The Fate of Mitral Valve Surgery in the Pediatric Age: A 25-Year Single-Center Experience.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the natural history of patients after mitral valve intervention in the pediatric age. Methods: This is a retrospective study including all patients who underwent mitral valve surgery from 1998 to 2022. The patients' surgical reports, postoperative records, and ambulatory visits were reviewed. The endpoints of the study were survival and freedom from mitral valve reoperation. Results: Of the 70 patients included in the cohort, 61 patients (86.7%) had congenital mitral valve disease, of whom 46 patients (75.4%) had a predominantly mitral regurgitation lesion, and 15 patients (24.6%) had a predominantly mitral stenosis. In the mitral regurgitation group, all of the patients underwent valve repair with an operative mortality of one patient (2.1%), and with median follow-up of 4 years (range, 0.5-13 years), there was 4.3% mortality (n = 2) and 71.2% freedom from reoperation. In the mitral stenosis group, 11 patients underwent mitral valve repair, and 4 patients underwent valve replacement. There was an operative mortality of two patients (13.3%). With a 2-year median follow-up (range: 0.1-23 years), there were no additional mortality cases in the mitral stenosis group. All three patients who survived primary mitral valve replacement (100%) and four patients who survived a primary repair (40.0%) underwent reoperation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates encouraging outcomes for mitral valve repair. The mortality of patients with congenital mitral valve disease may also be related to a difficult postoperative course, rather than the MV lesion itself.

Cardiac surgery during wartime in Israel.

BACKGROUND: The war that began on October 7th, 2023, has impacted all major tertiary medical centers in Israel. In the largest cardiac surgery department in Israel there has been a surprising increase in the number of open-heart procedures, despite having approximately 50% of surgeons recruited to military service. The purpose of this study is to characterize this increase in the number of operations performed during wartime and assess whether the national crisis has affected patient outcomes. METHODS: The study was based on a prospectively collected registry of 275 patients who underwent cardiac surgery or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) during the first two months of war, October 7th 2023 - December 7th 2023, as well as patients that underwent cardiac surgery during the same period of time in 2022 (October 7th, 2022 - December 7th, 2022). RESULTS: 120 patients (43.6%) were operated on in 2022, and 155 (56.4%) during wartime in 2023. This signifies a 33.0% increase in open-heart procedures (109 in 2022 vs. 145 in 2023, p-value 0.26). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients when comparing the 2022 patients to those in 2023. No significant differences between the two groups were found with regards to intraoperative characteristics or the type of surgery. However, compared to 2022, there was a 233% increase in the number of transplantations in the 2023 cohort (p-value 0.24). Patient outcomes during wartime were similar to those of 2022, including postoperative complications, length of stay, and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who underwent cardiac surgery during wartime presented with comparable outcomes when compared to those of last year despite the increase in cardiac surgery workload. There was an increase in the number of transplants this year, attributed to the unfortunate increase in organ donors.

Early tracheostomy after cardiac surgery improves intermediate- and long-term survival / La traqueotomía temprana después de la cirugía cardíaca mejora la supervivencia intermedia y a largo plazo

Objective: Complicated post-cardiac surgery course, can lead to both prolonged ICU stay and ventilation, and may require a tracheostomy. This study represents the single-center experience with post-cardiac surgery tracheostomy. The aim of this study was to assess the timing of tracheostomy as a risk factor for early, intermediate, and late mortality. The study’s second aim was to assess the incidence of both superficial and deep sternal wound infections. Design: Retrospective study of prospectively collected data. Setting: Tertiary hospital. Patients: Patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the timing of tracheostomy; early (4−10 days); intermediate (11−20 days) and late (≥21 days). Interventions: None. Main variables of interest: The primary outcomes were early, intermediate, and long-term mortality. The secondary outcome was the incidence of sternal wound infection. Results: During the 17-year study period, 12,782 patients underwent cardiac surgery, of whom 407 (3.18%) required postoperative tracheostomy. 147 (36.1%) had early, 195 (47.9%) intermediate, and 65 (16%) had a late tracheostomy. Early, 30-day, and in-hospital mortality was similar for all groups. However, patients, who underwent early- and intermediate tracheostomy, demonstrated statistically significant lower mortality after 1- and 5-year (42.8%; 57.4%; 64.6%; and 55.8%; 68.7%; 75.4%, respectively; P < .001). Cox model demonstrated age [1.025 (1.014–1.036)] and timing of tracheostomy [0.315 (0.159−0.757)] had significant impacts on mortality. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a relationship between the timing of tracheostomy after cardiac surgery and mortality: early tracheostomy (within 4−10 days of mechanical ventilation) is associated with better intermediate- and long-term survival. (AU)

Objetivo: La evolución complicada de un postoperatorio de сirugía cardiaca puede dar lugar tanto a una estancia prolongada en UCI como a ventilación mecánica prolongada y puede requerir de una traqueotomía. Este estudio presenta la experiencia acumulada sobre traqueostomía en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardiaca en un único hospital.El objetivo era evaluar el momento de la realización de la traqueotomía como factor de riesgo de mortalidad temprana, intermedia y tardía. Diseño: Estudio retrospectivo. Ámbito: Hospital terciario. Pacientes: Pacientes fueron divididos en 3 grupos según el momento de la traqueotomía; temprano (4−10 días); intermedio (11−20 días); tardío (≥21 días). Intervenciones: No. Variables de interés principal: Los resultados primarios fueron la mortalidad en cada grupo. Resultados: Durante los 17 años de duración del estudio, de los 12.782 pacientes sometidos a cirugía cardíaca, 407 (3,18%) requirieron traqueotomía postoperatoria. Se practicaron 147 (36,1%) traqueotomías tempranas, 195 (47,9%) intermedias y 65 (16%) tardías. La mortalidad temprana, a los 30 días dentro del marco hospitalario, fue similar en todos los grupos. Sin embargo, las traqueotomía temprana e intermedia demostraron una mortalidad inferior estadísticamente significativa a 1 y 5 años (42,8%; 57,4%; 64,6%; y 55,8%; 68,7%; 75,4%, respectivamente; P < ,001). El modelo de Cox demostró que la edad [1,025 (1,014–1,036)] y el momento [0,315 (0,159–0,757)] impacta significativamente la mortalidad. Conclusiones: La traqueotomía temprana (dentro de los 4−10 días de ventilación mecánica) en el postoperatorio de cirugía cardíaca se asoció con una mejor supervivencia a medio/largo plazo. (AU

Early tracheostomy after cardiac surgery improves intermediate- and long-term survival.

OBJECTIVE: Complicated post-cardiac surgery course, can lead to both prolonged ICU stay and ventilation, and may require a tracheostomy. This study represents the single-center experience with post-cardiac surgery tracheostomy. The aim of this study was to assess the timing of tracheostomy as a risk factor for early, intermediate, and late mortality. The study's second aim was to assess the incidence of both superficial and deep sternal wound infections. DESIGN: Retrospective study of prospectively collected data. SETTING: Tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Patients were divided into 3 groups, according to the timing of tracheostomy; early (4-10 days); intermediate (11-20 days) and late (≥21 days). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: The primary outcomes were early, intermediate, and long-term mortality. The secondary outcome was the incidence of sternal wound infection. RESULTS: During the 17-year study period, 12,782 patients underwent cardiac surgery, of whom 407 (3.18%) required postoperative tracheostomy. 147 (36.1%) had early, 195 (47.9%) intermediate, and 65 (16%) had a late tracheostomy. Early, 30-day, and in-hospital mortality was similar for all groups. However, patients, who underwent early- and intermediate tracheostomy, demonstrated statistically significant lower mortality after 1- and 5-year (42.8%; 57.4%; 64.6%; and 55.8%; 68.7%; 75.4%, respectively; P < .001). Cox model demonstrated age [1.025 (1.014-1.036)] and timing of tracheostomy [0.315 (0.159-0.757)] had significant impacts on mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a relationship between the timing of tracheostomy after cardiac surgery and mortality: early tracheostomy (within 4-10 days of mechanical ventilation) is associated with better intermediate- and long-term survival.

The Impact of Dominant Ventricular Morphology on the Early Postoperative Course After the Glenn Procedure.

The dominant ventricular morphology affects both the early and late outcomes of the Fontan procedure, but its impact on the patients' status immediately following the Glenn procedure is unknown. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the infants' dominant ventricular morphology on the immediate course after undergoing the Glenn procedure. This single-center, retrospective study included all patients who underwent the Glenn procedure between October 2003 and May 2016. The patients were divided into two groups according to their dominant ventricular morphology. Their postoperative records were reviewed and compared. Out of the 89 patients who underwent the Glenn procedure during the study period, 40 (44.9%) had dominant right ventricular morphology and 49 (55.1%) had left ventricular morphology. There were no significant group differences in baseline characteristics or operative data. The maximal postoperative vasoactive-inotropic score was significantly higher and the extent of ventricular dysfunction was significantly more severe in the dominant right ventricle group (P < 0.05). The length of hospitalization was slightly but not significantly longer in the hypoplastic LV group. It is concluded that patients with a dominant LV morphology had a superior ventricular function and required less inotropic support compared to that of a dominant RV morphology in the immediate postoperative course following the Glenn procedure. Survival was not affected by these differences. Further study to determine the pathophysiologic basis for these differences is warranted.

Outcomes of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) for COVID-19 Patients: A Multi-Institutional Analysis.

BACKGROUND: In March 2020, COVID-19 was announced as a global pandemic. The first COVID-19 patient was connected to an ECMO device in Israel during that time. Since then, over 200 patients have required ECMO support due to COVID-19 infection. The present study is a multi-institutional analysis of all COVID-19 patients requiring veno-venous (VV) ECMO in Israel. The aim was to characterize and compare the survivors and deceased patients as well as establish risk factors for mortality. METHODS: This retrospective multi-institutional study was conducted from March 2020 to March 2021 in eleven of twelve ECMO centers operating in Israel. All COVID-19 patients on VV ECMO support were included in the cohort. The patients were analyzed based on their comorbidities, procedural data, adverse event on ECMO, and outcomes. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to compare the deceased and the surviving patients. RESULTS: The study included 197 patients, of which 150 (76%) were males, and the mean age was 50.7 ± 12 years. Overall mortality was 106 (54%). Compared with the deceased subjects, survivors were significantly younger (48 ± 11 vs. 53 ± 12 years), suffered less from ischemic heart disease (IHD) (3% vs. 12%), and were ventilated for a significantly shorter period (≤4 days) prior to cannulation (77% vs. 63%). Patients in the deceased group experienced more kidney failure and sepsis. Rates of other complications were comparable between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, we conclude that early cannulation (≤4 days) of younger patients (≤55 years) may improve overall survival and that a history of IHD might indicate a reduced prognosis.

Normothermic Versus Hypothermic Norwood Procedure.

BACKGROUND: Either deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest or hypothermic perfusion with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion is used during the Norwood procedure for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Normothermic perfusion has been described for pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to compare the early outcomes of patients undergoing the Norwood procedure with antegrade selective cerebral perfusion under hypothermia with the procedure under normothermia. METHODS: From 2005 to 2020, 117 consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome underwent the Norwood procedure: 68 (58.2%) under hypothermia and 49 (41.8%) under normothermia. Antegrade selective cerebral perfusion flow was adjusted to maintain right radial arterial pressure above 50 mm Hg, and a flow rate of 40 to 50 mL kg-1 min-1. Baseline characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes including lactate recovery time were compared. RESULTS: The baseline characteristics and cardiovascular diagnosis were similar in both groups. The normothermic group had a significantly shorter bypass time (in minutes) of 90.31 (±31.60) versus 123.63 (±25.33), a cross-clamp time of 45.24 (±16.35) versus 81.93 (±16.34), and an antegrade selective cerebral perfusion time of 25.61 (±13.84) versus 47.30 (±14.35) (P < .001). There were no statistically significant differences in the immediate postoperative course, or in terms of in-hospital mortality, which totaled 9 (18.4%) in the normothermic group, and 10 (14.9%) in the hypothermic group (P = .81). CONCLUSION: The normothermic Norwood procedure with selective cerebral perfusion is feasible and safe in terms of in-hospital mortality and short-term outcomes. It is comparable to the standard hypothermic Norwood with selective cerebral perfusion.

The horizon of pediatric cardiac critical care.

Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care (PCCC) is a challenging discipline where decisions require a high degree of preparation and clinical expertise. In the modern era, outcomes of neonates and children with congenital heart defects have dramatically improved, largely by transformative technologies and an expanding collection of pharmacotherapies. Exponential advances in science and technology are occurring at a breathtaking rate, and applying these advances to the PCCC patient is essential to further advancing the science and practice of the field. In this article, we identified and elaborate on seven key elements within the PCCC that will pave the way for the future.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac surgery in Israel.

BACKGROUND: Ever since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic, worldwide efforts are being made to "flatten the curve". Israel was amongst the first countries to impose significant restrictions. As a result, cardiac surgeons have been required to scale down their routine practice, resulting in a significant reduction in the number of cardiac surgeries. The aim of this study is to characterize the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac surgery in Israel. METHODS: This is a retrospective observational study performed in two cardiac surgery departments in Israel and includes all patients who underwent cardiac surgery in March and April during the years 2019 and 2020. The patient cohort was divided into two groups based on the year of operation. Analysis of the patients' baseline characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcome, was performed. RESULTS: The 2019 group (n = 173), and the 2020 group (n = 108) were similar regarding their baseline characteristics, previous medical history, and rates of previous revascularization interventions. However, compared to the 2019 group, patients in the 2020 group were found to be more symptomatic (NYHA class IV; 2.4% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.007). While all patients underwent similar procedures, patients in the 2020 group had significantly longer procedural time (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality rate was found to be significantly higher in group 2020 (13% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: While the number of patients undergoing cardiac surgery declined during the outbreak period, the rate of surgical mortality increased. One explanation for this might be delayed hospital arrival.

The Bilateral Bidirectional Glenn Operation as a Risk Factor Prior to Fontan Completion in Complex Congenital Heart Disease Patients.

INTRODUCTION: The Glenn procedure is generally performed as a second-stage palliative procedure toward the completion of Fontan circulation in patients with a functionally univentricular heart. Safe Fontan completion requires normal ventricular function, competent atrioventricular valves, normal pulmonary arteries anatomy, and low pulmonary vascular resistances (PVRs), which is merely an estimation that considers both lungs as a single unit. Clinical observations revealed that patients who previously underwent bilateral bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis (b-BCPA) had a stormier postoperative course in respect to other patients with previous unilateral BCPA (u-BCPA) postoperatively after Fontan completion. This retrospective study was designed to compare and analyze the outcomes of patients following Fontan completion with previous u-BCPA versus b-BCPA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 98 patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of bilateral superior vena cava (SVC). Group 1 included 80 patients with unilateral SVC, and group 2 included 18 patients with bilateral SVC. Univariate and multivariate (SPSS) analyses were performed with regard to mortality and failure. P value of <.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: Prior to the total cavopulmonary anastomosis operation, the G1 and G2 had similar demographic and physiological findings, ages and weights were 4.3 ± 1.72 years and 15.0 ± 3.71 kg in G1 and 4.8 ± 3.21 years and 17.5 ± 9.76 kg in G2. Mean end-diastolic ventricular pressures (in mm Hg) were 10.50 ± 2.86 in G1 and 10.28 ± 3.07 in G2 and the mean PVRs (in Woods units) were 1.66 ± 1.29 in G1 and 1.49 ± 0.82 in G2. The Stormy postoperative course, Fontan failure, and early mortality were all significantly higher in G2 in respect to G1 ( P value <.05). G1 mortality rate was 3.7%, 3 patients of 80, while in G2, the mortality rate was 22%, 4 patients of 18. Late Fontan failure rates were 6% for G1 patients where two patients developed pulmonary hypertension, two patients developed heart failure, and one patient had protein losing enteropathy (PLE), and 22% for the G2 patients of which two patients developed heart failure, one patient had PLE, and one patient had persistent low systemic venous saturation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results have demonstrated that patients after b-BCPA might have a tendency for worse outcomes upon Fontan completion. The b-BCPA is associated with pulmonary artery bifurcation stenosis and presents multiple sources of pulmonary blood flow where conventional PVR calculation might be imprecise and misleading since it considers the lungs as a single unit. Therefore, b-BCPA engenders correction of the conventional PVR calculation to consider each lung separately. Furthermore, the surgical approach for patients with persistent left SVC and univentricular heart should be modified.

Leadless Pacemaker Implantation in a Pediatric Patient with Prolonged Sinus Pauses.

Permanent cardiac pacing is the only effective solution for patients with symptomatic bradycardia and heart block. About 10% of patients undergoing implantation of the conventional pacing system develop complications related to the subcutaneous pocket or the leads and in pediatric patients lead problems may rise in up to 30% of the patients. The leadless pacemaker devices were developed in order to minimize some of those complications. We present a case of an 11-year-old patient who presented after the sudden death of his older brother, with recurrent episodes of syncope and documented prolonged sinus pauses. The patient underwent percutaneous implantation of a leadless Micra™ pacemaker device with optimal results.

An alternative technique for Fontan completion in patients with widely separated connections of the inferior systemic veins to the atrial mass.

Several surgical approaches for completion of a total cavopulmonary connection have been established for patients with anomalies of systemic venous connection in association with a functionally univentricular heart. We report an alternative technique designed to address the problem of widely separated inferior systemic veins, in which two extracardiac conduits were used. This technique was performed on three patients and yielded excellent short-term results, allowing us to operate on a beating heart with no need for cardioplegic arrest and aortic cross-clamping.

A rare case of discrete aortic coarctation in Williams-Beuren syndrome. Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations.

Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a genetic disorder caused by elastin gene deletions, and is characterized by cardiovascular malformations, primarily including supravalvular aortic stenosis and peripheral pulmonary stenosis. We report a case of a neonate who developed severe discrete aortic coarctation, underwent multiple surgical interventions, and was subsequently diagnosed with WBS. Severe discrete aortic coarctation is a rare event in WBS newborns. An abnormally thick aortic wall is present in these patients and is the basis of the failure of the classical approach towards coarctation repair, which consists of end-to-end anastomosis as first surgical choice. Our case, and a very few similar previously documented cases, have all demonstrated recoarctation, which only aortic patch implantation was able to successfully repair. In light of this, we would also like to underline the importance of early WBS diagnosis. Therefore, even in mild syndromic phenotype such as low birth weight or facial dysmorphism that raise the suspicion of a genetic syndrome, it is advisable to perform fluorescent in situ hybridization analysis rather than merely karyotypic one.