Preoperative and Intraoperative Risk Factors for Surgical Site Infection in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major complication of pediatric cardiac surgery. If the risk of developing SSI can be predicted based on the patient's preoperative background, appropriate preoperative management to prevent the development of SSI can be achieved. METHODS: We retrospectively studied cases for patients younger than 7 years of age among surgeries performed through a median sternotomy at Kagoshima University Hospital from April 2011 to March 2021. SSI was diagnosed according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and classified into 3 types: superficial incisional SSI (SiSSI), deep incisional SSI (DiSSI) and mediastinitis. RESULTS: Of the 765 consecutive pediatric cardiac surgeries, 597 were included in the analysis based on the exclusion criteria. Of these, 17 (2.8%) developed SSI (3 SiSSI cases, 2 DiSSI cases and 12 mediastinitis cases), with Staphylococcus aureus as the major pathogen. Univariate analysis revealed that low preoperative serum protein ( P = 0.049) and low serum albumin levels ( P = 0.023) were risk factors for the development of SSI. No findings suggested impaired hepatic synthesis, inflammatory disease or protein loss from the kidney or intestinal tract. We concluded that malnutrition caused low serum protein and albumin levels. CONCLUSIONS: Low preoperative serum protein and albumin levels are risk factors for SSI development of SSI. Nutritional status should be regularly assessed in children scheduled for cardiac surgery, and interventions, such as nutritional guidance, should be considered if malnutrition is suspected.

How should we treat representative neonatal surgical diseases with congenital heart disease?

PURPOSE: Representative neonatal surgical diseases are often complicated by congenital heart disease (CHD). We reviewed our decade of experience from the perspective of the prognosis and report on the management of infants with CHD. METHODS: Cases with and without CHD between 2011 and 2020 were retrospectively compared. Qualitative data were analyzed using a chi-square test with Yates' correction, and quantitative data were compared using Student's t-test. RESULTS: Of the 275 neonatal surgical cases, 36 had CHD (13.1%). Ventricular septal defect was the most common cardiac anomaly, followed by atrial septal defect. Esophageal atresia showed the highest complication rate of CHD (43.8%, 14/32) followed by duodenal atresia (38.5%, 10/26). The mortality rates of patients with and without CHD (22.2% [8/36] vs. 1.3% [3/239]) were significantly different (χ2 = 30.6, p < 0.0001). Of the eight deaths with CHD, six patients had cyanotic complex CHD. Notably, four of these patients died from progression of inappropriate hemodynamics in the remote period after definitive non-cardiac surgery. CONCLUSION: Considering its high-mortality, the presence of CHD, especially cyanotic heart disease, is an important issue to consider in the treatment of neonatal surgical diseases. Pediatric surgeons should be alert for changes in hemodynamics after surgery, as these may affect mortality.

Long-term results of partial repair for irreparable rotator cuff tear.

BACKGROUND: The irreparability of rotator cuff repair is generally determined during surgery. We have been performing partial repairs for rotator cuff tears that are deemed irreparable with primary repair. The aim of this study is to report, for the first time, the long-term postoperative outcome of our partial repair method and to clarify the criteria for the irreparability of primary repair. METHODS: The UCLA score, radiographic findings, and magnetic resonance imaging findings of 156 shoulders that underwent rotator cuff repair (primary repair, 126 shoulders; partial repair, 30 shoulders) were retrospectively evaluated at preoperative and >10-year postoperative follow-up (mean evaluation time, 11.5 ± 1.0 years). Osteoarthritic (OA) changes were evaluated by radiographic findings, and the cuff integrity (Sugaya classification) and fatty infiltration (Goutallier classification) were evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging findings. These evaluations were compared between a primary repair group and partial repair group. RESULTS: Although no significant difference was observed between preoperative and postoperative findings for the UCLA score, the strength of forward flexion was significantly lower at 10 years postoperatively in the partial repair group. Preoperative image evaluation showed no significant difference in OA changes between the 2 groups; however, fatty infiltration showed significantly greater progression in the partial repair group than the primary repair group. At >10-year postoperative follow-up, the OA changes, cuff integrity, and fatty infiltration showed significantly greater progression in the partial repair group compared to the primary repair group. Although the long-term outcome of the partial repair group was inferior to that of the primary repair group in imaging evaluations, good functional outcome of the shoulder joint was maintained. CONCLUSION: Our results suggested that partial repair could be an effective treatment option for irreparable rotator cuff tear. In terms of the feasibility of primary repair, the cutoff value for preoperative fatty infiltration was stage 2; thus, we believe that primary repair should be performed for cases with stage 2 fatty infiltration or lower, and partial repair should be performed for cases with stage 3 fatty infiltration or higher. However, manual workers and athletes with stage 3 fatty infiltration or higher should be advised in advance that mild muscle weakness may remain after surgery.

Case Report: 18F-FDG PET-CT for Diagnosing Prosthetic Device-Related Infection in an Infant With CHD.

Patients who have undergone cardiac surgery using prosthetic devices have an increased risk of developing prosthetic device-related infection and mediastinitis. However, accurate diagnosis of prosthetic device-related infection can be difficult to evaluate and treat with antibiotic therapy alone. In recent years, 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-computed tomography (18F-FDG PET-CT) has made promising contributions to detect infective endocarditis, pacemaker infections, or other inflammations. Nevertheless, 18F-FDG PET-CT for congenital heart disease (CHD) with device infection has been sparsely reported. We present an infantile girl diagnosed with pulmonary atresia with a ventricular septal defect who underwent replacement of the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit for improvement cyanosis. She developed high fever and was diagnosed with mediastinitis and bacteremia by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) on postoperative day 4. Mediastinal drainage and 6 weeks of antibiotic therapy improved her condition, but bacteremia flared up on postoperative day 56. Despite a long course of antibiotic therapy, she had two more recurrences of bacteremia with the detection of P. aeruginosa. Echocardiography and chest contrast CT showed no evidence of vegetation and mediastinitis. On postoperative day 115, 18F-FDG PET-CT revealed an accumulation on the RV-PA conduit (SUV max 3.4). Finally, she developed an infectious ventricular pseudo-aneurysm on postoperative day 129 and underwent aneurysm removal and RV-PA conduit replacement on postoperative day 136. Our case showed the importance of 18F-FDG PET-CT for diagnosing specific localization of prosthetic device-related infection which is hard to detect using other imaging techniques. It can be a useful diagnostic tool for infantile patients with CHD with cardiac prosthetic devices and improve subsequent clinical treatments.

Long-term clinical and imaging outcomes after primary repair of small- to medium-sized rotator cuff tears.

BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tear is a common disease for middle-aged and elderly patients, and relatively good postoperative outcomes have been reported in the literature. The aim of the study was to examine cases that underwent miniopen rotator cuff repair and to clarify their long-term clinical and imaging outcomes. METHODS: A total of 68 patients who underwent a miniopen repair for small- to medium-sized rotator cuff tears with good cuff integrity and without retear on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 1 year postoperatively were followed up for a minimum of 10 years (mean ± standard deviation: 11.4 ± 1.2 years) and analyzed retrospectively. One-year and 10-year postoperative University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder scores and radiographs were compared. MRI was used to evaluate cuff integrity and fatty infiltration, and staging at 1 and 10 years was compared. RESULTS: The 1-year and 10-year postoperative UCLA scores were 33.1 points and 32.9 points, respectively. There were no significant differences between the two groups. Plain radiography showed that osteoarthritis (OA) staging was significantly worse at 10 years postoperatively compared to 1 year postoperatively. Cuff integrity was maintained at an excellent level at 10 years postoperatively. Fatty infiltration significantly progressed up to 10 years postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: At 10 years postoperatively, OA progression and fatty infiltration were observed; however, UCLA scores and cuff integrity remained well preserved.

Validation of acute kidney injury according to the modified KDIGO criteria in infants after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease.

AIM: We aimed to validate the incidence of, risk factors for, and postoperative outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI) according to the modified Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (m-KDIGO) criteria and compare this criteria with both the paediatric Risk, Injury, Failure, Loss, End-stage disease (pRIFLE) and Acute Kidney Injury Network (AKIN) criteria in infants after cardiac surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively enrolled 145 consecutive infants who underwent open-heart surgery at Kagoshima University Hospital. RESULTS: Acute kidney injury was present in 55 (37.9%), 111 (75.9%), and 95 (65.5%) patients according to the m-KDIGO, pRIFLE, and AKIN criteria, respectively. Among these, 71.9% of patients pRIFLE Risk patients and 60.5% of AKIN 1 patients were categorized in the 'no-AKI' group according to the m-KDIGO criteria. Low body weight (m-KDIGO odds ratio [OR], 0.73; P = 0.015; pRIFLE OR, 0.66; P = 0.001; AKIN OR 0.69, P = 0.002) and prolonged cross-clamp time (m-KDIGO OR, 1.02;

Massive Heterotopic Ossification in the Subdeltoid Space after Shoulder Surgery and Symptomatic Improvement from Conservative Treatment: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: We herein report a case of heterotopic ossification (HO) in the subdeltoid space after open resection and rotator cuff repair in a patient with refractory calcific tendinitis. CASE: A 56-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of right shoulder pain and difficulty in raising his arm. The patient was diagnosed with calcific tendinitis with contracture of the right shoulder joint and was scheduled for surgery because of refractory shoulder pain. Calcium removal was performed using a mini-open approach. Postoperative radiographs showed no calcium deposits. There was mild residual pain at 3 months postoperatively, and the range of motion (ROM) had deteriorated when compared to preoperative levels. A massive ossified shadow was observed in the subdeltoid space on radiographs. Etidronate disodium was orally administered, and the patient continued to undergo careful rehabilitation. HO occurred at 3 months postoperatively, matured at 1 year postoperatively, and showed no progression between 1 year and 2 years postoperatively. The clinical symptoms corresponded with the image findings, and restricted ROM and decreased shoulder function scores were observed at 3 months postoperatively. Although the ROM remained restricted and the function score remained low until 1 year postoperatively, a gradual recovery was achieved at 2 years postoperatively, and the patient did not require reoperation. DISCUSSION: Although early diagnosis, evaluation, and resection are recommended for treating HO, the maturation of bone may lead to symptomatic improvement and the prevention of reoperation, provided that careful rehabilitative measures are performed to avoid ankyloses.

Reimplantation of an anomalous left coronary artery with a malignant course.

A 14-year-old boy was diagnosed with an anomalous left coronary artery coursing between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery and associated with a single coronary ostium. Owing to the high risk of sudden cardiac death, surgery was performed although he was asymptomatic with no sign of myocardial ischemia. Reimplantation of an anomalous left coronary artery is generally considered difficult because an aortic cuff is unavailable for coronary anastomosis; however, we accomplished a successful direct reimplantation in this patient. This procedure offers another choice in the surgical treatment of anomalous left coronary artery.

Osteoarthritis progression of the shoulder: A long-term follow-up after mini-open rotator cuff repair.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether (1) the primary repair of rotator cuff tears can prevent the progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and (2) the quality of postoperative cuff integrity affects the incidence of osteoarthritic changes. METHODS: A total of 86 patients treated with mini-open repair for rotator cuff tears over a minimum of 10 years of follow-up (mean ± standard deviation 11.1 ± 1.0 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Preoperative and postoperative radiographs of the affected and unaffected sides were compared, and the degree of OA was evaluated using the Samilson and Prieto classification. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate cuff integrity, classify patients into good and poor cuff integrity groups, and compare the degree of OA between the two groups. RESULTS: OA deteriorated either significantly or to a similar degree on both sides postoperatively. However, OA progressed in significantly more cases on the affected side. A comparison between the aforementioned cuff integrity groups showed that the postoperative OA of the poor cuff integrity group was significantly worse than that of the good cuff integrity group on the affected side. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that even if rotator cuff tears are repaired, the progression of osteoarthritic changes cannot be halted. The progression of OA was affected by cuff integrity. Rotator cuff dysfunction due to poor cuff integrity was a risk factor for shoulder arthritis.

A case of arterial switch operation with coronary elongation technique.

A 28-day-old infant with D-transposition of the great arteries underwent arterial switch operation. The coronary pattern was Yacoub type A, in which coronary transfer is usually thought to be easy. However, a dominant conus branch diverged from the proximal portion of the left coronary artery (LCA). Moreover, the LCA ostium itself was near the remote commissure in sinus 1, very far from the target re-implantation point. All of these conditions made LCA transfer very difficult. We used a coronary elongation technique to solve this problem. An inverted U-shaped flap was made in the wall of the neoaorta, and the LCA cuff was anastomosed to this flap (the inferior half from the neoaortic flap and the superior half from the LCA cuff). To prevent compression of the LCA, the neopulmonary trunk was shifted rightward. Postoperative echocardiography showed good left ventricular wall motion, and the LCA was easily visualized on chest computed tomography, with no compression from the neopulmonary artery.

[Extracardiac Aorto-right Atrial Fistula after Aortic Valve Replacement].

The development of a fistula between the aorta and the right atrium is a relatively rare but well-documented complication after cardiac surgery and proximal aortic dissection, and has a high mortality rate if it is not diagnosed adequately and surgically treated without delay. We report a rare case of extracardiac aorta-right atrial fistula. An 86-year-old woman underwent aortic valve replacement via median sternotomy. Two weeks after surgery, the upper median skin incision reopened, which exposed the sternum and revealed purulent discharge inside the wound. Wound and blood cultures were positive for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The wound was treated, and healed in approximately 2 weeks. Six weeks after surgery, the patient suddenly presented with dyspnea because of heart failure.Extracardiac aorto-right atrial fistula was confirmed by computed tomography. During surgery, we found an extracardiac fistula formed in the hematoma between the sites where the aortic vent suture was tied and the caval cannula was removed. The infection seemed to have contributed to the development of the fistula and may have persisted in the ascending aorta or artificial valve, which may have led to cerebral hemorrhage resulting in death 4 months later.

Aortic fenestration for type B chronic aortic dissection complicated with lower limb malperfusion induced by walking exercise.

We report a case of a 55-year-old male with type B-chronic aortic dissection. Patient presented with intermittent claudication due to limb malperfusion resulting from expansion of a patent false lumen during walking regardless of normal range ankle-brachial index (ABI) at rest. Preoperative stress vascular ultrasonography was an effective modality for proper diagnosis. We should be concerned of reversible ischemia due to the dissection flap in patients with type B aortic dissection. Fenestration of the aorta can be a choice of treatment in such patients. The patient has been doing well with no ischemia for 3.5 years after the operation.

Atypical pulmonary venous drainage pathway associated with infracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection: report of a case.

Darling's classification for total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is based only on the level of the site of drainage of the anomalous pulmonary veins (PVs) to the systemic venous circulation. Although it is a clinically useful classification, atypical course of the PVs is occasionally encountered as well. We report a case of infracardiac-type TAPVC in which the left upper PV traversed the posterior mediastinum and merged into the right PVs at the right hilum. The combined vein coursed medially and caudally, meeting the left lower PVs, and finally penetrated the diaphragm; the pulmonary venous drainage formed a shape of "C." Despite definitive diagnosis according to Darling's classification, sometimes atypical course of the PVs do exist. Echocardiography may not be adequate for atypical cases. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography may be recommended in stable patients where an atypical course is suspected.

A rare cardiac haemangioma in the right ventricle diagnosed accurately using ¹8F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography.

A right ventricular cardiac tumour was incidentally detected in a 61-year-old man during a preoperative examination for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Findings on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested the differential diagnoses of myxoma, haemangioma and haemangiosarcoma, and it was difficult to identify whether the tumour was benign or malignant. (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography strongly suggested a benign tumour. We enucleated the tumour, because an intraoperative frozen section also strongly suggested a benign origin. After resection, CABG under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis indicated a cavernous haemangioma without evidence of malignant tissue. The patient has survived 20 months after surgery with no evidence of tumour recurrence.