Effectiveness and Safety of the Ozaki Procedure for Aortic Valve Disease in Pediatric Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The surgical treatment options for pediatric aortic valve disease are limited and have debatable long-term durability. In the current situation, the Ross procedure is considered in children for aortic valve disease(s). It is a complex surgical procedure with the risk of neo-aortic dilatation, converting a single valve disease into double valve disease, and associated with future re-interventions. Conversely, the Ozaki procedure has shown promising results in adults. Thus, the present study aimed to provide comparative evidence on the effectiveness and safety of the Ozaki versus Ross procedure for pediatric patients by performing a meta-analytic comparison of reporting outcomes. A total of 15 relevant articles were downloaded and among them, seven articles (one prospective study, five retrospective studies, and one case series) were used in the analysis. Primary outcomes such as physiological laminar flow pattern and hemodynamic parameters, and secondary outcomes such as hospital stays, adverse effects, mortality, and numbers of re-intervention(s) were measured in the meta-analysis. There were no significant differences in the age of patients between children who underwent the Ozaki procedure and those who underwent the Ross procedure at the time of surgeries. The Ozaki procedure is a good solution to an aortic problem(s) similar to the Ross procedure. Unlike the Ross procedure, the Ozaki procedure has restored a physiological laminar flow pattern in the short-term follow-up without the bi-valvular disease. Mean hospital stays (p = 0.048), mean follow-up (p = 0.02), adverse effects (p = 0.02), death, and numbers of re-intervention(s) of children who underwent the Ozaki procedure were fewer than those who underwent the Ross procedure. The time required for re-intervention(s) is higher for children who underwent the Ozaki procedure than those who underwent the Ross procedure. None of the procedures, including the Ozaki procedure for aortic valve disease(s), has significant effects on hemodynamic parameters and the frequent death rate of children after surgeries. Based on our analysis, we may suggest the Ozaki procedure for aortic valve disease surgery in children.

Utility of portal vein pulsatility fraction in patients undergoing corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricle dysfunction is common after corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We aimed to determine whether an increased portal vein pulsatility fraction (PVPF) was associated with worse clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a prospective, observational, single-centre study, PVPF and other commonly used parameters of right ventricle function were assessed in patients of all ages undergoing corrective surgery for tetralogy of Fallot intraoperatively, with transesophageal echocardiography, before and after bypass, and post-operatively, with transthoracic echocardiography, at days 1, 2, at extubation, and at ICU discharge. The correlation was tested between PVPF and mechanical ventilation duration, prolonged ICU stay, mortality, and right ventricle function. RESULTS: The study included 52 patients, and mortality was in 3 patients. PVPF measurement was feasible in 96% of the examinations. PVPF in the immediate post-operative period had sensitivity of 73.3% and a specificity of 74.3% in predicting the occurrence of the composite outcome of prolonged mechanical ventilation, ICU stay, or mortality. There was a moderate negative correlation of PVPF with right ventricle fractional area change and right ventricle global longitudinal strain (r = -0.577, p < 0.001 and r = 0.465, p < 0.001, respectively) and a strong positive correlation with abnormal hepatic vein waveform (rho = 0.749, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: PVPF is an easily obtainable bedside parameter to assess right ventricular dysfunction and predict prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged ICU stay, and mortality.

Implications of left atrial enlargement and patent foramen ovale creation on early surgical outcomes in patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection.

INTRODUCTION: In patients with total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC), left atrium (LA) is small and suprasystemic pulmonary artery (PA) pressures may be present in some patients. In our study, we studied the relationship between surgical LA enlargement and patent foramen ovale (PFO) creation separately on the outcomes of patients with TAPVC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Out of the 130 patients operated in our institute between January 2014 and December 2020, LA was enlarged in 60 patients. LA enlargement was done using a larger patch for atrial septal defect (ASD) closure. Thus, the LA volume was increased by shifting the patch towards the right atrium (RA). Suprasystemic or high PA pressures were present in 60 patients. In 33 patients, PFO was created. Early surgical outcomes were determined on the basis of vasoactive inotropic score (VIS), hours of ventilation, hours of inotropic support, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, and hospital stay. RESULT: Between the LA enlarged and nonenlarged group there was statistically significant less VIS score (18 [13-27.5] vs. 24 [18-30], p value .019), hours of ventilation (23 [16-46.5] vs. 26 [18-60], p value .039), hours of inotropic support (45.5 [30-72] vs. 55 [38-84], p value .038), and ICU stay (7 [5-9] vs. 8 [7-10] p value .0352) and statistically nonsignificant less hospital stay (11.5 [9-13] vs. 12 [9-14], p value .424). In patients with preoperative suprasystemic or high PA pressures, there was a statistically significant less VIS score (16 [11-23.5] vs. 18 [13-25], p value .044), hours of ventilation (20 [14-37] vs. 22 [18-39], p value .038), hours of inotropic support (34 [29.5-71] vs. 38 [30-78], p value .042), and hospital stay (9 [5-12] vs. 11 [9-14], p value .038) and statistically nonsignificant less ICU stay (7 [5.5-9] vs. 7 [6-9], p value .886) in the group with a PFO with respect to the other group in which no PFO was created. CONCLUSION: In patients with TAPVC, LA can be enlarged by using a large ASD patch and thus shifting the septum towards RA. Early surgical outcomes were improved with LA enlargement. In patients with suprasystemic or high PA pressures, leaving a PFO improved the postoperative outcomes.

Iatrogenic aortic regurgitation following percutaneous coronary intervention: Role of transesophageal echocardiography in the detection and management.

The incidence aortic valve injury during percutaneous coronary intervention is scarce, mostly resulting in acute aortic regurgitation. However, rarely patients may remain asymptomatic in the immediate post-procedure period and present latter with chronic aortic regurgitation. Determining etiology of such an aortic regurgitation may be challenging. We present a case of a 51-year-old man with history of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease and moderate aortic regurgitation scheduled for coronary artery bypass grafting and aortic valve replacement. Intra-operative transesophageal echocardiography was instrumental in deciding etiology of aortic regurgitation that change surgical management of the patient.

Comparison of right ventricular outflow tract gradient under anesthesia with post-operative gradient in patients undergoing tetralogy of Fallot repair.

BACKGROUND: Intra-cardiac repair for tetralogy of Fallot has some degree of residual right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction. However, the measurement of this gradient intra-operatively might get affected by the depth of anesthesia which is important for the long-term outcome. AIMS: The primary aim was to compare intraoperative RVOT gradient post repair under two different anesthetic depths of 1% and 2% end-tidal sevoflurane. The secondary objective was to follow up the changes in RVOT gradient till 1 month postoperatively. Design: Observational study. Setting : Advanced Cardiac Centre of PGIMER, Chandigarh. METHODS: Following intracardiac repair, RVOT gradient was measured directly by placing needle into the right ventricle and pulmonary artery at sevoflurane 1%, and subsequently, at 2% end.tidal concentration while maintaining hemodynamic stability. These gradients were also measured using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03234582). RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were included in this study that had intra-cardiac repair, of which pulmonary annulus was preserved for 15 cases. Mean RVOT gradients measured invasively and by TEE at end-tidal sevoflurane concentration of 1% and 2% were not significantly different (6.67 ± 4.16 mmHg vs. 6.76 ± 3.82 mmHg, P > 0.05 invasively and 13.01 ± 7.40 mmHg vs. 12.53 ± 7.11 mmHg, P > 0.05 by TEE, respectively). RVOT gradient measured by trans-thoracic echocardiography (TTE) postoperatively at the time of extubation and during follow-up at 1 month showed significant reduction (11.37 ± 6.00 mmHg, P < 0.05 and 9.23 ± 4.92 mmHg, P < 0.01 respectively). Six patients who underwent repair with transannular patch had significant pulmonary regurgitation (PR) following surgery, with no significant change in PR severity or RVOT gradient on increasing anesthetic depth. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative RVOT gradient was not altered by changing depth of anesthesia provided systemic blood pressure was maintained. One month postrepair RVOT gradients were significantly reduced as compared to the intraoperative values.

Mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: Early results and midterm outcomes of surgical correction.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY: The morphological heterogeneity of anomalous pulmonary venous drainage in mixed type total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) has important implications in preoperative diagnosis and surgical repair resulting in high mortality in these patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of 14 patients with mixed type TAPVC undergoing biventricular repair between January 2012 and December 2019 was conducted. A descriptive analysis was done, highlighting the anatomic variation, diagnostic and surgical approach, and surgical outcomes in these patients. RESULTS: The most common anatomic pattern was "3 by 1" (79%) followed by "2 by 2" (21%). The correct diagnosis by transthoracic echocardiography was made in 10 (71%) of the 14 patients. In contrast, preoperative computed tomographic (CT) angiography was performed in 10 patients and correct diagnosis was obtained in 8 (80%) of them. Pulmonary venous obstruction was seen in one patient before surgery. The in-hospital mortality was 14% (2/14). Four patients had pulmonary hypertensive crisis in the postoperative period. The average follow-up was 54 ± 27 months (range: 17-98 months) after surgical repair, and all surviving patients were asymptomatic. There was no late death. No clinically apparent sequelae were seen in six patients in whom isolated left superior pulmonary vein drainage was left uncorrected. CONCLUSION: An accurate diagnosis of anatomic pattern in mixed type TAPVC can be difficult to establish in all the patients before surgery. Detailed intraoperative assessment, individualized surgical approach, and aggressive perioperative management may reduce surgical mortality. Operative survivors have good midterm outcome.

Surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm: 13-year single center experience.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Untreated ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysms ultimately develop into heart failure, thereby affecting patients' survival. We retrospectively analyzed our 13-year experience of the surgical repair for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm to study the optimal surgical strategy, operative risk and long-term surgical outcome. METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent surgical repair of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm from January 2008 to February 2020. Follow-up data were obtained from the outpatient department records and telephone calls. RESULTS: Patch closure of ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm was done in all the 26 patients, most often through the transaortic (69%) and dual-chamber approach (23%). Aortic valve repair was done in one patient while seven patients underwent aortic valve replacement for associated significant aortic regurgitation. There was one in-hospital mortality because of noncardiac cause. The median duration of postoperative hospital stay was 8 days (range, 6-11 days). Follow-up data were available for 89% (23/26) patients. The mean follow-up period was 69 ± 43 months (range, 7-147 months). All survivors were in New York Heart Association functional Class I or II. There was no late death. One patient required rehospitalization for recurrent ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm. There was no recurrent or new-onset significant aortic regurgitation and prosthesis-related complications in late follow-up. CONCLUSION: Surgical repair for ruptured sinus of Valsalva aneurysm carries an acceptable low operative risk and excellent long-term outcome. Though high-risk population, an early diagnosis and optimal surgical approach can prevent worsening of symptoms and consequent heart failure.

Absent right superior vena cava with left superior vena cava draining into unroofed coronary sinus with common atrium in a child with an atrioventricular septal defect.

The association of absent right superior vena cava and persistent left superior vena cava draining into unroofed coronary sinus with common atrium and the atrioventricular septal defect is an extremely rare form of the congenital cardiac disorder with only one case reported so far, hence, can be missed preoperatively if not carefully looked for. Failure to detect absent right superior vena cava beforehand may otherwise pose difficulties in carrying out invasive surgical or medical interventions.

Pulmonary valve neocuspidisation with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium-A novel technique in pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition leading to heart failure, persistent sepsis. The management of IE involving valve is mainly excision of the infected valve and replacement with a heart valve; which are also at the risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Hence repair of the valve with autologous pericardium is much more physiological. We had a 20-year-old male presented with features of heart failure and high-grade fever not responding to optimum medical management. Two-dimensional echocardiogram revealed vegetation on pulmonary valve cusps with the erosion of the left and right cusps. Neo cusps with autologous pericardium offered good hemodynamics with trivial regurgitation. The patient is doing well with normal pulmonary valve function 3 months after surgery. This technique is reliable, economic, and easily reproducible.

Congenital right coronary artery aneurysm with fistula to right ventricle associated with isolated pulmonary valvular stenosis.

Congenital aneurysmal dilatation of coronary artery with coronary cameral fistula is rare in childhood. We report an even rarer association of congenital right coronary artery aneurysm and right coronary artery to right ventricle fistula with bicuspid pulmonary valve stenosis and an intact ventricular septum in a 3-year-old child.

Early thrombolysis is associated with decreased operative mortality in postinfarction ventricular septal rupture.

BACKGROUND: Post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture (PMI-VSR) is a dreaded mechanical complication of acute coronary syndromes. Given that surgical mortality approaches 50%, it is pragmatic that the risk factors for mortality and outcomes after surgical correction of PMI- VSR are carefully scrutinized. METHODS: We performed a single-center, retrospective cohort study of 35 patients presenting for surgical closure of post myocardial infarction ventricular septal rupture over six years. We reviewed patient characteristics, clinical, echocardiographic, angiographic and perioperative risk factors which may affect mortality after surgical repair of PMIVSR and 30 day and one year mortality rates of these patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic and cox proportional hazard regression analysis was used to identify predictors of operative and overall mortality. Long term survival was presented with Kaplan-Meier Survival Curve. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (46%) were in cardiogenic shock. Concomitant coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was done in 22 patients (63%) but did not influence survival. Preoperative thrombolysis was done in 12 patients (34%) out of which 10 (53%) survived Operative mortality was 46% and one-year mortality was 49%. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative thrombolysis: Hazards ratio, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02-0.61; p value of 0.01, as significant independent predictor of survival in PMIVSR cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative thrombolysis is associated with decreased odds of operative and overall mortality after surgical repair in PMIVSR patients.

Surgical outcome in aortopulmonary window beyond the neonatal period.

OBJECTIVE: Aortopulmonary window (APW) is a rare congenital cardiac defect accounting for 0.1% to 0.2% of all congenital cardiac defects. We here present the current midterm outcome of surgical repair of APW in patients more than 3 months of age. METHODS: The retrospective study was conducted to identify all the patients more than 3 months of age at presentation who underwent surgical repair of APW between June 2010 and August 2018 at our tertiary care institute and their outcome was analyzed. RESULTS: We found 14 patients of APW operated at the age of more than 3 months over a period of 8 years. Mean age of the cohort was 2.29 ± 2.96 years ranging from 3 months to 10 years with 57.14% being males. There were 11 (78.57%) patients with isolated APW and 3 (21.43%) had associated cardiac defects including tetralogy of Fallot (n = 1), ventricular septal defect (n = 1), subaortic membrane causing subaortic stenosis (n = 1), and one had extracardiac malformations. Two patients had type I, nine had type II, and three had type III APW as per Jacobs' classification. The mean size of the defect was 14.14 ± 4.33 mm. Mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 26.91 ± 16.65 hours (range, 12.25-67 hours). There was one in-hospital mortality and no late mortality over a mean follow-up of 3.06 ± 2.19 years. None of the patients required any kind of reintervention. CONCLUSION: Good results can be obtained even on late presentation with adequate perioperative care of the patients with the reversible pulmonary hypertensive disease.

Traumatic aortic dissection pseudoaneurysm with multiple entry: Role of transesophageal echocardiography.

Traumatic aortic dissection following sudden deceleration injury requires urgent treatment as it may result in formation of aneurysm that may expand or rupture leading to catastrophe. Confirmation of diagnosis of aortic dissection often requires contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) or magnetic resonance imaging, which is time-consuming. Often, there is a significant time lag between the CECT chest and surgical intervention. Progression of aortic dissections may be missed on CECT chest, which would be done in the initial hours after injury. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is equally efficient for the diagnosis of aortic dissection. It may also provide additional information that can be very useful for the management. We report the case of a descending thoracic aortic dissection where TEE plays a crucial role during the surgical management of the patient.

Radial artery compression in incomplete palmar arch for radial artery harvesting.

BACKGROUND: incomplete palmar arch causing inadequate collateral flow is considered a contraindication for harvesting radial artery as a conduit for coronary artery bypass grafting. The objective of this pilot study was to assess whether iatrogenic radial artery compression could improve collateral circulation in the nondominant hand in such patients. METHODS: 5 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass, with incomplete palmar arch suspected by an abnormal modified Allen's test and confirmed by dynamic color Doppler sonography, were included in the study. The flow in branches of the radial artery (superficial palmar branch and dorsal digital artery of the thumb) was measured by dynamic color Doppler sonography. Intermittent radial artery compression was applied to the nondominant hand, using a radial compression device for 15 days, and the tests were repeated to assess changes in radial artery branch flow. RESULTS: flow in the superficial palmar branch was increased in 3 patients, with a significant increase in 2 of them. The 3 patients in whom the dorsal digital artery of the thumb could be seen on precompression Doppler, all had substantially increased flow. The increase in flow assessed by the modified Allen's test was statistically significant, but the flow change measured by Doppler sonography did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: collaterals developed during 15 days of intermittent radial artery compression. The collateral development led to increased flow in the radial artery branches. A larger sample is required to confirm the results.

Interposition of aortic valve leaflets for reinforcement of Bentall proximal anastomosis.

Bleeding from the proximal suture line is not uncommon after composite graft anastomosis in the Bentall procedure. The passage of valve sutures through the aortic valve leaflets interposed between the pledgets and the cuff of the composite valved conduit strengthens the repair.

Ruptured right sinus of Valsalva into main pulmonary artery.

A young adult who presented with congestive heart failure was found to have ruptured aneurysm of right sinus of Valsalva. The aneurysm was opening into the main pulmonary artery, which was demonstrated well by transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography and confirmed by cardiac catheterization. Aneurysm was repaired followed by aortic valve replacement.