Vacuum-assisted closure system in newborns after cardiac surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effectiveness and the results of the use of a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) system for the treatment of complex sternal wounds in newborns after cardiac surgery. METHODS: From May 2008 until December 2012, six patients developed post-sternotomy wound problems (large defects of epithelialization or mediastinitis), which were treated with a VAC system. Median age at the time of institution of VAC was 24.5 days (range 16 to 65 days). Median time of treatment was 14 days (range 3 to 42 days). RESULTS: All patients were newborns and all underwent delayed sternal closure after cardiac surgery. The indications for using the VAC system were: mediastinitis in two patients (33.3%) and impairment of healing without signs of infection in four (66.7%). All children after VAC therapy achieved healing of the sternal wound. VAC therapy was started with high negative pressures (-125 mmHg) continuously then switched to an intermittent modality in all patients. CONCLUSION: VAC system with high negative pressure is safe, effective, and is a well-tolerated therapy in newborns with complex sternal wounds.

Extracorporeal circulation, optimized: a pilot study.

We designed a pilot study to assess as primary end point the safety and efficacy of a new phosphorylcholine-coated, closed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) system (extracorporeal circulation, optimized [ECC.O], Dideco, Mirandola, Italy). The secondary end point was to compare results with two retrospectively matched cohorts of patients who underwent isolated coronary artery by-pass graft (CAGB) with nonphosphorylcholine-bonded circuits and cardiotomy suction (Group II, n = 32) and off-pump coronary artery by-pass (OPCAB) (Group III, n = 26). In January 2005, 30 patients (Group I) undergoing first-time CABG were assigned to the ECC.O group. Five minutes after CPB, initial hematocrit levels were significantly and consistently highest in Group I relative to Group II (Group I, 29.7 +/- 4.4 vs. Group II, 22.7 +/- 4.1; P < 0.001). Red blood cell transfusion rate was reduced drastically in Group I versus Group II (P < 0.001). High differences were also observed in C-reactive protein levels at 24 h after surgery (Group I vs. Group II-P < 0.001 and vs. Group III-P < 0.001) and at 72-h peak value (Group I vs. Group II-P < 0.001 and vs. Group III-P < 0.001). The routine clinical use of the ECC.O system has been demonstrated to be both clinically safe and efficacious. An intensive training program for surgeons, perfusionists, and anesthesiologists is required.

A method for chest drainage after pediatric cardiac surgery: a prospective randomized trial.

OBJECTIVES: The purposes of this study were to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of 10F, 15F, and 19F Blake drains (Ethicon, Sommerville, NJ) in a pediatric population after cardiac surgery and to compare their clinical effect with that of conventional chest drains. METHODS: From January 2002 through December 2004, a prospective randomized trial was conducted on 189 patients who underwent surgical intervention for congenital heart disease at our institution. Statistical analyses were conducted to test the null hypothesis that there was no difference in the incidence of pericardial or pleural effusion requiring drainage. Secondary end points included total volume of drainage, drain size, and time to drain removal. RESULTS: Ninety-eight patients (group A) received Blake drains, and 91 patients (group B) received conventional chest drains. There were no statistically significant difference in age, weight at the time of surgical intervention, open- and closed-heart procedures, and number of drains applied. Statistically significant differences were detected in the frequency of pericardial effusion (group A: 1.1% vs group B: 4.8%, P < .01), pleural effusion (group A: 1.1% vs group B: 5.3%, P < .01), size of the drain (group A: 12.37 French +/- 1.72 French vs group B: 16.81 French +/- 0.70 French, P < .001), and time to removal (group A: 43.75 +/- 20.76 hours vs group B: 55.62 +/- 26.48 hours, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Blake drains are safer and more efficient than conventional chest tubes in pediatric populations after cardiac surgery. In comparison with conventional chest tubes, they showed fewer occurrences of effusions and the same amount of fluid drained but smaller size and earlier removal.

Partial left ventriculectomy (Batista's Procedure) case report: 40 months follow-up.

OBJECTIVE: Partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) (also known as Batista's Procedure) is a surgical procedure for treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy when cardiac transplant is contraindicated. Mitral valve replacement is needed because of mitral regurgitation as a consequence of annulus enlargement and papillary muscle resection. Bleeding and arrythmias are the main complications. METHODS: We considered for this operation a 60-year-old male patient. He suffered from valvular dilating cardiomyopathy as a consequence of mitral and aortic valve regurgitation. Furthermore, a severe peripheral vascular disease treated with aortic-bifemoral prosthesis contraindicated heart transplantation. He needed frequent hospital admissions for pulmonary edema and his quality of life was very poor. Batista's procedure was performed in March 1998, successfully. Mitral and aortic valves were replaced by use of mechanical prosthesis. The postoperative period was characterized by early weaning from ventilator and drugs; atrial fibrillation, reversed by Amiodaron; a little bilateral pleural effusion; and pacemaker implantation following advanced heart conduction block. No bleeding episodes were observed. In March 2001 the progression of the vascular disease forced the patient to undergo to a femoro-femoral bypass and endoarterectomy of the right branch of the vascular prothesis. The patient tolerated the procedure very well. He had no complications during the postoperative period with early weaning from ventilator and drugs. RESULTS: At the end of the procedure ejection fraction raised from 15% to 30%. Echocardiographic data demonstrated a slow but progressive improvement of the cardiac diameters and volumes with a preserved left ventricular function. CONCLUSION: Even if a larger number of cases and longer follow-up are necessary, our report demonstrated that Batista's procedure should be considered as a surgical alternative to heart transplantation, in well-selected patients with absolute contraindication to heart transplantation and left ventricular assist device implantation.