Neonatal Cardiac Rhabdomyoma: A Single-Center Experience.

AIM: Cardiac rhabdomyoma, known as the most common benign cardiac tumor in childhood, is strongly associated with tuberous sclerosis complex. This study aims to present our single-center experience regarding clinical observations, diagnostic approaches, and treatment modalities for cardiac rhabdomyoma identified during the neonatal period. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this clinical observational study, we retrospectively assessed the outcomes of 12 newborn patients diagnosed with cardiac rhabdomyoma who were followed up in our neonatal intensive care unit over the past 12 years. RESULTS: The mean gestational age of the patients was 38.2±1.6 weeks, with an average birth weight of 3193±314 grams. The mean postnatal age at initial diagnosis was 12.42±15.75 days. Tuberous sclerosis complex was clinically identified in 50% of cases (six patients). Seven infants received everolimus treatment, while three infants underwent clinical monitoring without specific interventions. A significant reduction in cardiac mass size was observed in all surviving patients, leading to their subsequent discharge from the hospital. CONCLUSION: Cardiac rhabdomyomas often undergo spontaneous regression in early childhood. However, in cases with obstructive lesions or arrhythmias, they may present life-threatening consequences. Timely diagnosis, appropriate clinical management, and monitoring are crucial in optimizing outcomes for neonates with cardiac rhabdomyoma.

Lactobacillus rhamnosus Sepsis Associated with Probiotic Therapy in a Term Infant with Congenital Heart Disease.

BACKGROUND: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most common birth defects. Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in premature infants, and probiotics can be used to protect NEC. CASE REPORT: We present a term infant with aortic coarctation who developed sepsis with Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG after probiotic use, successfully treated with ampicillin. The baby unfortunately died of acute cardiac arrest on the 90th day of life. CONCLUSION: Probiotic-associated sepsis may develop in infants with various risk factors such as central catheterization, long-term mechanical ventilation and in those at risk for NEC.

Minimally invasive permanent pacemaker implantation immediately after birth: from delivery room to heart surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Congenital atrioventricular block is diagnosed in uterine life, at birth, or early in life. Atrioventricular blocks can be life threatening immediately at birth so urgent pacemaker implantation techniques are requested. Reasons can be cardiac or non-cardiac, but regardless of the reason, operations are challenging. We aimed to present technical procedure and operative results of pacemaker implantation in neonates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 2014 and February 2021, 10 neonates who had congenital atrioventricular block underwent surgical operation to implant permanent epicardial pacemaker by using minimally invasive technique. Six of the patients were female and four of them were male. Mean age was 4.3 days (0-11), while three of them were operated on the day of birth. Mean weight was 2533 g (1200-3300). RESULTS: Operations were achieved through subxiphoidal minimally skin incision. Epicardial 25 mm length dual leads were implanted on right ventricular surface and generators were fixed on the right (seven patients) or left (three patients) diaphragmatic surface by incising pleura. There were no complication, morbidity, and mortality related to surgery. CONCLUSION: Few studies have characterised the surgical outcomes following epicardial permanent pacemaker implantation in neonates. The surgical approach is attractive and compelling among professionals so we aimed to present the techniques and results in patients who required permanent pacemaker implantation in the first month of life.

Thrombosis of isolated ductus arteriosus aneurysm in a newborn.

Congenital aneurysm of the ductus arteriosus is reported in 0.8% in neonatal autopsies; however, true incidence is unknown because of high rate of asymptomatic cases and spontaneous regression. Possible complications in symptomatic cases are thromboembolism, spontaneous rupture, erosion, infection, compression of airways, and death. In this report, we present a newborn with giant ductus arteriosus aneurysm (DAA) diagnosed in first day of life, surgically treated after thrombosis of aneurysm.

Pulmonary valve cusp augmentation for pulmonary regurgitation after percutaneous balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty of valvular pulmonary stenosis.

Pulmonary valvular stenosis is a relatively common disorder, accounting for approximately 10% of all CHDs. Pulmonic valvular disease can get clinically detected at different ages of life. The more severe the obstruction, the earlier detected the valvular abnormality. Surgical pulmonary valvotomy has been available as a treatment since 1956. This article is about a case of pulmonary annular and valvular stenosis in a 1-year-old child, and it also explores surgical operation of this condition. Transannular patches are usually used within the 1st year of age in pulmonary annular and valvular stenosis. In recent years, anterior leaflet augmentation has been preferred for annulus enlargements. In our 1-year-old case, we expanded the annulus by the anterior leaflet expansion technique and we also augmented other leaflets by polytetrafluoroethylene patch.

Assessment of the efficacy of Ankaferd blood stopper on the prevention of postoperative pericardial adhesions.

OBJECTIVES: Ankaferd has been used as a blood-stopping agent and it may also have an anti-inflammatory effect. We investigated the efficacy of Ankaferd in preventing postoperative pericardial adhesions in an experimental rabbit model. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used and categorised into two groups: an Ankaferd and a control group. The Ankaferd group of rabbits was treated with a sponge impregnated with Ankaferd solution, which was applied over the abraded epicardium. A sponge impregnated with 0.9% isotonic NaCl solution was applied to the control group using the same protocol. Scores for adhesion and visibility of coronary vessels were graded by macroscopic examination, and pericardial tissues were analysed microscopically in terms of inflammation and fibrosis. RESULTS: In the Ankaferd group, the adhesion scores were significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.007). When the groups were compared according to the prevalence of fibrosis and degree of inflammation, the Ankaferd group was found to be statistically significantly different from the control group in terms of prevalence of fibrosis (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Topical application of Ankaferd to prevent postoperative pericardial adhesions increased adhesion and fibrosis scores.

Assessment of the Efficacy of Ankaferd Blood Stopper on the Prevention of Postoperative Pericardial Adhesions : Cardiovascular Topic

Objectives: Ankaferd has been used as a blood-stopping agent and it may also have an anti-inflammatory effect. We investigated the efficacy of Ankaferd in preventing postoperative pericardial adhesions in an experimental rabbit model. Methods: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits were used and categorised into two groups: an Ankaferd and a control group. The Ankaferd group of rabbits was treated with a sponge impregnated with Ankaferd solution; which was applied over the abraded epicardium. A sponge impregnated with 0.9 isotonic NaCl solution was applied to the control group using the same protocol. Scores for adhesion and visibility of coronary vessels were graded by macroscopic examination; and pericardial tissues were analysed microscopically in terms of inflammation and fibrosis. Results: In the Ankaferd group; the adhesion scores were significantly higher than in the control group (p = 0.007).When the groups were compared according to the prevalence of fibrosis and degree of inflammation; the Ankaferd group was found to be statistically significantly different from the control group in terms of prevalence of fibrosis (p = 0.028). Conclusion: Topical application of Ankaferd to prevent postoperative pericardial adhesions increased adhesion and fibrosis scores

Effectiveness of a new inflatable balloon device for gluing dissected layers in an experimental model of aortic dissection.

OBJECTIVES: In the surgical treatment of acute aortic dissection, tissue glues are widely used to reinforce the adhesion between the dissected aortic layers. A new inflatable balloon device was developed to compress the dissected aortic wall during gluing to increase adhesion between the dissected layers. The present study used an ex vivo experimental animal model to test the hypothesis that this device is effective when gluing the true and false channels of dissected aortas. METHODS: In the ex vivo experimental model, aortic dissection was simulated surgically on 12 fresh bovine aorta samples. In six samples (group I), the inflatable balloon device was inserted into the aorta to reinforce and fuse the dissected layers during gluing. The other six fresh bovine aortic samples (group II) were compressed between the surgeon's fingers during gluing. Aortic samples were evaluated and compared macroscopically and histologically. RESULTS: In group I, adhesion between the dissected layers was easily achieved during gluing. All false cavities were perfectly closed, with no deleterious effects related to the device. In group II, the adhesion between the dissected layers was not complete and some false cavities remained patent. CONCLUSIONS: The inflatable balloon device can increase the adhesive effect of tissue glues via homogenous compression of the dissected aortic layers. In addition, the balloon can prevent distal embolization of the glue.

Effect of topical N-acetylcysteine in the prevention of postoperative pericardial adhesion formation in a rabbit model.

BACKGROUND: N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of reduced glutathione, has been in clinical use primarily as a mucolytic. In addition, NAC is well known for their free radical scavenging and antioxidant properties. Increasing of reactive oxygen products occurring during cardiac surgery can play an important role in postoperative adhesion formation. We investigated to the efficacy of the NAC for postoperative pericardial adhesions. METHODS: Sixteen New Zealand white rabbits (2.5-3 kg) were used and categorized into two groups including study (use of NAC) and control groups. In both groups, the pericardium was opened longitudinally, and the exposed epicardial surfaces were abraded with dry gauze. The rabbits were divided into two groups: Group 1 was treated with the sponge, which impregnated with NAC solution, (10%, 300 mg/3 ml) and applied over the abraded epicardium for 5 min (n=8). Group 2 was the control, and the sponge, which was impregnated with 3-ml isotonic NaCl solution (0.9%), was applied onto the surface of the abraded epicardium for 5 min (n=8). After a period of 2 weeks, the animals were sacrificed. The scores of adhesion were graded by macroscopic examination, and the pericardial tissues were analyzed microscopically in point of inflammation and fibrosis. RESULTS: In Group 1, the adhesion scores were significantly lower compared with the control group [Group 1 vs. 2; 1 (1-2) vs. 3 (2-3), P<.001]. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the severity of inflammation [Group 1 vs. 2; 1.5 (1-3) vs. 2.5 (1-3), P=.083]. There was a difference between groups in terms of the degree of fibrosis [Group 1 vs. 2; 2 (1-2) vs. 3 (2-3), P=.007]. CONCLUSIONS: The use of NAC for preventing postoperative pericardial adhesions was reduced to adhesion and fibrosis scores in an experimental rabbit model. There was no statistically significant difference between groups in terms of inflammatory scores. The NAC effectively prevented the formation of pericardial adhesion.

The effect of mitomycin-C in reducing pericardial adhesion after cardiac surgery in rabbits.

BACKGROUND: Mitomycin-C has been in clinical use primarily as a chemotherapeutic agent and is well known for antifibrotic properties. It has been widely used to prevent postoperative fibroblast proliferation and reduce scar adhesion in ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic operations. We investigated the efficacy of mitomycin-C in reducing postoperative pericardial adhesions in a rabbit model. METHODS: New Zealand white rabbits were used and categorized into 2 groups, study (use of mitomycin-C) and control. Group 1 (n = 8) was treated with a sponge impregnated with mitomycin-C solution that was applied over the abraded epicardium. In group 2 (control group), the sponge was impregnated with 0.9% isotonic NaCl solution and was applied with the same protocol as the mitomycin-C-impregnated sponge in group 1 (n = 8). Rabbits were humanely killed at a mean of 2 weeks. The scores of adhesion were graded by macroscopic examination, and the pericardial tissues were analyzed microscopically in terms of inflammation and fibrosis. RESULTS: In group 1, the adhesion scores were significantly lower than the control group's. No significant difference was found between the groups in terms of the severity of inflammation. There was a difference between groups in terms of the degree of fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: The use of mitomycin-C to prevent postoperative pericardial adhesions reduced adhesion and fibrosis scores in an experimental rabbit model. However, efficacy in reducing inflammation was not demonstrated.