Rescue right ventricular outflow tract stenting for refractory hypoxic spells.

BACKGROUND: While right ventricular outflow tract stenting (RVOTS) has become an acceptable alternative to palliative surgery in Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and similar physiologies, its utility for relief of refractory hypoxic spells is unclear. METHODS: Patients who underwent RVOTS for emergency relief of refractory hypoxic spells were identified. Specific modifications to enable expeditious RVOTS included use of stent delivery systems (guiding catheter or long sheath) upfront to minimize catheter exchanges; using coronary wires to cross RVOT initially; stabilizing the catheter with a wire in the aorta while crossing RVOT with a second wire. RESULTS: From 2015 to 2022, 11 patients underwent RVOTS for hypoxic spells refractory to medical management. Their median age was 27 days (IQR 8.5-442.5); weight 3.27 kg (2.7-8.96); 9 males. Median pulmonary annulus Z score was -4.13 (IQR-4.85 to -0.86). Thirteen stents with median diameter 5 (4-6.5) mm and length 19 (16-19.75) mm were implanted, fluoroscopy time:13.6 (11-26.3) min; procedure time (60, 30-70 min). All were ventilated. Oxygen saturations improved from 45% (40-60) to 90% (84-92); (p < 0.0001) with no major complications. Postprocedure ventilation was needed for 21 (20-49) hours and 4 required diuretic infusion for pulmonary over-circulation. Four needed re-stenting 13 days to 5 months later. At median follow-up of 7 (4-17) months; 2 died from unrelated causes, 3 underwent surgery (two correction and one aorto-pulmonary shunt) and 6 await surgery. CONCLUSION: RVOTS enables safe, expeditious and effective short-term palliation for refractory hypoxic spells. Specific technical modifications facilitate safety, ease and swiftness.

Anterior Superior Iliac Spine to the Tibial Tuberosity Length: An Easier, Accurate, and Faster Method for Predicting Orogastric Tube Length in Neonates-An Observational Study.

Orogastric tube (OGT) procedures are done in 20% of newborn unit cases. This study was contemplated to work out a formula to predict OGT length in terms of femur length in neonates and its agreement to existing standards. In this observational study, OGT length was estimated using NEMU (nose-ear-mid umbilicus) in 53 consecutive newborns. Their anterior superior iliac spine to tibial tuberosity length (AS-TT) was measured and equated using linear regression analysis in Stata. We further verified the accuracy of the new formula and comparison of time taken by both the methods. Strong positive correlation was seen between OGT and AS-TT (r = .88). OGT length was 10.14 + 0.88 AS-TT, which can be used in neonatal intensive care unit newborns with greater accuracy and with lesser time than the classical method. Strong agreement levels were seen. AS-TT closely relates to the femur length and can be chosen as a guide as it is faster when compared to other methods.