Postoperative kinetics of common inflammatory biomarkers after congenital heart defect procedures with extracorporeal circulation in children.

BACKGROUND: Extracorporeal circulation is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Therefore, the diagnosis of infection should be differentiated from a typical postoperative course. AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the kinetics of inflammatory biomarkers in children in the first days after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation. METHODS: Prospective data were collected from 51 consecutive children referred for surgical treatment in Department of Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, St. Adalbertus Hospital in Gdansk, between February and August 2015. Blood samples were collected on the first, second, and third postoperative days and sent to the institutional laboratory for routine investigations: white blood cell count, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin concentrations. RESULTS: The highest levels of procalcitonin were on the first postoperative day (median 3.53 ng/mL), although the peak values of CRP concentration and white blood cell count were on the second postoperative day (96 mg/L and 17.3 G/L). In the group of patients with foreign material implantation (Contegra® or Gore-Tex®), the higher values of procalcitonin concentration and white blood cell count were measured in the subsequent postoperative days. CONCLUSIONS: The kinetics of analysed inflammatory biomarkers on the first days after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in children have different characteristics. The knowledge about the kinetics of inflammatory biomarkers could be useful in determining the possibility of evolving infections in the early postoperative period.

Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk in its new location - previous activity and perspectives for development.

The Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk is the only pediatric cardiac surgery center in northern Poland providing comprehensive treatment to children with congenital heart defects. The Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk currently offers a full spectrum of advanced procedures of modern cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology dedicated to patients from infancy to adolescence. January 19, 2016 marked the official opening of its new location.

Colonization of multidrug resistant pathogens in a hybrid pediatric cardiac surgery center.

INTRODUCTION: The incidence of multidrug resistant microorganisms worldwide is increasing. The aim of the study was to present institutional experience with the multidrug resistant microorganism colonization patterns observed in children with congenital heart diseases hospitalized in a hybrid pediatric cardiac surgery center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Microbiological samples were routinely collected in all children admitted to our department. All microbiological samples were analyzed with regard to multidrug resistant microorganisms: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Gram-negative rods producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL), multidrug resistant Gram-negative rods (MDR-GNRs), carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA). RESULTS: In 30 (9%) swabs 'alert' pathogens from the above group of listed microorganisms were found. All positive swabs were isolated in 19 (16.1%) children. Multidrug resistant pathogen colonization was statistically significantly more often observed in children admitted from other medical facilities than in children admitted from home (38% vs. 10%, p = 0.0089). In the group of children younger than 6 months 'alert' pathogen were more often observed than in older children (34.1% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative multidrug resistant pathogen screening in children admitted and referred for congenital heart disease procedures may be of great importance since many of these patients are colonized with resistant bacteria. Knowledge of the patient's microbiome is important in local epidemiological control along with tailoring the most effective preoperative prophylactic antibiotic for each patient. The impact of preoperative screening on postoperative infections and other complications requires further analysis.

Alternative hybrid and staged interventional treatment of congenital heart defects in critically ill children with complex and non-cardiac problems.

INTRODUCTION: An individually designed strategy of comprehensive alternative hybrid and staged interventional treatment (AHASIT) can be a reasonable alternative to conventional treatment of congenital heart defects, reduce the risk of cardiac surgery or interventions performed separately, and give an additional chance for critically ill children. AIM: To present our experience and the results of AHASIT of severely ill or borderline children referred for surgery with the diagnosis of congenital heart defects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A group of 22 patients with complex cardiac and non-cardiac pathologies was retrospectively selected and analyzed. An individual preoperative severity scale was established for AHASIT patients, with one point for each of the following preoperative complications: prematurity, low body weight, cyanosis, intolerance to drug therapy, failed interventional treatment prior to admission, mechanical ventilation prior to the procedure, chronic respiratory failure and non-cardiac, mainly congenital malformations (congenital diaphragmatic hernia, lower extremity agenesia, duodenal atresia) and acquired problems (newborn edema, necrotic enterocolitis, intracranial hemorrhage, liver and renal failure, anemia and thrombocytopenia, infections or colonization with drug-resistant pathogens). RESULTS: The analysis of the postoperative course showed that the patients with 5 AHASIT points or more had a more complicated postoperative course than the patients with 1 to 4 AHASIT points. CONCLUSIONS: The AHASIT of pediatric congenital heart defects with complex and non-cardiac problems appeared to be an attractive option for selected severely ill patients. The strategy was found to be effective in selected neonates suffering from complex and accompanying non-cardiac pathologies, with positive final results of both cardiological intervention and planned surgery.

Minimally invasive transxiphoid approach for management of pediatric cardiac tamponade - one center's experience.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac tamponade is excessive collection of fluid in the pericardial sac surrounding the heart that leads to restriction of cardiac function and causes critical cardiogenic shock and rapid circulatory depression. Despite the potential variety of different etiologies in the face of a dangerous decrease of cardiac output, the emergency life-saving procedure is surgical pericardial fluid evacuation. AIM: To perform a retrospective analysis of clinical data and the results of minimally invasive transxiphoid pediatric cardiac tamponade evacuation procedures performed in a cardiac surgery center. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of all consecutive patients referred for treatment in our department in a period of 6 years (15 patients) who underwent emergency pericardial drainage after an echocardiographically proven diagnosis. The procedure of choice was minimally invasive transxiphoid fluid evacuation with routine pericardial drainage. Retrospective operative data analysis was performed: clinical symptoms, pre-admission and initial emergency diagnostics and interventions, the morphology and total amount of drained pericardial fluid, length of stay, final results, and overall survival rate. We introduced an original pediatric tamponade index (PTI). The PTI was analyzed according to catecholamine support before the drainage and the length of hospital stay after the procedure. RESULTS: All patients survived the procedure. No early complications of the presented minimally invasive subxiphoid approach were noted. Mean PTI in patients with intensive catecholamine support before the operation was significantly higher than in patients without it. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgical transxiphoid interventions appear to be a safe and effective method to provide life-saving support with retrieval of the fluid for further laboratory investigations.

Inflammatory marker levels after hybrid treatment of selected congenital heart disease in children.

BACKGROUND: Hybrid treatment of congenital heart disease is indicated in a selected group of borderline patients who do not have clear indications for either surgery or interventional treatment. Hybrid procedures take the best from cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology to reduce patient risk and trauma. Hybrid closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD) without the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) might be less traumatic for patient. AIM: To compare levels of inflammatory markers and clinical symptoms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome during early postoperative care after conventional cardiac surgery and hybrid treatment. METHODS: Our study group of 36 paediatric cardiac surgical patients in Gdansk included 22 children with perimembraneous VSD and/or ASD who underwent cardiac surgery using with ECC and 12 children with muscular VSD and 2 children with ASD who underwent hybrid treatment. We retrospectively evaluated inflammatory markers including C-reactive protein (CRP) level, white blood cell (WBC) count and mean platelet volume (MPV), and clinical variables including total duration of stay in the ward, blood transfusions, prolonged respiratory support, fever, arrhythmias, catecholamine support and wound infections. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare CRP levels, WBC count and MPV between the study groups. RESULTS: Surgical outcomes were good in all children, with no residual leakage. A similar, predictable increase in inflammatory markers (CRP, WBS, MPV) was found in all groups: conventional cardiac surgery with ECC, hybrid treatment without ECC, and hybrid treatment with ECC. Comparison of these groups showed no statistically significant differences between levels of inflammatory markers as well as other clinical variables. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid septal defect closure induces systemic inflammatory response syndrome activation as measured by CRP level, WBC count, and MPV, which is similar to that observed after cardiac surgery using ECC. Elevations of CRP level, WBC count, and MPV were similar after hybrid treatment with or without ECC. No significant differences were noted between trends of postoperative changes in the levels of inflammatory markers after treatment.

Operative treatment of tetralogy of Fallot with concomitant correction of anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from Kommerell's diverticulum.

Anomalies in development of the pulmonary valve, pulmonary trunk and peripheral pulmonary arteries are typical accompanying pathologies in patients with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF). Demanding for diagnostics and borderline for treatment is a condition colloquially called "discontinuous pulmonary arteries", while the main branches are supplied with systemic blood from the ascending aorta, aortic arch or descending thoracic aorta. We present a case of a one-year-old girl with ToF and anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery (LPA) from Kommerell's diverticulum who underwent two-stage surgical therapy with the support of interventional cardiology. We conclude that early diagnosis of discontinuous pulmonary artery is crucial for choosing the optimal operative strategy. In our opinion, simultaneous anatomic intracardiac correction with direct pulmonary reconstruction seems reasonable and effective, particularly when the result is achieved after joint efforts of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology.

Hybrid cardiovascular procedures in the treatment of selected congenital heart disease in children: a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND: Paediatric hybrid cardiovascular procedures are becoming increasingly popular due to the wide spectrum of cardiovascular abnormalities and a large population of patients who could benefit from hybrid therapy. Contemporary hybrid procedures are introduced in the settings where routine cardiac surgery or cardiac interventions would not allow satisfactory results. Combining cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology techniques appears more beneficial and less invasive for the patient. AIM: To present results of hybrid procedures performed in the treatment of selected congenital heart disease in our centre in 2008-2013. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed consecutive 80 patients referred for hybrid procedures. RESULTS: Overall, 73 patients survived, with 4 early and 3 late deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Hybrid procedures in children with congenital heart disease combine the experience of cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology. Hybrid treatment is an alternative option for selected borderline patients. Initial results of hybrid treatment encourage further development of these methods and strategies to provide optimal benefits for the patients.

Miniinvasive interventional bridge to major surgical repair of critical aortic coarctation in a newborn with severe multiorgan failure.

We present a case of a severely ill newborn with complex coarctation, multiorgan failure and massive oedema, who was treated with emergency stenting of the isthmus on the second day of life, which was followed by surgical stent removal and repair of the arch on the 29(th) day, after stabilization of his general status. Interventional percutaneous direct stent implantation was performed, using a coronary stent (Abbott Multi-Link Vision Coronary Stent 3.5 mm/15 mm, USA) to cover the area of the aortic isthmus in the newborn. The area from the origin of the left subclavian artery to the beginning of the descending thoracic aorta beneath the isthmus was widely expanded. Control angiography showed normal size of the isthmus without a systolic gradient in the area. In the next 3 weeks the boy improved his general status, with normalization of liver and renal parameters, as well as resolution of the oedema, and underwent surgery on his 29(th) day of life. The procedure of stent removal with aortic extended end-to-end anastomosis was performed without complications, and the infant was transferred to general paediatrics for further treatment. The strategy of miniinvasive interventional bridge to postpone major surgical repair was effective in the presented infant, with positive final results of both cardiological intervention and subsequent surgical repair.

Reconstruction of the left-sided brachiocephalic trunk after vascular ring operation in left-handed child with Kommerell's diverticulum.

We report a case of a 2-year-old girl with prenatal diagnosis of vascular ring composed of a right-sided aortic arch, a left ligamentum arteriosum, and a left subclavian artery (arteria lusoria sin) originating from a retroesophageal Kommerell's diverticulum, who was referred for surgery with symptoms related to local compression - severe dysphagia and respiratory disorders. Through the left posterolateral thoracotomy, a ligamentum arteriosum between the Kommerell's diverticulum and the left pulmonary artery was divided and because of left-handedness of the child a brachiocephalic trunk was reconstructed in the fashion of anastomosis of the left subclavian artery and the left common carotid artery, originating from the ascending aorta.

Proximal ductus arteriosus stenosis after the hybrid stage I procedure in a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

We present a case of a severely ill newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome after the hybrid stage I procedure, with right systemic ventricle insufficiency due to proximal ductus arteriosus stenosis. The child was successfully treated with percutaneous second PDA stent implantation.