Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connection Repair: Single-Center Outcomes in a Lower-Middle Income Region.

BACKGROUND: The management of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) in neonates and infants is resource-intensive. We describe early and follow-up outcomes after surgical repair of isolated TAPVC at a single institution in a resource-limited setting. METHODS: The data of 316 consecutive patients with isolated TAPVC undergoing repair (January 2010-September 2020) were reviewed. The study setting was a tertiary hospital in southern India that provides subsidized or charitable care. Standard surgical technique was used for repair, circulatory arrest was avoided, and suture-less anastomosis was reserved for small or stenotic pulmonary veins. Surgical and postoperative strategies were directed toward minimizing intensive care unit (ICU) stay. RESULTS: 302 (95.6%) patients were infants and 128 patients (40.5%) were neonates; median weight was 3.3 kg (IQR 2.8-4.0 kg). Obstruction of the TAPVC was seen in 176 patients (56%) and pulmonary hypertension in 278 patients (88%). Seventeen (5.4%) underwent delayed sternal closure. The median postoperative ICU stay was 120 h (IQR 96-192 h), mechanical ventilation was 45 h (IQR 24-82 h), and hospital stay was 13 days (IQR 9-17 days). There were three in-hospital deaths (0.9%). Over a median follow-up period of 53.3 months (IQR 22.9-90.4), pulmonary vein restenosis was seen in 32 patients (10.1%) after a mean of 2.2 months (1-6 months). No perioperative risk factors for restenosis were identified. CONCLUSIONS: Using specific perioperative strategies, it is possible to correct TAPVC with excellent surgical outcomes in low-resource environments. Late pulmonary vein restenosis remains an important complication.

Transaxillary Approach for Surgical Repair of Simple Congenital Cardiac Lesions: Pitfalls, and Complications.

BACKGROUND: In the treatment of simple congenital cardiac lesions, percutaneous and cosmetic surgical approaches have steadily gained prominence. Surgically, right vertical axillary approach is sparsely used despite superior cosmesis and less pain and blood product usage. Knowledge of potential pitfalls could lead to its more widespread acceptance. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed perioperative outcomes of 104 consecutive patients who underwent surgery by this technique between mid-2016 and December 2019, including ostium secundum (67), sinus venosus (34), coronary sinus (1), and ostium primum (1) atrial septal defects and hemianomalous pulmonary venous connection (1). Perioperative variables, surgical times, complications, and follow-up data were analyzed. RESULTS: Patient weight ranged from 6.8 to 41 kg. Incision length ranged from 4 to 6 cm. There was no mortality. All cannulation was central. Difficulty in cannulation (inferior vena cava) was seen in two patients. Morbidity included pneumothorax in 2 (1.9%) patients and subcutaneous emphysema necessitating prolonged intercostal drain retention in 20 (19.2%) patients. Surgical time increased linearly (r = 0.567; P < .001) with increasing patient weight but cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time remained unaffected. No chest deformities or paresthesia were noted on follow-up. Scar size decreased in some patients. CONCLUSIONS: Right vertical axillary approach can be safely employed to treat simple congenital cardiac lesions with adequate awareness of potential pitfalls. Increasing patient weight increases the surgical time but does not affect CPB times. Incidence of pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema is similar to other thoracotomy approaches. It is cosmetically superior.

Comparison of Nasal bi-level Positive Airway Pressure Versus High-flow Nasal Cannula as a Means of Noninvasive Respiratory Support in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Noninvasive respiratory support is often used in preventing postextubation respiratory failure in neonates and infants after cardiac surgery. AIM: We compared the efficacy of nasal Bilevel Positive Airway Pressure (N/BiPAP) with that of High- flow Nasal Cannula(HFNC) in prevention of post extubation respiratory failure and maintenance of gas exchange in neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery. The incidence of complications related to the use of these modes were also compared. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This is a retrospective review of medical records of patients in pediatric cardiac intensive unit of a high-volume center. METHODS: A total of 100 patients who received noninvasive respiratory support postextubation were divided into N/BiPAP group and HFNC group. The two groups were compared for postextubation respiratory failure, gas exchange in arterial blood gas at 24 h of extubation, and incidence of complications, namely pneumothorax, abdominal distension, and device-interface-related pressure ulcers. RESULTS: Fifty patients each received N/BiPAP and HFNC after extubation. Patients who received N/BiPAP were younger (2.68 ± 2.97 months vs. 6.94 ± 4.04 months, P = 0.001) and had longer duration of postoperative ventilation (106.98 ± 79.02 h vs. 62.72 ± 46.14 h, P = 0.001). The reintubation rates were similar (20% [n = 10] in N/BiPAP group vs. 8% [n = 4] in HFNC group, P = 0.074). The mean arterial PO2 values at 24 h of extubation was 119.17 ± 56.07 mmHg for N/BiPAP group versus 123.32 ± 64.33 mmHg for HFNC group (P = 0.732). Arterial PCO2 values at 24 h were similar (43.97 ± 43.64 mmHg in N/BiPAP vs. 37.67 ± 4.78 mmHg in HFNC, P = 0.318). N/BiPAP group had higher incidence of abdominal distension (16% [n = 8] vs. nil in HFNC group, P = 0.003) and interface-related pressure ulcers (86% [n = 43] vs. 14% [n = 7] P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: N/BiPAP and HFNC have comparable efficacy in preventing reintubation and maintaining gas exchange. HFNC has fewer complications compared to N/BiPAP.