The utility of speckle-tracking echocardiography in early and midterm follow-up after anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery repair.

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a reversible cause of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in infants. The LV function is expected to improve serially and return to normal by 1 year after surgical repair. The pattern of improvement in LV function has not been serially analyzed after ALCAPA repair. We report our preliminary experience with serial assessment of LV function in infants undergoing ALCAPA repair utilizing speckle tracking echocardiography.

Effects of on-table extubation on resource utilization and maternal anxiety in children undergoing congenital heart surgery in a low-resource environment.

Objective: To study the applicability of on-table extubation (OTE) protocol following congenital cardiac surgery in a low-resource setting and its impact on the length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, hospital stay, hospitalization cost, parental anxiety, and nurse anxiety. Materials and Methods: In this prospective, nonrandomized, observational single-center study, we included all children above 1 year of age undergoing congenital cardiac surgery. We evaluated them for the feasibility of OTE using a prespecified protocol following separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. The data were prospectively collected on 60 children more than 1 year of age, belonging to the Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1, 2, 3, and 4 groups and divided into two groups: those who underwent successful OTE and those who were ventilated for any duration postoperatively (30 children in each group). Duration of hospital stay, ICU stay, and total hospital cost were collected. Anxiety levels of the primary caregiver (nurse) in the ICU and the mother were assessed immediately after the arrival of the child in the ICU using the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Results: Children who were extubated immediately following congenital cardiac surgery had significantly shorter ICU stay (median 20 [19, 22] h vs. 22 [20, 43] h [P < 0.05]). Patients extubated on table had a significant reduction in hospital cost {median Rs. 161,000 (138,330; 211,900), approximately USD 1970 (P < 0.05)} when compared to children who were ventilated postoperatively {median Rs. 201,422 (151,211; 211,900) , approximately USD 2464}. The anxiety level in mothers was significantly less when their child was extubated in the operating room (STAI 36.5 ± 5.4 vs. 47.4 ± 7.4, P < 0.001). However, for the same subset of patients, anxiety level was significantly higher in the ICU nurse (STAI 46.0 ± 5.6 vs. 37.8 ± 4.1, P < 0.05). Conclusion: OTE following congenital cardiac surgery is associated with a shorter duration of ICU stay and hospital stay. It also reduces the total hospital cost and the anxiety level in mothers of children undergoing congenital heart surgery. However, the primary bedside caregiver during the child's ICU stay had increased anxiety managing patients with OTE.

Transcatheter management of aorto-right ventricular tunnel: A surprise in the catheterization laboratory.

Herein, we report successful device closure of aorto-right ventricular tunnel (ARVT) in a 2 year-old-boy presenting with recurrent respiratory tract infection and poor weight gain. He was initially diagnosed with coronary arteriovenous fistula after the clinical examination and echocardiogram. However, his cardiac catheterization revealed ARVT. Although most of the aorto-ventricular tunnels are managed by surgical intervention, we successfully managed our case with transcatheter intervention.

Clinical efficacy of levosimendan vs milrinone in preventing low cardiac output syndrome following pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Prophylactic milrinone is commonly used to prevent Low Cardiac Output Syndrome (LCOS) after pediatric cardiac surgery. This study compares the use of levosimendan with milrinone when used as the primary inotrope following pediatric cardiac surgery. Subjects and Methods: Forty infants undergoing corrective surgery for congenital heart disease were recruited during the study and randomized into two groups (group L and group M). During rewarming, a loading dose of levosimendan or milrinone was administered followed by a 24-hour infusion of the chosen inotrope. Echocardiographic variables were measured postoperatively. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS-20 computer package. Association between the variables was found by independent t test. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age and weight of the patient in Group L was 8.55 ± 5.83 months and 6.05 ± 2.09 kgs, while that in group M was 6.85 ± 3.57 months and 5.26 ± 2.11 kgs. 4 patients (20%) treated with levosimendan had LCOS in comparison with 6 (30%) patients in those treated with milrinone. Echocardiographic parameters in both groups L and M were comparable (cardiac index 3.47 ± 0.76 vs 3.72 ± 1.05 L/min/m2, EF 66.10 ± 7.82% vs 59.34 ± 10.74%, stroke volume index 25.4 ± 6.3 vs 27.74 ± 10.35 mL/m2). The duration of ventilation, ICU stay and hospital stay were lesser in group L (12.75 ± 9.69, 35.95 ± 12.11, 119.10 ± 46.397 vs 23.60 ± 22.03, 51.20 ± 29.92, 140.20 ± 52.65 hours). Conclusions: The incidence of LCOS was lesser in those patients treated with levosimendan, when compared with those treated with milrinone. Cardiac index and stroke volume index were comparable between the two groups. Thus, levosimendan provides a non-inferior alternative to milrinone when used as the primary inotrope following pediatric cardiac surgery.