Does Early Drain Removal Affect Postoperative Pericardial Effusion after Congenital Cardiac Surgery?

Background@#Patients undergoing cardiac surgery require postoperative chest drainage. However, the drain is difficult to keep in place in children with congenital heart disease. Since 2015, at Kyungpook National University Hospital, the chest tube is removed on postoperative day 1 in patients who have undergone simple congenital cardiac surgery (i.e., closure of an atrial or ventricular septal defect). In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the duration of drain placement and the likelihood of pericardial effusion after congenital cardiac surgery. @*Methods@#The medical records of patients who underwent closure of an atrial or ventricular septal defect at our hospital between January 2014 and December 2016 were reviewed. In total, 162 patients who received follow-up echocardiography and had information available on postoperative pericardial effusion after the repair procedure were enrolled. @*Results@#Echocardiography was performed at a median of 5 days (range, 4 to 6 days) postoperatively before discharge from the hospital. Pericardial effusion occurred in 21 patients (13.0%), of whom only 3 (1.9%) had moderate or greater pericardial effusion, regardless of the drain duration. All patients improved during outpatient follow-up without invasive management. No patient had severe complications because of pericardial effusion. The duration of drain placement did not affect the incidence of postoperative pericardial effusion (p=0.069). Operative survival was 100%. @*Conclusion@#Based on our study, we recommend removing the drain as soon as its role is complete, generally on postoperative day 1, because early removal does not increase the incidence of pericardial effusion in patients undergoing simple congenital cardiac surgery.

Microbial Contamination of Reusable Suction Container and Cost Analysis of Reusable Suction Container and Disposable Suction Container

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to check the degree of residual microbial contamination after disinfection of reusable suction containers, used in an intensive care unit (ICU) and present basic data for efficient use through cost analysis in comparison to disposable suction containers. METHODS: This study was conducted on 32 reusable suction containers used in an ICU on a selected specific day. After disinfection and washing, specimens were collected from the used containers and cultured to check for microbial contamination. Additionally, a comparative narrative study analyzes the cost of using reusable suction containers and disposable suction containers. Data were analyzed with the SPSS WIN 20.0 program using real numbers and percentage χ²-test. RESULTS: As a result of the study, microorganisms were found in all samples where in 30 were gram-positive (62.5%) while 13 were gram-negative (27.1%). Based on level of contamination, microorganisms were less than 10CFU/ml in 18 samples (56.3%); 11–99CFU/ml in six samples (18.8%); and more than 100CFU/ml in eight samples (25%). Cost per day for a reusable suction container was 10,655 + α while cost per day for a disposable suction container was 10,666 won. CONCLUSION: This study found that reusable suction containers, even after disinfection, accounted for factors of potential infection as well as microbial contamination. So, disposable suction containers are superior in cost-effectiveness and highly efficient for use with infected patients.

Outcomes of Surgery for Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return without Total Circulatory Arrest

BACKGROUND: Recent developments in surgical techniques and hospital care have led to improved outcomes following total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) repair. However, the surgical repair of TAPVR remains associated with a high risk of mortality and need for reoperation. We conducted this retrospective study to evaluate mid-term outcomes following in situ TAPVR repair without total circulatory arrest (TCA), and to identify the risk factors associated with surgical outcomes. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 29 cases of surgical intervention for TAPVR conducted between April 2000 and July 2015. All patients were newborns or infants who underwent in situ TAPVR repair without TCA. RESULTS: Four anatomic subtypes of TAPVR were included in this study: supracardiac (20 cases, 69.0%), cardiac (4 cases, 13.8%), infracardiac (4 cases, 13.8%), and mixed (1 case, 3.4%). The median follow-up period for all patients was 42.9 months. Two (6.9%) early mortalities occurred, as well as 2 (6.9%) cases of postoperative pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO). Preoperative ventilator care (p=0.027) and preoperative PVO (p=0.002) were found to be independent risk factors for mortality. CONCLUSION: In situ repair of TAPVR without TCA was associated with encouraging mid-term outcomes. Preoperative ventilator care and preoperative PVO were found to be independent risk factors for mortality associated with TAPVR repair.

Surgical Results of Monocusp Implantation with Transannular Patch Angioplasty in Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

BACKGROUND: Monocusp reconstruction with a transannular patch (TAP) results in early improvement because it relieves residual volume hypertension during the immediate postoperative period. However, few reports have assessed the long-term surgical outcomes of this procedure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the mid-term surgical outcomes of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair using monocusp reconstruction with a TAP. METHODS: Between March 2000 and March 2009, 36 patients with a TOF received a TAP. A TAP with monocusp reconstruction (group I) was used in 25 patients and a TAP without monocusp reconstruction (group II) was used in 11 patients. We evaluated hemodynamic parameters using echocardiography during the follow-up period in both groups. RESULTS: At the most recent follow-up echocardiography (mean follow-up, 8.2 years), the mean pulmonary valve velocities of the patients in group I and group II were 2.1±1.0 m/sec and 0.9±0.9 m/sec, respectively (p=0.001). Although the incidence of grade 3–4 pulmonary regurgitation (PR) was not significantly different between the two groups (group I: 16 patients, 64.0%; group II: 7 patients, 70.0%; p=0.735) during the follow-up period, the interval between the treatment and the incidence of PR aggravation was longer in group I than in group II (group I: 6.5±3.4 years; group II: 3.8±2.2 years; p=0.037). CONCLUSION: Monocusp reconstruction with a TAP prolonged the interval between the initial treatment and grade 3–4 PR aggravation. Patients who received a TAP with monocusp reconstruction to repair TOF were not to progress to pulmonary stenosis during the follow-up period as those who received a TAP without monocusp reconstruction.

Non-Anastomotic Rupture of a Woven Dacron Graft in the Descending Thoracic Aorta Treated with Endovascular Stent Grafting

The intrinsic structural failure of a Dacron graft resulting from the loss of structural integrity of the graft fabric can cause late graft complications. Late non-anastomotic rupture has traditionally been treated surgically via open thoracotomy. We report a case of the successful use of thoracic endovascular repair to treat a Dacron graft rupture in the descending aorta. The rupture occurred 20 years after the graft had been placed. Two stent grafts were placed at the proximal portion of the surgical graft, covering almost its entire length.

Pseudoaneurysm of Surgically Reconstructed Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Complicated by Superior Vena Cava Syndrome

Pseudoaneurysm of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) has been reported as a rare complication of RVOT reconstruction performed using conduit replacement or patch repair. Rarely, it may present alongside symptoms secondary to the compression of adjoining mediastinal structures. We report the case of a patient who developed a symptomatic RVOT pseudoaneurysm one month after a total correction of tetralogy of Fallot. In the present case, superior vena cava syndrome was caused by compression of the superior vena cava, which was a very unusual presentation.

Abnormal Origin of the Left Subclavian Artery from the Left Pulmonary Artery in a Patient with Double Outlet Right Ventricle

Anomalous aortic origin of the left subclavian artery (LSCA) from the left pulmonary artery (LPA) is a rare congenital cardiac malformation. We describe a case of LSCA from the LPA via ductus arteriosus in association with a double-outlet right ventricle, which never has been reported previously in Korea.

Surgical Repair of Giant Right Atrial Aneurysm in a Neonate

Right atrial aneurysm is an extremity rare congenital heart defect. We report a case which was diagnosed during the early fetal stage and operated on in a 2 week old neonate. Following median sternotomy, aneurysmectomy was performed under a cardiopulmonary bypass. Histopathological examination of the resected atiral tissue showed a lipotomatous degeneration and reduction of the muscular elements. There were no postoperative complications.

The Study of Serum Troponin I and CK-MB in the Acute Stage of Kawasaki Disease

PURPOSE: The pathogensis and etiologic agents are still unknown but clinical studies suggest that Kawasaki disease (KD) is an autoimmune disease caused by infectious agents associated with the early development of acute myocarditis and coronary artery abnormalities. The study investigates serum troponin I (cTnI) and creatine kinase (CK)-MB in the acute stage of KD before diagnosis the use of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) treatment to confirm and find early diagnosis of acute myocarditis. METHODS: The patient group consisted of 36 cases of KD in the acute stage before IVIG treatment, and the control group consisted of 10 cases who didn't suffer from KD. The obtained sera was measured by using the Chemiluminoimmunoassay method, and compared with the results of both groups. RESULTS: The sex ratio of male to female was 1.5 : 1, and the male age was 2.6 +/- 1.6 years old. The level of cTnI increased in 14 cases (31.9%), and CK-MB increased in 9 cases (25%). Five cases (13.9%) in the patient group increased in both cTnI and CK-MB levels which correlated with each other significantly (P<0.05). But the levels of cTnI and CK-MB were negative in the control group. Acute phase reactants such as CRP, C3, ESR were positive and WBC increased in the acute stage of both groups. CONCLUSION: The level of cTnI correlates accurately to myocardial cell injury, so increasing the level of cTnI in the acute stage of KD is recommended for acute myocarditis or myocardial cell injure in the early stage before onset of clinical symptoms and signs. Therefore, the measurement of cTnI can be a more useful method for early diagnosis and confirmation of acute myocarditis than a CK-MB test, and may help in the early treatment of IVIG by reducing cardiovascular abnormalities in KD.