Mid-term results of vascular ring surgery.

BACKGROUND: Vascular rings cause respiratory symptoms in children. Treatment consists of surgical division; however, data regarding mid-term results are scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate clinical results of vascular ring surgery. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of consecutive patients who underwent vascular ring surgery. Mid-term follow-up consisted of clinic visits and telephone questionnaire over a 1-year period sampling at five points in time. RESULTS: Follow-up of 85 patients who underwent vascular rings surgery revealed significant symptomatic improvement within 6 months. In total, 50% were symptomatic to some degree at their last documented clinic visit complaining of stridor (36.8%), cough (34.2%), wheezing (10.5%), dyspnoea on exertion (10.5%), or recurrent respiratory infections (23.7%). By telephone questionnaires, 83% described a significant improvement in respiratory symptoms, 63.4% had some residual symptoms, 36.6% stridor, 38.8% chronic cough, 32.4% bronchodilator use,18.3% had at least one episode of pneumonia per year, 31% of children had dyspnoea or respiratory limitation, and 12.7% while doing physical activities. We found no association between the age at surgery or anatomic variant to the presence of symptoms at mid-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical division of vascular rings results in significant clinical improvement within 1 year; nevertheless, some patients remain symptomatic to some degree. We found no association between the age at surgery or anatomic variant to the presence of symptoms at mid-term follow-up. Further evaluation is warranted to assess the nature of residual symptoms and explore whether anatomical causes can be identified leading to surgical modifications.

Urgent Surgical Treatment of Aortic Endocarditis in Infants and Children.

Infective endocarditis (IE) in the pediatric population can present as a life-threatening condition. Optimal timing for surgical intervention should consider surgical risks versus the risk of neurologic complications. We herein report our experience with this group of critically ill children. Retrospective analysis of patient charts of all patients who underwent urgent surgical treatment of aortic IE from 1994 to 2014 was performed. Nine patients with acute storming IE of the aortic valve or the ascending aorta were urgently operated (eight normal heart, one congenital aortic stenosis), age ranged from 8 weeks to 4.2 years. Causative organisms were Staphylococcus aureus (2), Staphylococcus coagulase negative (1), Kingella kingae (2), Streptococcus pneumoniae (2), or culture negative (2). Presenting symptoms other than hemodynamic instability were neurologic decompensation (5) coronary embolization (1) and cardiogenic shock due to scalded skin syndrome (1). CT and MRI demonstrated significant brain infarcts in four patients. Operations performed were the Ross operation (7) and ascending aortic reconstruction (2). There were no operative deaths. At a median follow-up of 6 years (range 2-196 months), all patients are alive and well. Re-intervention included homograft replacement (2) and transcatheter Melody valve implantation (1). At their last follow-up, the neo-aortic valve was functional in all patients with minimal regurgitation and all had full resolution of the neurological deficits. Urgent surgical treatment for aortic valve IE in infants is challenging. Although surgery is complex and pre-disposing conditions such as sepsis, neurologic and cardiac decompensations are prevalent, operative results are excellent and gradual and significant neurologic improvement was noted over time.

Percutaneous intraperitoneal catheters in neonates following open heart surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Ascitic fluid in the peritoneal cavity may severely impair respiratory and renal function following neonatal heart surgery. It has been our practice to liberally insert percutaneous peritoneal catheters (PPCs) in order to manage fluid balance and thereby improve ventilatory function. We herein report our experience with PPC. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of charts of all surviving neonates that underwent PPC insertion from January 2007 through March 2010. Charts were reviewed for demographic and clinical variables from the preoperative, operative, and postoperative periods. RESULTS: A total of 1268 patients underwent surgery, 292 (23%) were neonates. 17 (5.8%) patients required PPC. Mean age and weight were 16 days and 3.1 kg, respectively. Mean amount drained upon insertion was 55 ± 46 ml. Catheters were maintained for a mean of 5 days and drained an average of 201 ml on the first postinsertion day. Ventilatory settings did not change significantly prior to and postcatheter insertion (respiratory rate [29 ± 3.8 vs 28.7 ± 3.9; P = .93], inspiratory pressures [26.3 ± 3.6 vs 26.1 ± 3.3 cm H2O; P = .34], and fraction of inspired oxygen [0.66 ± 0.21 vs 0.63 ± 0.18; P = .53]). Carbon dioxide values decreased significantly (43.2 ± 9.7 vs 37 ± 4.9 mm Hg; P = .01), and PO2 values increased (78 ± 69 vs 104 ± 57 mm Hg; P = .05). CONCLUSIONS: The PPC insertion can be easily performed at the bedside with minimal complications. Fluid balance management is facilitated, and ventilation is improved. The PPC insertion is a valuable addition to the armamentarium of the physician treating neonates in the intensive care unit after complex congenital heart surgery.