Optimization of preoperative status in hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum by left atrial decompression and bilateral pulmonary artery bands.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact (IAS) or highly restrictive atrial septum (RAS) has extremely poor outcomes largely related to pulmonary pathology. At birth, immediate left atrial (LA) decompression is required to remain viable, but there is a tradeoff between residual increase in LA pressure and pulmonary overcirculation, either of which exacerbates the pulmonary status. From August 2010 to April 2013, a retrospective chart review was performed on consecutive patients with a prenatal diagnosis of HLHS with IAS/RAS presenting to a single center. The management strategy was immediate LA decompression followed by placement of bilateral pulmonary artery bands (bPAB) and subsequent conventional Norwood procedure. Six patients were born with HLHS with IAS/RAS during this time period with this planned management strategy. Four patients underwent LA decompression and subsequently developed low cardiac output with pulmonary overcirculation. bPAB were used with improvement in cardiac output and pronounced diuresis. These patients all survived the Norwood and subsequent Glenn procedures and remain alive [median follow-up 2.2 years (range 11 months-2.7 years)]. Two patients did not survive with therapy being withdrawn before the Norwood procedure. It is hypothesized that a strategy of total LA decompression followed by bPAB maximizes preoperative systemic perfusion and minimizes ongoing injury to the pulmonary system. This may enhance patient candidacy for the Norwood procedure and long-term survival.

Temporary atrial pacing for cardiac output after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Pediatric cardiothoracic surgery is often associated with low cardiac output in the postoperative period. This study sought to determine whether increasing heart rate via temporary atrial pacing is beneficial in augmenting cardiac output. Patients younger than 18 years who underwent cardiothoracic surgery and had no perioperative arrhythmias were eligible for the study. Patients not paced postoperatively were atrial paced at a rate of 15 % above the intrinsic sinus rate (not to exceed 170 beats per minute, less for older patients) for 15 min. Patients paced for cardiac output postoperatively had their pacemakers paused for 15 min. Markers of cardiac output were measured before and after the intervention. Of the 60 patients who consented to participate, 30 completed the study. Failure to complete the study was due to tachycardia (n = 13), lack of pacing wires (n = 7), junctional rhythm (n = 4), advanced atrioventricular block (n = 3), and other cause (n = 3). Three patients were paced at baseline. There was no change in arteriovenous oxygen saturation difference, mean arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, toe temperature, or lactate with atrial pacing. Atrial pacing was associated with a decrease in head and flank near-infrared spectroscopy (p = 0.01 and <0.01 respectively). Secondary analysis found an inverse relationship between mean arterial pressure response to pacing and bypass time. Temporary atrial pacing does not improve cardiac output after pediatric cardiac surgery and may be deleterious. Future research may identify subsets of patients who benefit from this strategy. Practitioners considering this strategy should carefully evaluate each patient's response to atrial pacing before its implementation.

Bilateral pulmonary artery banding for resuscitation in high-risk, single-ventricle neonates and infants: a single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral pulmonary artery banding with or without ductal stenting has been performed as a resuscitative intervention for patients considered at too high risk for conventional single ventricle palliation. The purpose of the present study was to determine the outcomes using this strategy. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of 24 patients with single ventricle anatomy who were younger than 3 months who had undergone bilateral pulmonary artery banding and ductal stenting or maintenance of prostaglandin E(1) from January 2007 to October 2011 at our institution. The echocardiographic, angiographic, operative, and clinical data were reviewed. Follow-up data were available for 100% of the patients. RESULTS: All 24 patients (13 male patients) underwent bilateral pulmonary artery banding at a median age of 8 days (range, 2-44 days). Their gestational age was 38 weeks (range, 27-41 weeks), and their weight was 3.01 kg (range, 1.5-4.4 kg). The cardiac diagnoses included hypoplastic left heart syndrome/variant hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 18, unbalanced atrioventricular canal in 4, and tricuspid atresia in 2. In the hypoplastic left heart syndrome group, 9 (50%) had an intact or a highly restrictive atrial septum requiring open (n = 1) or transcatheter (n = 8) atrial septostomy with or without atrial stent placement (n = 4). Ductal stenting was performed in 14 patients, and 10 patients were continued with prostaglandin E(1). Fifteen patients (62.5%) survived to undergo a Norwood procedure (n = 7), comprehensive stage 2 (n = 1), or primary cardiac transplantation (n = 7). Of the 9 who died, support was withdrawn in 5 because of a contraindication to transplantation, 1 because of sepsis and/or multiorgan system failure, and 1 for whom palliative care was desired. Two died awaiting transplantation. All 7 patients who underwent a conventional Norwood operation survived to discharge, and 6 of the 7 (85.7%) underwent bidirectional Glenn shunt placement. Of the 7 patients who underwent transplantation, 6 (85.7%) were alive at a median follow-up of 33.6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Bilateral pulmonary artery banding with or without ductal stenting is an effective method of resuscitation for high-risk neonates and infants with a single ventricle, allowing for reasonable survival to conventional first-stage palliation or primary transplantation.

Major infection after pediatric cardiac surgery: a risk estimation model.

BACKGROUND: In pediatric cardiac surgery, infection is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. We created a model to predict risk of major infection in this population. METHODS: Using the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database, we created a multivariable model in which the primary outcome was major infection (septicemia, mediastinitis, or endocarditis). Candidate-independent variables included demographic characteristics, comorbid conditions, preoperative factors, and cardiac surgical procedures. We created a reduced model by backward selection and then created an integer scoring system using a scaling factor with scores corresponding to percent risk of infection. RESULTS: Of 30,078 children from 48 centers, 2.8% had major infection (2.6% septicemia, 0.3% mediastinitis, and 0.09% endocarditis). Mortality and postoperative length of stay were greater in those with major infection (mortality, 22.2% versus 3.0%; length of stay >21 days, 69.9% versus 10.7%). Young age, high complexity, previous cardiothoracic operation, preoperative length of stay more than 1 day, preoperative ventilator support, and presence of a genetic abnormality were associated with major infection after backward selection (p < 0.001). Estimated infection risk ranged from less than 0.1% to 13.3%; the model discrimination was good (c index, 0.79). CONCLUSIONS: We created a simple bedside tool to identify children at high risk for major infection after cardiac surgery. These patients may be targeted for interventions to reduce the risk of infection and for inclusion in future clinical trials.