Systolic stretching of the ascending aorta.

INTRODUCTION: Longitudinal stretching of the aorta due to systolic heart motion contributes to the stress in the wall of the ascending aorta. The objective of this study was to assess longitudinal systolic stretching of the aorta and its correlation with the diameters of the ascending aorta and the aortic root. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Aortographies of 122 patients were analyzed. The longitudinal systolic stretching of the aorta caused by the contraction of the heart during systole and the maximum dimensions of the aortic root and ascending aorta were measured in all patients. RESULTS: The maximum dimension of the aortic root was on average 34.9 ±4.5 mm and the mean diameter of the ascending aorta was 33.9 ±5.4 mm. The systolic aortic stretching negatively correlated with age (r = -0.49, p < 0.001) and the diameter of the tubular ascending aorta (r = -0.44, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation between the stretching and the dimension of the aortic root (r = -0.11, p = 0.239). There was a statistically significant (p < 0.001) difference in the longitudinal aortic stretching values between patients with a normal aortic valve (10.6 ±3.1 mm) and an aortic valve pathology (8.0 ±3.2 mm in all patients with an aortic valve pathology; 7.5 ±4.3 mm in isolated aortic stenosis, 8.5 ±2.9 mm in the case of isolated insufficiency, 8.2 ±2.8 mm for valves that were both stenotic and insufficient). CONCLUSIONS: Systolic aortic stretching negatively correlates with the diameter of the tubular ascending aorta and the age of the patients, and does not correlate with the diameter of the aortic root. It is lower in patients with an aortic valve pathology.

Cobra-Head Cuffed Vascular Graft as Right Ventricle-to-Pulmonary Artery Shunt in Norwood Procedure.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) shunt as a part of the Norwood procedure underwent many modifications. We present our experience with a commercially available polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft with cobra-head cuff as an RV-PA shunt. METHODS: A consecutive series of 52 children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (median age 8 [range, 2-68] days, median weight 3200 [range, 2060-4400] g) underwent the Norwood procedure with a cobra-head cuffed RV-PA shunt (6 mm). The cuffed end was used for the central PA reconstruction. A retrospective analysis of clinical results, PAs development, and shunt-related complications, interventions, and technique of Glenn operation was performed. The study endpoint was Glenn operation with shunt removal or interstage death. RESULTS: The hospital and late interstage mortality was 3.8% (n = 2 of 52) and 4% (n = 2 of 50), respectively, and was not shunt-related. During mean follow of 3.7 ± 2.5 years, 48 (92.3%) children underwent Glenn operation at a median age of 6 (range, 2.6-9.1) months. Angiography before the second stage revealed satisfactory branch PAs development (maximum and minimum McGoon ratio of 1.95 ± 0.36 and 1.38 ± 0.38, respectively). The mean maximal diameter of the left PA was smaller than that of the right PA (7.13 ± 2.1 mm vs 8.42 ± 2.2 mm; P = .017), without differences in mean minimal diameter. Two infants required stent implantation in proximal shunt end and 1 required urgent Glenn operation because distal shunt thrombosis. During Glenn operation, 11 (22.9%) children required patch reconstruction of central PAs. CONCLUSIONS: The cobra-head cuffed graft allowed easy and reproducible reconstruction of the central PA during the Norwood procedure. Using this technique, the development of PAs is satisfactory, the rate of shunt-related complications and interventions is low, and the second stage can be performed without patch material.

Geometry of the pulmonary arteries before the Fontan operation: can we influence it during the Norwood procedure?

OBJECTIVES: The right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) shunt provides stable haemodynamics after the Norwood procedure but can influence development of the central pulmonary arteries (PAs). The goal of this study was to analyse the geometry of the central PAs in children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome before the Fontan operation with respect to the RV-PA shunt site and the type of the second-stage operation. METHODS: A total of 161 children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, median age 2.7 (range 1.3-9.8) years and median weight 12.7 (range 7.6-26.1) kg, underwent the Fontan operation after having had the Norwood procedure with an RV-PA shunt. The patients were divided into 2 groups: left-sided RV-PA (L-RV-PA) (n = 129) with the shunt on the left and right-sided RV-PA (n = 32) with the shunt on the right side of the neoaorta. Angiographic data obtained before the Fontan and all cardiac catheterization interventions were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Between the second and third stages, as well as directly before the Fontan operation, the L-RV-PA group required more PA catheter interventions (P = 0.001 and P = 0.03). In this group, the minimal left PA diameter was smaller than that in the R-RV-PA group (P = 0.021). Leaving the shunt open until the Fontan operation increased the rate of PA interventions in the L-RV-PA group (P = 0.001), but there is no evidence of the impact on the development of the left PAs (P = 0.075). There is also no evidence that the type of the second-stage procedure influences the intervention rate before the Fontan procedure (P = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Children who have the L-RV-PA shunt require more PA catheter interventions. The right-sided RV-PA shunt and the subsequent Glenn anastomosis in the place of the shunt are associated with distortion-free and more symmetrical development of the central PAs.

Extubation on the operating table in patients with right ventricular pressure overload undergoing biventricular repair†.

OBJECTIVES: Right ventricular pressure overload, which can result in restrictive right ventricular physiology, predicts slow recovery after biventricular repair of congenital heart defects. The goal of the study was to assess how extubation in the operating room influences the postoperative course in these patients. METHODS: Between January 2013 and June 2017, a total of 65 children [median age 0.96 (0.13-9.47) years; median weight 8 (3.05-25.8) kg] with right ventricular pressure overload underwent an intracardiac correction. The most common malformations were tetralogy of Fallot (n = 34) and double outlet right ventricle with pulmonary stenosis (n = 11). The patients were divided into 2 groups: the first (n = 36) comprised late extubated (LE) and the second (n = 29), early extubated (EE) children, immediately after chest closure in the operating room. Preoperative, perioperative and postoperative records were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Children who had EE had a lower heart rate (EE 124.2 vs LE 133.6 bpm; P = 0.03), higher arterial blood pressure (systolic: EE 87.9 ± 9.35 vs LE 81.4 ± 12.0 mmHg; P = 0.029; diastolic: EE 51.1 ± 6.5 vs LE 45.9 ± 6.64 mmHg; P = 0.003), lower central venous pressure (EE 8.6 ± 1.89 mmHg vs LE 9.9 ± 2.42 mmHg; P = 0.03), fewer pleural effusions in the first 6 postoperative days (EE 1.38 ml/kg/day vs LE 5.98 ml/kg/day; P = 0.009), shorter time of dopamine support ≥3 µg/kg (EE 7.29 ± 12.26 h vs LE 34.78 ± 38.05 h, P < 0.001), shorter stays in the intensive care unit (EE 2.7 ± 2.67 vs LE 5.0 ± 4.77 days, P = 0.001) and hospital (EE 11.8 ± 4.79 vs LE 15.5 ± 7.8 days; P = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS: Extubation in the operating room of children with right ventricular pressure overload undergoing biventricular correction is feasible and safe and has a beneficial effect on the postoperative course.

Valve-Sparing Aortic Root Replacement in an 8-Month-Old Infant With Loeys-Dietz Syndrome.

The clinical experience with Loeys-Dietz syndrome (LDS) reveals fateful natural history with intracerebral incidents and aortic dissections. A newborn child was referred to our hospital with significantly dilated aortic root and clinical signs of LDS phenotype later genetically confirmed as LDS type I. A therapy with antihypertensive medicines was initiated to postpone the surgery. Despite that, aortic root dilatation progressed to 33 mm (z-score +9.3). To avoid aortic rupture, a valve sparing aortic root replacement was performed at patient age of 8 months. The purpose of this report is to share our dilemmas and experience in the treatment of this child.

Multi-factor analysis of failure of renal replacement therapy in acute renal failure developed after cardiac surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a rare (2-15%), but severe complication of cardiac surgery with overall mortality reaching 40-80%. In order to save patients' lives they are treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT). The aim of our study was to assess the impact of different perioperative factors on mortality among patients treated with RRT because of acute renal failure, which occurred as a complication of a heart surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis included 45 patients, operated in the years 2009-2013, who underwent renal replacement therapy in order to treat postoperative ARF. The perioperative factors were analysed in two groups: group 1 - patients who died before discharge; and group 2 - those who survived until hospital discharge. RESULTS: Forty-five of 3509 cardiac surgical patients (1.25%) required RRT after the surgery. A total of 23 (51.11%) died before discharge (group 1). Patients in group 1 were characterised by older age (70.21 vs. 67 years), higher mean EuroSCORE value (9.28 vs. 7.15) (p < 0.05), higher percentage of concomitant surgery (63.63% vs. 28.57%) (p < 0.05) and of admission of catecholamines in the postoperative period (100% vs. 68.42%) (p < 0.005), and higher mean urea blood level prior to RRT initiation (156.65 vs. 102.54 mg/dl) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The statistically relevant death predictors proved to be: high EuroSCORE, concomitant surgery, and high urea level at RRT initiation and admission of catecholamines in the postoperative period. After conformation in further studies, those factors may prove useful in stratification of death risk among surgical patients requiring RRT.

Mechanical circulatory support after surgical repair of Bland-White-Garland syndrome. A study of three cases.

The anomalous origin of the left coronary artery arising from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA), also known as Bland-White-Garland (BWG) syndrome, is a rare congenital heart disease. We present cases of three children in whom BWG syndrome was repaired surgically. In two of them, the left coronary artery was transplanted from the pulmonary trunk to the aorta, and in one, the Takeuchi procedure was performed. In both cases in which the left coronary artery was transplanted to the aorta, mechanical circulatory support was used after the surgery. This was due to a low ejection fraction (10%) while weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. Although associated with numerous complications, mechanical circulatory support can be a lifesaving therapy in patients with a poor left ventricular function after the correction of BWG syndrome.

Scimitar Syndrome Associated With Abnormal Hepatic Venous Drainage.

Scimitar syndrome is a rare congenital cardiopulmonary anomaly. We describe a 1.5-year-old boy with this uncommon malformation and an unusual hepatic venous drainage, which allows atypical surgical repair.