Topical and Intravenous Tranexamic Acid in Acyanotic Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative bleeding is a common complication in congenital heart surgery. We aimed to evaluate effects of topical and intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) administration on postoperative hemoglobin and bleeding in children with acyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). METHODS: In this randomized clinical trial, 50 acyanotic CHD children were allocated into two groups of topical (n = 25) and infusion (n = 25). Children in the infusion group were given intravenous TXA 50 mg/kg-1 after sternotomy. Children in topical group were given 50 mg/kg-1 TXA added to 20 mL of saline intrapericardially before sternal closure. Primary endpoint of study was comparison of postoperative hemoglobin and bleeding between topical and infusion groups. A linear mixed model (LMM) was used to estimate longitudinal changes in postoperative endpoints. RESULTS: We did not observe significant differences in children's characteristics between two groups. Also, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes did not differ between two groups but children with intravenous TXA experienced significantly longer intubation time than topical children (P = 0.047). LMM analysis revealed that postoperative bleeding in topical group was lower compared to infusion group (P = 0.036). Also, age of children had a significant effect on mean changes of hemoglobin during postoperative care (ß = -0.27, P = 0.030). No children died and none had serious postoperative complications such as seizures and reoperation. CONCLUSIONS: We found that topical TXA is not superior to intravenous administration in management of blood loss. Also, no additional effect was found about topical TXA in further reducing transfusion rates and postoperative complications in acyanotic CHD children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Comparison of the therapeutic effects and side effects of tadalafil and sildenafil after surgery in young infants with pulmonary arterial hypertension due to systemic-to-pulmonary shunts.

Young children with CHD and large systemic-to-pulmonary shunts eventually develop pulmonary hypertension. At present, phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors such as sildenafil have been used to control pulmonary pressure before and after cardiac surgery. Recently, tadalafil has been utilised in older children with similar efficacy, but it has been used to a lesser extent in young infants. From April, 2015 to June, 2016, 42 patients aged 3-24 months with a large septal defect and pulmonary arterial hypertension were randomly divided into two equal groups: one group received oral sildenafil (1-3 mg/kg/day every 8 hours), whereas the other group received oral tadalafil (1 mg/kg once a day) from 7-10 days before surgery to 3-4 weeks after surgery. During the first 48 hours after surgery, pulmonary artery-to-aortic pressure ratio and recorded systolic pulmonary artery pressures were not significantly different between the two groups (p>0.05); moreover, there were no differences in paediatric ICU length of stay, mechanical ventilation time, clinical findings of low cardiac output state, and echocardiographic data between the two groups (p>0.05). Most of the patients had no side effects, and only five patients had a minor with no significant difference in both groups (p=0.371). Tadalafil can be considered as an effective oral therapy for preoperative and postoperative pulmonary hypertension in young infants. It can be administered at a once-daily dose with an appropriate efficacy and safety profile as sildenafil, and therefore it can be considered as an alternative to sildenafil in young children.

Prophylaxis of dexamethasone protects patients from further post-operative delirium after cardiac surgery: A randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: Coronary artery bypass graft is one of common cardiac surgeries which unfortunately accompany with some adverse events such as delirium. Proinflammatory processes play an important role in pathogenesis of post-operative delirium. Therefore, the effect of dexamethasone (DEX) on post-operative delirium after cardiac surgery was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This randomized clinical trial study was conducted with objective of evaluation of DEX effects on post-operative deliriums and complications after cardiac surgery. Ninety three eligible patients who undergone coronary arteries bypass graft was divided into two groups of DEX with 43 patients and placebo (PCB) with 50 patients. DEX group taken 8 mg DEX intra-venous before induction of anesthesia followed by 8 mg every 8 h for 3 day and other group received PCB in same way. RESULTS: All patients assessed by Mini-mental status questionnaire and psychiatric interviewing with aim of diagnosing delirium. Extubation time of DEX group was significantly reduced. The first post-operative day deliriums, extubation time, hospital, and intensive-care unit length of stay significantly reduced in DEX group without increasing serious complications such as infectious disease. After administration of DEX only hyperglycemia as an adverse event was increased in DEX group. Other complications of renal, cardiac, cerebrovascular and respiratory system did not show any significant differences between groups. CONCLUSION: Pre-operative administration of DEX might safely protect brain of the patients who undergone cardiac surgery against post-operative delirium.

Biventricular strain and strain rate impairment shortly after surgical repair of tetralogy of Fallot in children: A case-control study.

Background: Early biventricular dysfunction in repaired tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) children may lead to poor clinical outcomes. We aimed to assess biventricular function in TOF children before and after surgery by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) and compare them with the controls. Methods: Twenty repaired TOF children and 20 normal children as controls were assessed by STE. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), biventricular strain, and strain rate were compared before and after surgery and between TOF children and controls. Results: Postoperative LVEF (p = 0.001), strain (p = 0.001), and strain rate (p = 0.001) for left ventricle improved significantly compared to preoperative phase. However, postoperative left ventricular strain (p = 0.05) and strain rate (p = 0.01) in TOF children were significantly impaired compared to controls. Postoperative LVEF was correlated inversely with postoperative strain rate (r = -0.40, p = 0.04). Postoperative TAPSE (p = 0.001), strain (p = 0.001), and strain rate (p = 0.001) for right ventricle significantly worsened when compared with the preoperative phase. Moreover, postoperative TAPSE (p = 0.001), strain (p = 0.001), and strain rate (p = 0.01) were significantly impaired compared to controls. Postoperative right ventricular strain rate was correlated significantly with the weight of children (r = 0.48, p = 0.02), and postoperative left ventricular strain showed significant correlations with aortic clamp time (r = 0.44, p = 0.04) and with ICU stay (r = -0.46, p = 0.04). Conclusion: Despite normal LVEF, TOF children exhibit impaired left ventricular strain and strain rate after surgery. TAPSE, strain, and strain rate for the right ventricle worsen after surgical repair. STE-driven strain can be used to detect early ventricular dysfunction and the associated prognostic implications.

Case Report: Acute Intracardiac Thrombosis in Children With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

We herein describe a case series of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) complicated with acute intracardiac thrombosis. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed through the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Transthoracic echocardiography of patients revealed large intracardiac mobile masses resected successfully via cardiac surgery. The underlying mechanisms of this thrombus in the COVID-19 infection may be attributed to the hypercoagulation and inflammatory state of the disease incurred by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Effect of single-dose crystalloid cardioplegic agent compared to bloody cardioplegic agent in cardiac surgery in children with Tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND: Cardioplegia is one of the main post-operative cardiac protective factors widely used in recent decades in the form of crystalloid (St. Thomas) and bloody solutions [del Nido (DN)]. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of a crystalloid cardioplegic agent (St. Thomas) with that of a bloody cardioplegic agent (DN) in pediatric cardiac surgery among children with Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF). METHODS: This study was performed on 60 children with TOF, who were candidates for heart repair surgery. The participants were randomly divided into two groups of crystalloid cardioplegic agent and bloody cardioplegic agent. Operative outcomes such as required time for onset of heart arrest, duration of returning to normal heart rhythm, and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, and operative complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: The duration of returning to normal heart rhythm (50.43 ± 10.93 seconds vs. 43.03 ± 16.35 seconds; P = 0.044) and duration of inotropy (80.40 ± 27.14 hours vs. 63.20 ± 26.91 hours; P = 0.017) were significantly higher in the DN group compared to the St. Thomas group. However, there were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of heart arrest time, cross-clamp time, CPB time, supplementary lasix time, duration of intubation, and intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay (LOS) (P > 0.050). CONCLUSION: The use of St. Thomas cardioplegic solution was more effective in reducing the duration of returning to normal heart rhythm and inotropy compared with DN cardioplegic agent, and a single dose of these two cardioplegic agents can keep the mean cardiac arrest duration within the range of 50-70 minutes. It seems that the use of St. Thomas cardioplegic solution can be suggested in pediatric heart surgery.

Comparative Outcomes of Primary Arterial Switch Operation for Transposition of Great Arteries within the First Month of Life.

Background: The optimal surgical plan to correct the simple transposition of the great arteries (TGA) is the arterial switch operation (ASO). This study aimed to assess the outcomes of ASO in infants with simple TGA with a special focus on the time of surgery. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 105 infants with simple TGA who underwent ASO and categorized them into 3 groups based on the time of repair: first week of life: Group A; second week of life: Group B; and third week of life: Group C. The endpoints, comprised of an assessment of pre- and postoperative outcomes, complications, and survival, were compared between the groups. Results: The mean age of the infants was 10.50±6.26 days, and 61 (58.1%) cases were male. The mean number of days on dopamine was 1.85±0.12 in Group A, 2.48±0.03 in Group B, and 2.67±0.08 in Group C (P<0.001). The mean number of days on epinephrine was 1.25±0.07 in Group B and 1.27±0.08 in Group C (P<0.001). The mean number of days on the ventilator was 3.52±0.20 in Group A, 4.56±0.24 in Group B, and 5.06±0.21 in Group C (P<0.001). The mean number of days of ICU stay was 6.69±0.21 in Group A, 8.46±0.57 in Group B, and 9.70±0.64 in Group C (P<0.001). The infants in Group A had a greater survival rate (97.0%) than those in Group B (94.1%) and Group C (78.4%) (P=0.042). Conclusion: ASO in infants with simple TGA can be done within the first week of life with satisfactory outcomes and survival.

A case series of pulmonary hypertension in small infants with atrial septal defect.

BACKGROUND: Atrial septal defect (ASD) is one of the most common congenital heart defects (CHDs) with prevalence of 8% to 10% in children with CHD and incidence of 56 per 100000 live births. It is categorized according to the defect site in which the most common form is secundum ASD (ASD2) with the defect in the central part of the atrial septum. CASE REPORT: In our case series, we evaluated five children aged under one year old with ASD2 and pulmonary hypertension (PH). All the patients were referred for surgical ASD closure. Their PH was improved and the size of right atrium (RA) and right ventricle (RV) became normal during the follow-up and one year after the surgery all of them had normal pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) with normal RA and RV size. CONCLUSION: According to our study and those done by others, the prevalence of PH in infants with ASD is low, but when this combination is found without any other CHD, ASD closure should be considered.

Right Atrial Thrombus in a COVID-19 Child Treated Through Cardiac Surgery.

We herein report a case of large intracardiac thrombus in a child with SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19). The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed through HRCT and RT-PCR. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large thrombus in the right atrium treated successfully via cardiac surgery. The underlying mechanisms of this thrombus in the COVID-19 infection may be attributed to the hypercoagulation and inflammatory condition incurred by the COVID-19 virus.

Surgical repair of Tetralogy of Fallot following primary palliation: Right ventricular outflow track stenting versus modified Blalock-Taussig shunt.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a cyanotic disease requiring early intervention. We assessed the effect of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting versus modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (mBTS) on outcomes of surgical repair of TOF. METHODS: Fifteen palliated TOF infants underwent complete repair surgery. RVOT stenting was performed in seven infants and mBTS was done in eight infants. Data on sequential patients who underwent surgery were collected and reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Stenting group were significantly younger (1.62±0.34 vs 2.80±0.52, p=0.001), had lower body weight (3.28±0.48 vs 5.03±0.67, p=0.001) and lesser body surface area (0.20±0.01 vs 0.26±0.20, p=0.001) than the mBTS group at palliation. Mean right pulmonary artery (RPA) diameter in stenting group at palliation was 2.9±0.54mm (z-score -3.08±0.97) and increased at surgery to 4.6±0.49mm (z-score -0.79±0.66) (p=0.001). The mean left pulmonary artery (LPA) diameter was 2.5±0.42mm (z-score -3.3±0.86), which increased to 3.3±0.40mm (z-score -2.2±0.74) at surgery (p=0.005). The mean RPA diameter in mBTS group at palliation was 3.2±0.32mm (z-score -2.9±0.70) and increased at surgery to 4.3±0.55mm (z-score -1.1±0.94) (p=0.001). The mean LPA diameter was 2.8±0.26mm (z-score -3.3±0.62), which increased to 3.2±0.24mm (z-score -2.4±0.52) at surgery (p=0.032). Repeat echocardiography showed significant increase in McGoon ratio and Nakata index in both groups (p=0.001). No significant differences were seen between the two groups regarding surgical procedure and postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: RVOT stenting is a safe and effective approach instead of mBTS in hazardous TOF infants with hypercyanotic spell, small PAs and complex anatomies.

Comparison of the effect of fibrinogen concentrate with fresh frozen plasma (FFP) in management of hypofibrinogenemic bleeding after congenital cardiac surgeries: A clinical trial study.

BACKGROUND: Hypofibrinogenemia is an independent factor of excessive bleeding after congenital cardiac surgeries. Fresh frozen plasma (FFP) and fibrinogen concentrate are examples of recommended products for management of hypofibrinogenemic bleedings. Unfortunately, there is no study to compare these treatments in pediatric cardiac surgeries. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of fibrinogen concentrate with FFP on postoperative bleeding and clinical outcome after congenital cardiac surgeries in pediatric population. METHODS: Phis prospective clinical trial study was carried out on 90 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent congenital cardiac surgeries. The eligible pediatrics who met our study criteria, randomly received FFP (10 ml/kg) or fibrinogen concentrate (70 mg/kg) to assess postoperative bleeding and blood-products requirements. RESULTS: Each of FFP and fibrinogen concentrate significantly reduced total chest tube drainage (CTD) at 3, 6, 12, and 24 postoperative hours (P = 0.04). The analysis of time*intervention revealed that our intervention (fibrinogen group) significantly reduced CTD more (P = 0.01). Moreover, fibrinogen group had a significantly higher plasma fibrinogen level in first 24 hours (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Nowadays, both of fibrinogen concentrate and FFP product are widely used for management of hypofibrinogenic bleedings after cardiac surgeries. According to our results, we concluded that although the both product had a comparable effect on management of hypofibrinogenemic bleeding in pediatrics undergoing congenital cardiac surgeries, choosing better product depended on general condition of patients such as their body fluid status.

The role of preoperative sildenafil therapy in controlling of postoperative pulmonary hypertension in children with ventricular septal defects.

Introduction: Most of the ventricular septal defects (VSD) are complicated with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) which is the major cause of pulmonary hypertensive crisis and right ventricular failure. Methods: We reviewed clinical outcomes of 63 infants who underwent cardiac surgery and were divided into three groups. Control group (n=20) did not received sildenafil while group A (n = 22) received drug (0.3 mg/kg) before and after surgery. Group B (n=21) received drug at the initiation of surgery. Demographic data, preoperative and postoperative variables were compared among the patients. Results: Patients in the group A had lower preoperative pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) compared to other groups (P < 0.001). Also, patients in control group had longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (P < 0.05). Postoperative PAP in patients of group A and B decreased significantly compared to control group (P < 0.001). Also, pre- and postoperative PVR (pulmonary vascular resistance) showed a significant decrease in group A compared with control and group B (P < 0.001). The intubation time in patients of the control group was significantly more prolonged compared with patients of group A and B (P < 0.001). Moreover, the length of ICU stay was significantly longer in patients of control group compared with group A and B (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Preoperative sildenafil therapy seems to be effective and safe to prevent postoperative PAH and pulmonary hypertensive crisis in children with ventricular septal defects and has a positive impact on postoperative care.

EBV lymphoproliferative-associated disease and primary cardiac T-cell lymphoma in a STK4 deficient patient: A case report.

RATIONALE: Primary cardiac lymphoma (PLC) is an extremely uncommon malignancy. PCL is more common in secondary immunodeficient patients. In this report, we describe a unique case of PLC who had been diagnosed as a STK4 deficient patient. This case is the first Primary immunodeficiency (PID) patient developing PCL in the world. PATIENT CONCERNS: An eleven-year-old girl, a known case of PID, was referred to the pediatric cardiology department because of chest pain and dyspnea. Her CXR revealed cardiomegaly without mediastinal involvement and the echocardiography showed a mild pericardial effusion and cystic-shape echogenic masses. DIAGNOSES: After a period of missed follow up, she presented with respiratory distress following with syncope at the clinic because of a pressure effect of a large mass on the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) .An emergency operation was done for debulking of the tumors and resolving of RVOT obstruction. Biopsy and immunohistochemical staining was revealing "T-cell lymphoma", non-Hodgkin's type. INTERVENTIONS: Chemotherapy was done with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, adriamycine, vincristine, hydrocortisone and allopurinol. OUTCOMES: The tumors shrank after chemotherapy initiation and she stayed stable for almost one month. Finally, she developed sever thrombocytopenia during her chemotherapy and died because of lung hemorrhage two months after her operation. LESSONS: Although PCL is very rare, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac mass or refractory pericardial effusions, especially in PIDs which are widely known for developing EBV-associated diseases such as lymphoma.

Repair of aortic coarctation in infancy: A 10-year clinical experience.

BACKGROUND: Coarctation of the aorta is a congenital narrowing of the upper descending aorta. The approximate incidence is 4% in live-born children with congenital heart disease. This study aimed to describe the surgical outcome and survival of patients undergoing congenital aortic coarctation repair via subclavian flap aortoplasty (group 1) or resection with end-to-end anastomosis (group 2). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical outcomes of 105 infants who underwent repair of aortic coarctation between 2000 and December 2012. Fifty patients (group 1) underwent subclavian flap aortoplasty and 55 (group 2) underwent resection with end-to-end anastomosis. Procedure details and early results were collected by retrospective review of hospital and clinic data. RESULTS: The mean age of patients in group 1 was 6.73 ± 1.1 vs. 6.76 ± 1.2 months in group 2, and the mean weight was 6.01 ± 1.3 vs. 5.9 ± 1.0 kg, respectively. There were no significant differences among the intra- and postoperative variables in the 2 groups. Six patients in group 1 had a peak systolic gradient >20 mm Hg. The recurrence rate in group 1 was 12% vs. 1.8% in group 2 (p < 0.05). Overall mortality was 2.8%. Survival in group 1 was 96% vs. 98.2% in group 2. CONCLUSION: Repair of aortic coarctation in infancy by resection with end-to-end anastomosis can be performed with a low mortality rate and a low incidence of recoarctation, and it provides the optimal prognosis for coarctation in infancy.

Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot in Infancy via the Atrioventricular Approach.

BACKGROUND: Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is a well-recognized congenital heart disease. Despite improvements in the outcomes of surgical repair, the optimal timing of surgery and type of surgical management of patients with TOF remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess outcomes following the repair of TOF in infants depending on the surgical procedure used. METHODS: This study involved the retrospective review of 120 patients who underwent TOF repair between 2010 and 2013. Patients were divided into three groups depending on the surgical procedure that they underwent. Corrective surgery was done via the transventricular approach (n=40), the transatrial approach (n=40), or a combined atrioventricular approach (n=40). Demographic data and the outcomes of the surgical procedures were compared among the groups. RESULTS: In the atrioventricular group, the incidence of the following complications was found to be significantly lower than in the other groups: complete heart block (p=0.034), right ventricular failure (p=0.027) and mediastinal bleeding (p=0.007). Patients in the atrioventricular group had a better postoperative right ventricular ejection fraction (p=0.001). No statistically significant differences were observed among the three surgical groups in the occurrence of tachycardia, renal failure, and tricuspid incompetence. The one-year survival rates in the three groups were 95%, 90%, and 97.5%, respectively (p=0.395). CONCLUSION: Combined atrioventricular repair of TOF in infancy can be safely performed, with acceptable surgical risk, a low incidence of reoperation, good ventricular function outcomes, and an excellent survival rate.

Effect of esmolol on myocardial protection in pediatrics congenital heart defects.

BACKGROUND: Although it is accepted that inducing cardioplegia is the gold standard in myocardial protection, there is still no consensus on the exact type of the cardioplegia. There are fewer studies on the type of the cardioplegia in hearts of the children than adults and they are contradictory. The effects of esmolol have been reviewed (a type of ultrashort-acting beta-adrenergic antagonist, i.e., ß-blockers) in conjunction with the cardioplegia due to the effect of the ß-blockers in reducing the myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic blood pressure, central venous pressure (CVP), heart rate, etc., were recorded separately in patients who received the cardioplegia without esmolol (n = 35) and with esmolol (n = 30) and matched for the age and sex. RESULTS: The amount of inotrope used in the group without esmolol (100%) was considerably higher than in the group with esmolol (86.7%). Postoperative arrhythmias did not differ significantly between the two groups. There was no significant difference in the duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), time of the extubation, length of the ICU stay, the first day EF after surgery, and the first week EF after surgery as well. Creatinine kinase-MB (CKMB) was significantly higher in the group without esmolol during operation than in the group with esmolol. CONCLUSIONS: The patients who received cardioplegia along with esmolol had less inotropic requirement after operation, and increase in EF and cardiac output (CO) 1 week after surgery. In addition, it reduced damage to the heart during surgery, and patients may have greater stability in the cardiac conduction system.

The Effect of Pulmonary Valve Replacement (PVR) Surgery on Hemodynamics of Patients Who Underwent Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF).

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary insufficiency (PI) frequently develops in patients who underwent repair of tetralogy of fallot (TOF). The aim of present study was to assess the effect of pulmonary valve replacement (PVR) on hemodynamics of patients who underwent repair of TOF. METHODS: This retrospective cohort carried out between July 2010 and October 2012 among consecutive PVRs of 19 patients who underwent TOF surgery. The PVRs was performed using bioprosthetic (n=17) and mechanical (n=2) valves. Our data was collected during follow up visits within 6 to 12 month after PVR. RESULTS: Our results show that PVR significantly decreased right ventricular end-diastolic volume (180.89±13.78 vs. 107.21±12.02 ml/m(2), P < .01), right ventricular end-systolic volume (105.42±15.98 vs. 58.15±11.67 ml/m(2), P < .01), RV mass (47.78±6.20 vs. 30.68±8.95 g/m(2), P < .01), and PI (48.21±1.43% vs. 12.68±5.60%, P < .01). Moreover, left ventricular end-diastolic volume significantly increased (78.05±17.21 vs. 90.78±14.82 ml/m(2), P < .01) after PVR. The other hemodynamics indexes did not change, significantly. CONCLUSION: Despite the controversies about efficacy of PVR after repair of TOF, the remarkable improvement of hemodynamic is a supportive rationale for performing PVR surgery in TOF patients.

Distribution of mediastinal ectopic thymic tissue in patients without thymic disease.

BACKGROUND: Different approaches to treat myasthenia gravis showed variable outcomes probably because of remained ectopic thymic tissue. The aim of this study is to determine incidence of thymic tissue in cases without any thymic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two patients scheduled for open heart surgery during 2000 and 2007 without thymic disease that were enrolled in the study at Chamran Hospital. Intraoperative biopsies were taken form aortopulmonary window, aortocaval groove and left and right pericardiophrenic regions. Finally, the distribution of ectopic thymic tissue was evaluated in above regions. RESULTS: Thymic tissue was found overall in 70.85% of patients. The most common sites for thymic tissue were left pericardiophrenic (50%) and right pericardiophrenic (31.9%) regions. Frequencies of ectopic thymus in aortopulmonary window and aortocaval groove were 19.4% and 12.5%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Because of high incidence of ectopic thymic tissue in mediastinum in patients without thymic disease, we recommend wide excision of thymus gland and all of adipose tissue in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Evaluation of sternal closure with absorbable polydioxanone sutures in children.

INTRODUCTION: Sternal dehiscence, sternal wound infection and mediastinitis are troublesome complications following median sternotomy which are major causes of morbidity and mortality of patients. Synthetic polydioxanone absorbable suture seems effective in prevention of these complications in children undergoing open heart surgery. METHODS: During 2 years period, 620 patients who underwent median sternotomy were studied. The efficacy of absorbable polydioxanone suture was tested on patients using figure-of-eight suture technique. The patients' age ranged from newborn to 15 years old. All surgical interventions were performed according to a standard protocol. RESULTS: No sternal sutures were broken during the sternal closure and no case of mediastinitis was seen. Two patients experienced sternal dehiscence (0.32%). Follow-up period of patients were established between 1 to 132 months after open heart surgery. CONCLUSION: Sternal closure with the polydioxanone suture in combination with figure-of-eight technique is a safe and suitable method in children with good clinical results.

Comparison of cost-effectiveness and postoperative outcome of device closure and open surgery closure techniques for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND: Various devices have been recently employed for percutaneous closure of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Although the high effectiveness of device closure techniques has been clearly determined, a few studies have focused on the cost-effectiveness and also postoperative complications of these procedures in comparison with open surgery. The present study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of PDA occlusion by Amplatzer and coil device in comparisong with open surgery. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a randomized sample of 201 patients aged 1 month to 16 years (105 patients with device closure and 96 patients with surgical closure) was selected. The ratio of total pulmonary blood flow to total systemic blood flow, the Qp/Qs ratio, was measured using a pulmonary artery catheter. The cost analysis included direct medical care costs associated with device implantation and open surgery, as well as professional fees. All costs were calculated in Iranian Rials and then converted to US dollars. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in mean Qp/Qs ratio before the procedure between the device closure group and the open surgery group (2.1 ± 0.7 versus 1.7 ± 0.6, P = 0.090). The mean measured costs were overall higher in the device closure group than in open closure group (948.87 ± 548.76 US$ versus 743.70 ± 696.91 US$, P < 0.001). This difference remained significant after adjustment for age and gender (Standardized Beta = 0.160, P = 0.031). PDA closure with the Amplatzer ductal occluder (1053.05 ± 525.73 US$) or with Nit-Occlud coils (PFM) (912.73 ± 565.94 US$, P < 0.001) was more expensive than that via open surgery. However, the Cook detachable spring coils device closure (605.65 ± 194.62 US$, P = 0.650) had a non-significant cost difference with open surgery. No event was observed in the device closure group regarding in-hospital mortality or morbidity; however, in another group, 2 in-hospital deaths occurred, two patients experienced pneumonia and seizure, and one suffered electrolyte abnormalities including hyponatremia and hypocalcemia. CONCLUSION: Although open surgery seems to be less expensive than device closure technique, because of lower mortality and morbidity, the latter group is more preferable.