Ventricular Septation for Double Inlet Ventricle: Avoiding Conduction Injury.

OBJECTIVES: Although conduction location can reliably be predicted in double inlet ventricle (DIV), ventricular septation continues to carry a significant risk of CHB. This study describes our experience with ventricular septation and intraoperative conduction mapping. METHODS: Patients undergoing ventricular septation from 2017-2023 were identified. Conduction mapping was performed on the open, decompressed, beating heart to identify the His bundle. Mapped His bundle locations were compared to those predicted from MRI diagnoses by a senior pediatric cardiac electrophysiologist blinded to mapping results. RESULTS: Ventricular septation was performed in 31 patients, 25 with hypoplastic RV and 6 with hypoplastic LV. Two-stage septation was performed in 25 patients and single-stage septation in 6. Mapped was performed in the last 25 consecutive patients. Mapped conduction location was concordant with expected location in 21/22 patients with predictions. CHB requiring a permanent pacemaker occurred in 4 patients despite successful mapping, while 10 patients required other reoperations, most commonly to address residual AV valve regurgitation or subpulmonary obstruction from the VSD patch. There has been no perioperative mortality, need for single-ventricle palliation or heart transplantation. All 13 patients who have progressed to complete septation and 18 patients with interstage circulation have acceptable hemodynamics, preserved ventricular function, and no heart failure symptoms at latest follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Ventricular septation represents an alternative to Fontan that can be performed safely in a subset of patients with acceptable early outcomes. Conduction mapping is an adjunct strategy that may add precision to the well-established rules for reliably predicting conduction location.

Challenges and Priorities for Children With Congenital Valvar Heart Disease: The Heart Valve Collaboratory.

The Heart Valve Collaboratory is a multidisciplinary, patient-centered community of stakeholders addressing complex problems and embracing innovation to help patients with heart valve disease achieve their fullest potential for health. The Scientific Council is composed of cardiologists, surgeons, ex-officio representatives of the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Heart Lung Blood Institute, and representatives from industry partners. In October 2022, this group convened a workshop that included experts from stakeholder groups to address the unmet and clinical needs of patients with pediatric and congenital heart valve disease. The following document includes the discussion and summary of the current state of valve therapy and the needs being addressed for valve development.

Definitions of adverse events associated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children: results of an international Delphi process from the ECMO-CENTRAL ARC.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a high-risk and low-volume life support with increasing clinical study. However, heterogenous outcome definitions impede data assimilation into evidence to guide practice. The Academic Research Consortium (ARC), an international collaborative forum committed to facilitating the creation of stakeholder-driven consensus nomenclature and outcomes for clinical trials of medical devices, supported the ECMO Core Elements Needed for Trials Regulation And quality of Life (ECMO-CENTRAL) ARC. The ECMO-CENTRAL ARC was assembled to develop definitions of paediatric ECMO adverse events for use in clinical trials and regulatory device evaluation. An initial candidate list of ECMO adverse events derived from the mechanical circulatory support ARC was supplemented with a review of ECMO-relevant adverse event definitions collated from literature published between Jan 1, 1988, and Feb 20, 2023. Distinct teams of international topic experts drafted separate adverse event definitions that were harmonised to existing literature when appropriate. Draft definitions were revised for paediatric ECMO relevance with input from patients, families, and an international expert panel of trialists, clinicians, statisticians, biomedical engineers, device developers, and regulatory agencies. ECMO-CENTRAL ARC was revised and disseminated across research societies and professional organisations. Up to three rounds of internet-based anonymous surveys were planned as a modified Delphi process. The expert panel defined 13 adverse event definitions: neurological, bleeding, device malfunction, acute kidney injury, haemolysis, infection, vascular access-associated injury, non-CNS thrombosis, hepatic dysfunction, right heart failure, left ventricular overload, lactic acidaemia, and hypoxaemia. Definitional structure varied. Among 165 expert panel members, 114 were eligible to vote and 111 voted. Consensus was achieved for all proposed definitions. Agreement ranged from 82% to 95%. ECMO-CENTRAL ARC paired rigorous development with methodical stakeholder involvement and dissemination to define paediatric ECMO adverse events. These definitions will facilitate new research and the assimilation of data across clinical trials and ECMO device evaluation in children.

Reverse double switch operation for the borderline left ventricle.

OBJECTIVE(S): This study investigates outcomes of the reverse double switch operation (R-DSO) and ventricular switch, novel approaches for patients with D-looped borderline left hearts that utilize the morphologic right ventricle as the systemic ventricle and the hypoplastic left ventricle as the subpulmonary ventricle. METHODS: This retrospective review analyzed early outcomes of children who underwent R-DSO/ventricular switch at a single institution between 2015 and 2023. Our primary end points were right ventricular (RV) function and tricuspid regurgitation. Secondary outcomes included mortality, reoperation, and perioperative complications. RESULTS: Twenty-eight patients underwent either R-DSO (n = 19) or ventricular switch (n = 9). In 19 patients, a decompressing bidirectional cavopulmonary shunt was utilized, creating a reverse 1.5 switch. Median age at R-DSO/ventricular switch was 3.1 years (range, 9 months-12 years). At a median follow-up of 1.0 year (range, 38 days-7.2 years), no mortalities or heart transplants had occurred. Mild-moderate or greater RV dysfunction was detected in 4 patients, and mild-moderate or worse tricuspid regurgitation was also detected in 4 patients. Three patients required reoperations. Preoperative RV ejection fraction <55% was associated with higher incidence of postoperative RV dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: The R-DSO/VS strategy is an alternative to single-ventricle palliation or anatomic biventricular repair in the borderline left heart. Concerns for RV dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation mandate close monitoring. Patients with preoperative RV dysfunction may be at risk for postoperative RV dysfunction. Further studies with longer follow-up are needed to delineate outcomes in comparison to the Fontan pathway and identify optimal candidates for this novel strategy.

Impact of permanent pacemaker for iatrogenic atrioventricular block on outcomes after congenital heart surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The need for permanent pacemaker (PPM) for iatrogenic atrioventricular block (AVB) after congenital heart surgery is approximately 1%. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of patients with PPM for iatrogenic AVB and compare them with patients with an optimal repair (trivial/no residual) Residual Lesion Score (RLS) Class 1 repair without PPM need. METHODS: We reviewed 183 patients discharged with PPM for iatrogenic AVB from 2011 to 2022. Patients who survived to discharge with >30 days of follow-up were matched 1:1 with a cohort of patients categorized as RLS Class 1 on the basis of fundamental diagnosis and primary procedure. RESULTS: Median age at PPM placement was 1.4 years (interquartile range, 4.3 months to 3.9 years). The cumulative incidence of moderate or greater ventricular dysfunction at 1 year and 5 years was 11% and 18% in patients with PPM, respectively, compared with 3% and 7% in patients categorized as RLS Class 1 (subdistribution hazard ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-6.1; P = .022). Independently, patients with PPM with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (P = .027) and who had undergone Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Mortality Category 5 procedures (P = .033) were at greater risk of ventricular dysfunction. Transplant-free survival at 1 year and 5 years was 94% and 89% in patients with PPM, respectively, compared with 98% and 97% in patients categorized as RLS Class 1 (P = .044). In addition, patients with PPM with palliated circulation had significantly lower transplant-free survival (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared with patients with an optimal repair without PPM, patients with PPM for iatrogenic AVB are at greater risk of developing moderate or greater ventricular dysfunction and have lower transplant-free survival.

Predictive modeling of endocardial fibroelastosis recurrence in patients with congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Endocardial fibroelastosis (EFE) is a major effector in the maldevelopment of the heart in patients with congenital heart disease. Despite successful surgical removal, EFE can redevelop, but the underlying cause of EFE recurrence remains unknown. This study aimed to identify hemodynamic predictors and genetic links to epithelial/endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT/EndMT) alterations for preoperative risk assessment. METHODS: We assessed the impact of preoperative hemodynamic parameters on EFE recurrence in a cohort of 92 patients with congenital heart disease who underwent left ventricular (LV) EFE resection between January 2010 and March 2021. Additionally, whole-exome sequencing in 18 patients was used to identify rare variants (minor allele frequency <10-5) in high-expression heart (HHE) genes related to cardiac EMT/EndMT and congenital heart disease. RESULTS: EFE recurred in 55.4% of patients, within a median of 2.2 years postsurgery. Multivariable analysis revealed specific hemodynamic parameters (mitral valve inflow and area, LV filling pressure, and aortic valve gradient and diameter) as predictors, forming a predictive model with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.782. Furthermore, 89% of the patients exhibited damaging variants in HHE genes, with 38% linked to cardiac EMT/EndMT Gene Ontology processes and 22% associated with known congenital heart disease genes. Notably, HHE genes associated with cardiac EMT/EndMT were significantly associated with faster EFE recurrence in a multivariate analysis (hazard ratio, 3.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-10.17; P = .018). CONCLUSIONS: These findings established a predictive scoring system using preoperative hemodynamic parameters for EFE recurrence risk assessment. Alterations in HHE genes, particularly those linked to cardiac EMT/EndMT, exacerbate the risk of recurrence.

Multiphysiologic State Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling for Planning Fontan With Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava.

Background: Single ventricle (SV) patients with interrupted inferior vena cava (iIVC) and azygos continuation are at high risk for unbalanced hepatic venous flow (HVF) distribution to the lungs after Fontan completion and subsequent pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) formation. Objectives: The aim of the study was to utilize computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis to avoid maldistribution of HVF to the lungs after Fontan surgery. Methods: Four SV subjects with iIVC were prospectively studied with a 3-dimensional (3D) modeling workflow with digital 3D models created from segmented magnetic resonance images or computer tomography scans, virtual surgery, and CFD analysis over multiple physiologic states for the evaluation of operative plans to achieve balanced HVF to both lungs. Three of the patients were Fontan revision candidates with existing AVMs. All patients underwent Fontan completion or revision surgery. Results: CFD predicted that existing or proposed Fontan completion in all patients would result in 100% of HVF to one lung. Improved HVF balance was achieved with CFD analysis of alternative surgical approaches resulting in the average distribution of HVF to the right/left pulmonary arteries of 37%/63% ± 10.4%. A hepatoazygos shunt was required in all patients and additional creation of an innominate vein in one. CFD analysis was validated by the comparison of pre-operative predicted and postoperative MRI-measured total right/left pulmonary flow (51%/49% ± 5.4% vs 49%/51% ± 8.5%). Conclusions: A 3D modeling workflow with CFD simulation for SV patients with iIVC may avoid HVF maldistribution and development of AVMs after Fontan completion.

Clinical and 2D/3D-Echo Cardiography Determinants of Mitral Valve Reoperation in Children With Congenital Mitral Valve Disease.

Background: Congenital mitral valve disease (CMVD) presents major challenges in its medical and surgical management. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the value of 3-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) and identify associations with MV reoperation in this setting. Methods: All children <18 years of age who underwent MV reconstruction for CMVD in 2002 to 2018 were included. Preoperative and postoperative 2-dimensional echocardiography (2DE) and 3DE data were collected. Competing risks and Cox regression analysis were used to identify independent associations with MV reoperation. Receiver operating characteristic and decision-tree analysis were implemented for comparison of 3DE vs 2DE. Results: A total of 206 children underwent MV reconstruction for CMVD (mitral stenosis, n = 105, mitral regurgitation [MR], n = 75; mixed disease, n = 26); 64 (31%) required MV reoperation. Variables independently associated with MV reoperation were age <1 year (HR: 2.65; 95% CI: 1.13-6.21), tethered leaflets (HR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.05-3.82), ≥ moderate 2DE postoperative MR (HR: 4.26; 95% CI: 2.45-7.40), changes in 3D-effective orifice area (3D-EOA) and in 3D-vena contracta regurgitant area (3D-VCRA). Changes in 3D-EOA and 3D-VCRA were more strongly associated with MV reoperation than changes in mean gradients (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.847 vs AUC: 0.676, P = 0.006) and 2D-VCRA (AUC: 0.969 vs AUC: 0.720, P = 0.012), respectively. Decision-tree analysis found that a <30% increase in 3D-EOA had 80% accuracy (HR = 8.50; 95% CI: 2.9-25.1) and a <40% decrease in 3D-VCRA had 93% accuracy (HR: 22.50; 95% CI: 2.9-175) in discriminating MV reoperation for stenotic and regurgitant MV, respectively. Conclusions: Age <1 year, tethered leaflets, 2DE postoperative MR, changes in 3D-EOA and 3D-VCRA were all independently associated with MV reoperation. 3DE parameters showed a stronger association than 2DE. 3DE-based decision-tree algorithms may help prognostication and serve as a support tool for clinical decision-making.

Experience Curve With the Cone Procedure for Ebstein's Anomaly: Effect on Cost and Resource Utilization.

Background: The volume-outcome relationship is well-known in health care. The Experience Curve, initially developed by the Boston Consulting Group for manufacturing, offers insight on this relationship and has never before been applied to health care. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of experience on cost and resource utilization for the Cone procedure. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent Cone reconstruction for Ebstein's anomaly at Boston Children's Hospital between October 2010 and October 2021. Cardiopulmonary bypass time and aortic cross clamp time over time were evaluated using exponential regression to assess the surgeon-level learning curve. At the hospital level, length of stay and cost over time were assessed using exponential regression. Results: There were 115 patients included in the study. Median hospital length of stay was 7.9 days (IQR: 6.4-10.2 days) with a decline of 3.3% per year. Median intensive care unit [ICU] length of stay was 3.2 days (IQR: 2-5.7 days) with a decline of 10.5% per year. Adjusted direct costs indexed to 2020 prices fell by 4% per year. There was no statistically significant change in cardiopulmonary bypass or aortic cross clamp time. In mediation analysis, the reduction in cost was completely accounted for in the decline in ICU length of stay. ICU length of stay was correlated with duration of intubation. Conclusions: Increasing familiarity with Ebstein's anomaly and Cone reconstruction led to a reduction in resource utilization.

Early and long-term outcomes following cardiac surgery for patients with heterotaxy syndrome.

Objective: Heterotaxy syndrome is a complex multisystem abnormality historically associated with high morbidity and mortality. We sought to evaluate the early and long-term outcomes after cardiac surgery in heterotaxy syndrome. Methods: This is a single-center retrospective review of patients with heterotaxy syndrome undergoing single-ventricle palliation or primary or staged biventricular repair from 1998 to 2018. Patients were stratified by single ventricle versus biventricular physiology, and the severity of atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Demographics, anatomic characteristics, and early and late outcomes, including the length of stay, mortality, and surgical or catheter reinterventions, were analyzed. Results: Among 250 patients, 150 (60%) underwent biventricular repair. In-hospital mortality was 7.6% (n = 19). Median follow-up was 5.2 (range, 0-16) years. Among survivors to discharge, mortality was 19% (n = 44) and reintervention was 52% (n = 120). Patients with moderate/severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation were older (32 vs 16 months, P = .02), were more likely to experience adverse events during their index surgical admission (72% vs 46%, P < .001), and had longer in-hospital length of stay (20 vs 12 days, P = .009). Among patients with moderate to severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, single-ventricle palliation is associated with a greater risk of unplanned reintervention compared with patients undergoing biventricular repair (hazard ratio, 2.13; CI, 1.10-4.12; P = .025). Conclusions: There was no significant difference in early or late outcomes in single-ventricle versus biventricular repair strategies in heterotaxy. In the subgroup of patients with moderate/severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation, patients who underwent single-ventricle palliation were 2.5 times more likely to need a late reintervention compared with those undergoing biventricular repair.

Surgical debulking of large ventricular fibromas in children.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an update on the clinical presentation, diagnostic workup, operative strategies, and midterm outcomes in children undergoing ventricular fibroma resection. METHODS: Single-center, retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing ventricular fibroma resection between 2000 and 2023. RESULTS: Among 52 patients, median age at surgery was 2.0 years (interquartile range, 0.8-4.6) and median tumor volume index was 69 mL/m2 (interquartile range, 49-169). Tumor distorted the atrioventricular valve/subvalvar apparatus in 30 patients (58%) and abutted major epicardial coronary arteries in 41 patients (79%). Surgery was indicated for arrythmia (n = 45, 86%), symptoms (n = 14, 27%), or hemodynamic compromise (n = 11, 21%). Tumor was debulked in 34 patients (65%), including the last 21 patients. Concomitant atrioventricular valvuloplasty was performed in 18 patients and ventricular cavity closure in 15 patients (29%). During a median follow-up of 2.4 years (interquartile range, 0.8-6.2), there was no mortality, cardiac arrests, heart transplants, or single ventricle palliation. The 15-year risk of reoperation and clinical ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation was 6.7% (95% CI, 0-14.3) and 2.4% (95% CI, 0-7.2), respectively. On latest imaging, pre- and postdebulking left ventricular ejection fraction did not significantly differ (P = .069), whereas no patients had signs of outflow tract obstruction, inflow tract obstruction, or moderate or greater atrioventricular valve regurgitation. CONCLUSIONS: Large ventricular fibromas can be resected safely with appropriate surgical planning and an emphasis on debulking. Most children maintain left ventricular function and remain free of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias at follow-up. Extended follow-up is warranted to understand whether patients remain at risk for scar-based ventricular arrhythmias in the future.

Intervention for critical aortic stenosis in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome.

Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is an ultra-rare genetic premature aging disease that is historically fatal in teenage years, secondary to severe accelerated atherosclerosis. The only approved treatment is the farnesyltransferase inhibitor lonafarnib, which improves vascular structure and function, extending average untreated lifespan of 14.5 years by 4.3 years (30%). With this longer lifespan, calcific aortic stenosis (AS) was identified as an emerging critical risk factor for cardiac death in older patients. Intervention to relieve critical AS has the potential for immediate improvement in healthspan and lifespan. However, HGPS patient-device size mismatch, pervasive peripheral arterial disease, skin and bone abnormalities, and lifelong failure to thrive present unique challenges to intervention. An international group of experts in HGPS, pediatric and adult cardiology, cardiac surgery, and pediatric critical care convened to identify strategies for successful treatment. Candidate procedures were evaluated by in-depth examination of 4 cases that typify HGPS clinical pathology. Modified transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and left ventricular Apico-Aortic Conduit (AAC) placement were deemed high risk but viable options. Two cases received TAVR and 2 received AAC post-summit. Three were successful and 1 patient died perioperatively due to cardiovascular disease severity, highlighting the importance of intervention timing and comparative risk stratification. These breakthrough interventions for treating critical aortic stenosis in HGPS patients could rewrite the current clinical perspective on disease course by greatly improving late-stage quality of life and increasing lifespan. Expanding worldwide medical and surgical competency for this ultra-rare disease through expert information-sharing could have high impact on treatment success.

Impact of Age-Related Change in Caval Flow Ratio on Hepatic Flow Distribution in the Fontan Circulation.

BACKGROUND: The Fontan operation is a palliative technique for patients born with single ventricle heart disease. The superior vena cava (SVC), inferior vena cava (IVC), and hepatic veins are connected to the pulmonary arteries in a total cavopulmonary connection by an extracardiac conduit or a lateral tunnel connection. A balanced hepatic flow distribution (HFD) to both lungs is essential to prevent pulmonary arteriovenous malformations and cyanosis. HFD is highly dependent on the local hemodynamics. The effect of age-related changes in caval inflows on HFD was evaluated using cardiac magnetic resonance data and patient-specific computational fluid dynamics modeling. METHODS: SVC and IVC flow from 414 patients with Fontan were collected to establish a relationship between SVC:IVC flow ratio and age. Computational fluid dynamics modeling was performed in 60 (30 extracardiac and 30 lateral tunnel) patient models to quantify the HFD that corresponded to patient ages of 3, 8, and 15 years, respectively. RESULTS: SVC:IVC flow ratio inverted at ≈8 years of age, indicating a clear shift to lower body flow predominance. Our data showed that variation of HFD in response to age-related changes in caval inflows (SVC:IVC, 2, 1, and 0.5 corresponded to ages, 3, 8, and 15+, respectively) was not significant for extracardiac but statistically significant for lateral tunnel cohorts. For all 3 caval inflow ratios, a positive correlation existed between the IVC flow distribution to both the lungs and the HFD. However, as the SVC:IVC ratio changed from 2 to 0.5 (age, 3-15+) years, the correlation's strength decreased from 0.87 to 0.64, due to potential flow perturbation as IVC flow momentum increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis provided quantitative insights into the impact of the changing caval inflows on Fontan's long-term HFD, highlighting the importance of SVC:IVC variations over time on Fontan's long-term hemodynamics. These findings broaden our understanding of Fontan hemodynamics and patient outcomes.

The American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) 2024 expert consensus document: Management of neonates and infants with Ebstein anomaly.

OBJECTIVES: Symptomatic neonates and infants with Ebstein anomaly (EA) require complex management. A group of experts was commissioned by the American Association for Thoracic Surgery to provide a framework on this topic focusing on risk stratification and management. METHODS: The EA Clinical Congenital Practice Standards Committee is a multinational and multidisciplinary group of surgeons and cardiologists with expertise in EA. A citation search in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science was performed using key words related to EA. The search was restricted to the English language and the year 2000 or later and yielded 455 results, of which 71 were related to neonates and infants. Expert consensus statements with class of recommendation and level of evidence were developed using a modified Delphi method, requiring 80% of members votes with at least 75% agreement on each statement. RESULTS: When evaluating fetuses with EA, those with severe cardiomegaly, retrograde or bidirectional shunt at the ductal level, pulmonary valve atresia, circular shunt, left ventricular dysfunction, or fetal hydrops should be considered high risk for intrauterine demise and postnatal morbidity and mortality. Neonates with EA and severe cardiomegaly, prematurity (<32 weeks), intrauterine growth restriction, pulmonary valve atresia, circular shunt, left ventricular dysfunction, or cardiogenic shock should be considered high risk for morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamically unstable neonates with a circular shunt should have emergent interruption of the circular shunt. Neonates in refractory cardiogenic shock may be palliated with the Starnes procedure. Children may be assessed for later biventricular repair after the Starnes procedure. Neonates without high-risk features of EA may be monitored for spontaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Hemodynamically stable neonates with significant pulmonary regurgitation at risk for circular shunt with normal right ventricular systolic pressure should have an attempt at medical closure of the PDA. A medical trial of PDA closure in neonates with functional pulmonary atresia and normal right ventricular systolic pressure (>20-25 mm Hg) should be performed. Neonates who are hemodynamically stable without pulmonary regurgitation but inadequate antegrade pulmonary blood flow may be considered for a PDA stent or systemic to pulmonary artery shunt. CONCLUSIONS: Risk stratification is essential in neonates and infants with EA. Palliative comfort care may be reasonable in neonates with associated risk factors that may include prematurity, genetic syndromes, other major medical comorbidities, ventricular dysfunction, or sepsis. Neonates who are unstable with a circular shunt should have emergent interruption of the circular shunt. Neonates who are unstable are most commonly palliated with the Starnes procedure. Neonates who are stable should undergo ductal closure. Neonates who are stable with inadequate pulmonary flow may have ductal stenting or a systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunt. Subsequent procedures after Starnes palliation include either single-ventricle palliation or biventricular repair strategies.

Erector spinae plane blocks for opioid-sparing multimodal pain management after pediatric cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Peripheral regional anesthesia is proposed to enhance recovery. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of bilateral continuous erector spinae plane blocks (B-ESpB) for postoperative analgesia and the impact on recovery in children undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: Patients aged 2 through 17 years undergoing cardiac surgery in the enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program were prospectively enrolled to receive B-ESpB at the end of the procedure, with continuous infusions via catheters postoperatively. Participants wore an activity monitor until discharge. B-ESpB patients were retrospectively matched with control patients in the enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program. Outcomes of the matched clusters were compared using exact conditional logistic regression and generalized linear modeling. RESULTS: Forty patients receiving B-ESpB were matched to 78 controls. There were no major complications from the B-ESpB or infusions, and operating room time was longer by a median of 31 minutes. While blocks were infusing, patients with B-ESpB received fewer opioids in oral morphine equivalents than controls at 24 hours (0.60 ± 0.06 vs 0.78 ± 0.04 mg/kg; P = .02) and 48 hours (1.13 ± 0.08 vs 1.35 ± 0.06 mg/kg; P = .04), respectively. Both groups had low median pain scores per 12-hour period. There was no difference in early mobilization, length of stay, or complications. CONCLUSIONS: B-ESpBs are safe in children undergoing cardiac surgery. When performed as part of a multimodal pain strategy in an enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery program, pediatric patients with B-ESpB experience good pain control and require fewer opioids in the first 48 hours.

Association of tetralogy of Fallot and complete atrioventricular canal: a single-centre 40-year experience.

OBJECTIVES: Outcome data in tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) and complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) are limited. We report our experience for over 40 years in this patient population. METHODS: Single-centre, retrospective analysis of patients who underwent surgical repair with the diagnosis of ToF-CAVC from 1979 to 2022, divided into 2 different periods and compared. RESULTS: A total of 116 patients were included: 1979-2007 (n = 61) and 2008-2021 (n = 55). Balanced CAVC (80%) and Rastelli type C CAVC (81%) were most common. Patients in the later era were younger (4 vs 14 months, P < 0.001), fewer had trisomy 21 (60% vs 80%, P = 0.019) and fewer had prior palliative prior procedures (31% vs 43%, P < 0.001). In the earlier era, single-patch technique was more common (62% vs 16%, P < 0.001), and in recent era, double-patch technique was more common (84% vs 33%, P < 0.001). In the earlier era, right ventricular outflow tract was most commonly reconstructed with transannular patch (51%), while in more recent era, valve-sparing repairs were more common (69%) (P < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was 4.3%. The median follow-up was 217 and 74 months for the first and second eras. Survival for earlier and later eras at 2-, 5- and 10-year follow-up was (85.1%, 81.5%, 79.6% vs 94.2%, 94.2%, 94.2% respectively, log-rank test P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The surgical approach to ToF-CAVC has evolved over time. More recently, patients tended to receive primary repair at younger ages and had fewer palliative procedures. Improved surgical techniques allowing for earlier and complete repair have shown a decrease in mortality, more valve-sparing procedures without an increase in total reoperations. Presented at the 37th EACTS Annual Meeting, Vienna, Austria.

Postoperative Troponin Levels in Children Undergoing Open Heart Surgery With and Without Coronary Intervention.

We aimed to characterize the ranges, temporal trends, influencing factors, and prognostic significance of postoperative troponin levels after congenital heart surgery. This single-center retrospective study included patients from 2006 to 2021 who had ≥ 1 postoperative troponin-T measurement collected within 96 h of congenital heart surgery (CHS). Patients were grouped as Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Coronary Artery-"AAOCA repair," or congenital heart surgery with "Other Coronary Interventions" other than AAOCA repair, or "No Coronary Intervention." In each group, information on concomitant surgery requiring one or more of the following-atriotomy, ventriculotomy, right ventricular muscle bundle resection, and/or septal myectomy-was collected. Clinical correlates of troponin values were analyzed in three postoperative windows: < 8, 8-24, and 24-48 h. The highest median [range] troponin levels (ng/mL) for the samples were 0.34 [0.06, 1.32] at < 8 h for "AAOCA repair," 1.35 [0.14, 12.0] at < 8 h for those undergoing CHS with "Other Coronary Interventions," and 0.87 [0.06, 25.1] at 8-24 h for those undergoing CHS with "No Coronary Interventions." Atriotomy was associated with higher median troponin levels in the AAOCA group at < 8 h (0.40 [0.31, 0.77] vs. 0.29 [0.17, 0.54], P = 0.043) and in the Other Coronary Intervention group at 8-24 h (1.67 [1.04, 2.63] vs. 0.40 [0.19, 1.32], P = 0.002). Patients experiencing major postoperative complications (vs. those who did not) had higher troponin levels in the AAOCA group as early as 8-24 h (0.36 [0.24, 0.57] vs. 0.21 [0.14, 0.33], P = 0.03). Similar findings were noted in the Coronary Intervention (2.20 [1.34, 3.90] vs. 1.11 [0.51, 2.90], P = 0.028) and No Coronary Intervention (2.2 [1.49, 15.1] vs. 0.74 [0.40, 2.34], P = 0.027) groups but earlier at < 8 h. In the AAOCA group, 2/18 (11%) troponin outliers experienced cardiac arrest in comparison to 0/80 (0%) non-outliers (P = 0.032). In the Other Coronary Intervention group, troponin outliers had longer median times to ICU discharge (10 vs. 4 days) and hospital discharge (21 vs. 10 days) (both P < 0.001). Postoperative troponin levels depend on a multitude of factors and may have prognostic value in patients undergoing congenital heart surgery with coronary interventions.

Comparing apples to apples: Exploring public reporting of congenital cardiac surgery outcomes based on common congenital heart operations.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to simplify reporting of outcomes in congenital heart surgery that compares well-defined patient groups and accommodates multiple stakeholder needs while being easily understandable. METHODS: We selected 19 commonly performed congenital heart surgeries ranging in complexity from repair of atrial septal defects to the Norwood procedure. Strict inclusion/exclusion criteria ensured the creation of 19 well-defined diagnosis/procedure cohorts. Preoperative, procedural, and postoperative data were collected for consecutive eligible patients from 9 centers between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2021. Unadjusted operative mortality rates and hospital length of stay for each of the 19 diagnosis/procedure cohorts were summarized in aggregate and stratified by each center. RESULTS: Of 8572 eligible cases included, numbers in the 19 diagnosis/procedure cohorts ranged from 73 for tetralogy of Fallot repair after previous palliation to 1224 for ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair for isolated VSD. In aggregate, the unadjusted mortality ranged from 0% for atrial septal defect repair to 28.4% for hybrid stage I. There was significant heterogeneity in case mix and mortality for different diagnosis/procedure cohorts across centers (eg, arterial switch operation/VSD, n = 7-42, mortality 0%-7.4%; Norwood procedure, n = 16-122, mortality 5.3%-25%). CONCLUSIONS: Reporting of institutional case volumes and outcomes within well-defined diagnosis/procedure cohorts can enable centers to benchmark outcomes, understand trends in mortality, and direct quality improvement. When made public, this type of report could provide parents with information on institutional volumes and outcomes and allow them to better understand the experience of each program with operations for specific congenital heart defects.