in young infants, and more reports and multicenter studies are needed. 1 Kumar R.M. Koh S. Knupp K. Handler M.H. O’Neill B.R. Surgery for infants with catastrophic epilepsy: an analysis of complications and efficacy. Childs Nerv Syst. 2015; 31: 1479-1491 Crossref PubMed Scopus (31) Google Scholar , 2 Gowda S. Salazar F. Bingaman W.E. et al. Surgery for catastrophic epilepsy in infants 6 months of age and younger. J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2010; 5: 603-607 Crossref PubMed Scopus (47) Google Scholar , 3 Gonzalez-Martinez J.A. Gupta A. Kotagal P. et al. Hemispherectomy for catastrophic epilepsy in infants. Epilepsia. 2005; 46: 1518-1525 Crossref PubMed Scopus (124) Google Scholar , 4 Oluigbo C. Pearl M.S. Tsuchida T.N. Chag T. Ho C.Y. Gaillard W.D. Endovascular embolic hemispherectomy: a strategy for the initial management of catastrophic holohemispheric epilepsy in the neonate. Childs Nerv Syst. 2017; 33: 521-527 Google Scholar , 5 Duchowny M. Jayakar P. Resnick T. et al. Epilepsy surgery in the first three years of life. Epilepsia. 1998; 39: 737-743 Crossref PubMed Scopus (217) Google Scholar This is the youngest reported patient to undergo successful epilepsy surgery with seizure-free and favorable neurological outcome.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects and side effects of tadalafil and sildenafil after surgery in young infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to systemic-to-pulmonary shunts.

Young children with CHD and large systemic-to-pulmonary shunts eventually develop pulmonary hypertension. At present, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil have been used to control pulmonary pressure before and after cardiac surgery. Recently, tadalafil has been utilised in older children with similar efficacy, but it has been used to a lesser extent in young infants. From April, 2015 to June, 2016, 42 patients aged 3-24 months with a large septal defect and pulmonary arterial hypertension were randomly divided into two equal groups: one group received oral sildenafil (1-3 mg/kg/day every 8 hours), whereas the other group received oral tadalafil (1 mg/kg once a day) from 7-10 days before surgery to 3-4 weeks after surgery. During the first 48 hours after surgery, pulmonary artery-to-aortic pressure ratio and recorded systolic pulmonary artery pressures were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05); moreover, there were no differences in paediatric ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation time, clinical findings of low cardiac output state, and echocardiographic data between the two groups (p>0.05). Most of the patients had no side effects, and only five patients had a minor with no significant difference in both groups (p=0.371). Tadalafil can be considered as an effective oral therapy for preoperative and postoperative pulmonary hypertension in young infants. It can be administered at a once-daily dose with an appropriate efficacy and safety profile as sildenafil, and therefore it can be considered as an alternative to sildenafil in young children.

Pilot randomized controlled trial on early and late remote ischemic preconditioning prior to complex cardiac surgery in young infants.

Remote ischemic preconditioning involves providing a brief ischemia-reperfusion event to a tissue to create subsequent protection from a more severe ischemia-reperfusion event to a different tissue/organ. The few pediatric remote ischemic preconditioning studies in the literature show conflicting results. We conducted a pilot randomized controlled trial to determine the feasibility of conducting a larger trial and to gather provisional data on the effect of early and late remote ischemic preconditioning on outcomes of infants after surgery for congenital heart disease. This single-center, double-blind randomized controlled trial of remote ischemic preconditioning vs control (sham-remote ischemic preconditioning) in young infants going for surgery for congenital heart disease at the Stollery Children's Hospital. Remote ischemic preconditioning was performed at 24-48h preoperatively and immediately prior to cardiopulmonary bypass. Remote ischemic preconditioning stimulus was performed with blood pressure cuffs around the thighs. Primary outcomes were feasibility and peak blood lactate level on day 1 postoperatively. Fifty-two patients were randomized but seven patients became ineligible after randomization leaving 45 patients included in the study. In theincluded patients, 7 (15%) had protocol deviations (five infants did not have the preoperative intervention and two did not receive the intervention in the operating room). From a comfort point of view, only one subject in the control group and two in the Remote ischemic preconditioning group received sedation during the preoperative intervention. There were no study-related adverse events and no complications to the limbs subjected to preconditioning. There were no significant differences between the Remote ischemic preconditioning group and the control group in the highest blood lactate level on day 1 postoperatively (mean difference, 1.28; 95%CI, -0.22, 2.78; P-value=0.093). In infants who underwent surgery for congenital heart disease, our pilot randomized controlled trial on early and late remote ischemic preconditioning proved to be feasible but did not find any significant difference in acute outcomes. A larger trial may be necessary.

Learning From Experience: Improving Early Tracheal Extubation Success After Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

The many advantages of early tracheal extubation following congenital cardiac surgery in young infants and children are now widely recognized. Benefits include avoiding the morbidity associated with prolonged intubation and the consequences of sedation and positive pressure ventilation in the setting of altered cardiopulmonary physiology. Our practice of tracheal extubation of young infants in the operating room following cardiac surgery has evolved and new challenges in the arena of postoperative sedation and pain management have appeared. Review our institutional outcomes associated with early tracheal extubation following congenital cardiac surgery. Inclusion criteria included all children less than 1 year old who underwent congenital cardiac surgery between October 1, 2010, and October 24, 2013. A total of 416 patients less than 1 year old were included. Of the 416 patients, 234 underwent tracheal extubation in the operating room (56%) with 25 requiring reintubation (10.7%), either immediately or following admission to the cardiothoracic ICU. Of the 25 patients extubated in the operating room who required reintubation, 22 failed within 24 hours of cardiothoracic ICU admission; 10 failures were directly related to narcotic doses that resulted in respiratory depression. As a result of this review, we have instituted changes in our cardiothoracic ICU postoperative care plans. We have developed a neonatal delirium score, and have adopted the "Kangaroo Care" approach that was first popularized in neonatal ICUs. This provision allows for the early parental holding of infants following admission to the cardiothoracic ICU and allows for appropriately selected parents to sleep in the same beds alongside their postoperative children.

Acute Kidney Injury Following Cardiac Surgery in Neonates and Young Infants: Experience of a Single Center Using Novel Perioperative Strategies.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery is a serious complication with a reported incidence of 30% to 50%. This study sought to determine the prevalence and risk factors for AKI among neonates and young infants undergoing repair of cardiac defects at an institution using novel perioperative strategies. A retrospective analysis of 102 consecutive infants (<2 months) undergoing repair of cardiac defects on cardiopulmonary bypass formed the study group. Cardiac diagnoses were stratified according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery (STAT) mortality categories. The prevalence of AKI within 72 hours was defined according to the three-stage Acute Kidney Injury Network criteria. Novel bypass strategies to preserve renal function included maintenance of higher hematocrit and high flow rates on cardiopulmonary bypass despite systemic hypothermia, and avoidance of albumin and milrinone in the perioperative period. Mean age was 24 ± 19 days. Eighteen patients were less than 7 days of age at the time of surgery. Patient distribution according to STAT categories was as follows: 1 (n = 21), 2 (n = 12), 3 (n = 22), 4 (n = 28), and 5 (n = 19). The incidence of stages 1, 2, and 3 AKI in the population was 8% (n = 9), 2% (n = 2), and 0% (n = 0), respectively. On multivariate analysis higher STAT category was the only significant risk factor for AKI. Current incidence of AKI following cardiac surgery in young infants at our institution is low. Novel perioperative strategies may have contributed to the low observed incidence of AKI in our patient population. Increased complexity of heart disease was a risk factor for AKI.

A Comparative Analysis of Preemptive Versus Targeted Sedation on Cardiovascular Stability After High-Risk Cardiac Surgery in Infants.

To compare the effect of two sedation practices on cardiovascular stability during the early postoperative period in young infants following cardiac surgery: the routine early use of midazolam infusion (preemptive sedation) and the discretionary use of sedatives tailored to the patient's clinical condition (targeted sedation). Retrospective cohort study with matched controls. A 15-bedded pediatric cardiac ICU. Sedation strategies were compared by matching patients before and after the introduction of a targeted sedation guideline, replacing the existing practice of preemptive sedation. Inclusion criteria were age less than 6 months and cardiopulmonary bypass time greater than 150 minutes. Matching criteria were surgical procedure, age, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass and cross-clamp. The main outcome was cardiovascular instability, defined by the presence of one of the following criteria in the first 12 hours after PICU admission: 1) simultaneous administration of greater than or equal to two inotropic or vasopressor drugs; 2) administration of greater than 60 mL/kg fluid boluses. Secondary outcomes were: 1) markers of cardiac output adequacy (heart rate, blood pressure, vasoactive inotropic score, urine output, volume of fluid boluses, central venous oxygen saturation, lactate); 2) occurrence of adverse events (cardiac arrest, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, death); 3) sedatives administered and depth of sedation. Introduction of a guideline of targeted sedation. Thirty-three patients with preemptive sedation were matched to 33 patients with targeted sedation. Targeted sedation resulted in less frequent oversedation, without compromising cardiovascular stability, as indicated by similar occurrence of cardiovascular instability (68.8% with preemptive sedation vs 62.5% with targeted sedation; p = 0.53) and adverse events, and similar markers of cardiac output adequacy. Although all preemptively sedated patients received an infusion of midazolam in the first 12 hours after surgery, only 19.4% of patients in the targeted sedation group received a sedative infusion (p < 0.001). Our data suggest that after high-risk cardiac surgery in young infants, routine sedation with midazolam may not prevent low cardiac output syndrome. When accompanied by a careful assessment of level of sedation, routine sedation of infants after high-risk cardiac surgery can be avoided without compromising hemodynamic stability or patient safety. The potential benefit of this approach is reduced exposure to sedative.

Rectal Acetaminophen Does Not Reduce Morphine Consumption After Major Surgery in Young Infants

Rectal Acetaminophen Does Not Reduce Morphine Consumption After Major Surgery in Young Infants

Rectal acetaminophen does not reduce morphine consumption after major surgery in young infants

The safety and value of acetaminophen (paracetamol) in addition to continuous morphine infusion has never been studied in newborns and young infants. We investigated the addition of acetaminophen to evaluate whether it decreased morphine consumption in this age group after major thoracic (non-cardiac) or abdominal surgery. A randomized controlled trial was performed in 71 patients given either acetaminophen 90-100 mg kg(-1) day(-1)or placebo rectally, in addition to a morphine loading dose of 100 microg kg(-1) and 5-10 microg kg(-1) h(-1) continuous infusion. Analgesic efficacy was assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and COMFORT scores. Extra morphine was administered if VAS was > or = 4. We analysed data of 54 patients, of whom 29 received acetaminophen and 25 received placebo. Median (25-75th percentile) age was 0 (0-2) months. Additional morphine bolus requirements and increases in continuous morphine infusion were similar in both groups (P = 0.366 and P = 0.06, respectively). There was no significant difference in total morphine consumption, respectively, 7.91 (6.59-14.02) and 7.19 (5.45-12.06) mug kg(-1) h(-1) for the acetaminophen and placebo group (P = 0.60). COMFORT [median (25-75th percentile) acetaminophen 10 (9-12) and placebo 11 (9-13)] and VAS [median (25-75th percentile) acetaminophen 0.0 (0.0-0.2) and placebo 0.0 (0.0-0.3)] scores did not differ between acetaminophen and placebo group (P = 0.06 and P = 0.73, respectively). Acetaminophen, as an adjuvant to continuous morphine infusion, does not have an additional analgesic effect and should not be considered as standard of care in young infants, 0-2 months of age, after major thoracic (non-cardiac) or abdominal surgery.

Bladder functional outcome after delayed vesicostomy closure and antireflux surgery in young infants with 'primary' vesico-ureteric reflux.

To evaluate bladder function by conventional urodynamic investigations in young infants with primary vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) who had undergone an initial temporary cutaneous vesicostomy followed by later antireflux surgery and vesicostomy closure. From 1983 to 1990, nine boys (10-360 days old) with primary VUR were treated with an initial vesicostomy, followed by delayed closure of the vesicostomy and the simultaneous surgical correction of reflux. Severe VUR was detected bilaterally in seven and unilaterally in two infants at the time of the initial diagnosis. The mean (SD, range) age at vesicostomy was 12.4 (8, 3-23) months and the duration of bladder defunctionalization 38.7 (25.5, 18-90) months. All patients were assessed urodynamically after closing the vesicostomy, using rapid-fill cystometry with normal saline solution at room temperature. The mean (range) age at the time of urodynamic testing was 7.3 (5-15) years; the mean (SD, range) follow-up was 10.1 (4.1, 5-17) years. Six boys with bilateral VUR underwent successful ureteroneocystostomy; nephroureterectomy was required in one patient. In two patients the VUR resolved with time. After re-functionalization, the mean (SD, range) maximum cystometric capacity, expressed as a percentage of the mean bladder capacity for age, was 1.4 (0.5, 0.6-2.2)%. In three patients the bladder capacity was higher (> or = 40%) than expected for age, while one had diminished (< 70%) bladder capacity. The mean (range) end-filling detrusor pressure was 14.5 (5-42) cmH2O and the mean (SD, range) compliance 24 (13.9, 4-44) mL/cmH2O. Two patients had a compliance of < 10 mL/cmH2O, one of whom had associated unstable detrusor contractions of 90 cmH2O. The mean (SD, range) detrusor voiding pressure at peak flow was 47.3 (16.8, 5-76) cmH2O. One patient had a residual urine volume of 8% of bladder capacity. At the follow-up, only one patient (aged 5 years) with detrusor instability had urinary incontinence. This study shows that the bladder of young infants with primary VUR treated with temporary vesicostomy regained normal function after re-functionalization of the lower urinary tract.