Urine high-sensitive troponin I in children cannot offer an applicable alternative to serum.

Introduction: In children, congenital heart defects represent the primary cause of increased serum troponin I. The elimination process of cardiac troponin I from the bloodstream and the factors influencing this process remain unknown. The objective of this study was to explore the role of troponin I as an indicator of cardiac damage in children both in serum and urine, a concept previously investigated in adults. Methods: Our prospective study involved 70 children under 24 months of age. The first group underwent ventricular septal defect repair, while the second group involved children who had undergone partial cavopulmonary anastomosis. For these groups, urine and serum troponin I were assessed on four occasions. The third group, consisting of healthy children, underwent a single measurement of urine troponin I. Results: Serum troponin I values exhibited an expected elevation in the early postoperative period, followed by a return to lower levels. Significantly higher concentrations of serum troponin I were observed in the first group of children (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between troponin I in the first three measurements and cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamping time. There was no discernible increase in urine troponin I directly related to myocardial damage; troponin I couldn't be detected in most urine samples. Discussion: The inability to detect troponin I in urine remains unexplained. Potential explanatory factors may include the isoelectric point of troponin I, elevated urinary concentrations of salts and urea, variations in urine acidity (different pH levels), and a relatively low protein concentration in urine.

Starting Pediatric VAD Program: Transforming Challenges into Opportunities; A Case Series of a Single Center.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of heart failure is constantly increasing in both children and adults. End-stage heart failure in children unresponsive to medical therapy has limited treatment options. Surgical options include heart transplantation or implantation of durable ventricular assist devices (VADs). To start the VAD program, it was necessary to train core team members, invite experienced proctors and adjust the organizational approach. METHODS: We present our first seven pediatric patients who underwent a VAD implantation with primary indication end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy. RESULTS: The median age on implant was four and a half years and the median duration of VAD support was 39 days with long term survival achieved in three patients. The causes of death were multiorgan failure, thromboembolic events, sepsis, and low cardiac output syndrome. Ischemic stroke was the reason for successful neurointervention during VAD support in two patients. CONCLUSIONS: To establish a VAD program, numerous specialties must be included with adequate training and learning for all team members.

Urine High-Sensitive Troponin T-Novel Biomarker of Myocardial Damage in Children.

Background: The use of high-sensitive cardiac troponin T (hsTnT) in urine as a marker of cardiac damage in children has not yet been reported. Elimination of cardiac troponins is dependent on renal function; persistently increased serum hsTnT concentrations were observed among individuals with impaired renal function. The aim of this study was to investigate serum and urine hsTnT levels and its correlation in infants and children younger than 24 months of age after cardiac surgery. Methods: This study was conducted on 90 infants and children under 24 months of age who were divided into three groups. The experimental group consisted of patients with intracardiac surgery of ventricular septal defect (VSD), first control group consisted of infants with extracardiac formation of bidirectional cavopulmonary connection (BCPC), and the second control group consisted of healthy children. Troponin T values ​​were determined in serum and urine at five time points: the first sample was taken on the day before cardiac surgery (measure 0) and the other four samples were taken after the surgery; immediately after (measure 1), on the first (measure 2), third (measure 3), and fifth postoperative day (measure 5). The first morning urine was sampled for determining the troponin T in the control group of healthy infants. Results: A positive correlation between troponin T values in serum and urine was found. Urine hsTnT measured preoperatively in children undergoing BCPC surgery was higher (median 7.3 [IQR 6.6-13.3] ng/L) compared to children undergoing VSD surgery (median 6.5 [IQR 4.4-8.9] ng/L) as well as to healthy population (median 5.5 [IQR 5.1-6.7] ng/L). After logarithmic transformation, there was no statistically significant difference in urine hsTnT concentration between the groups at any point of measurement preoperatively or postoperatively. Statistically significant negative correlation was found between serum and urine hsTnT concentrations and glomerular filtration rate estimated by creatinine clearance. Patients who underwent surgical repair of VSD had significantly higher concentrations of troponin T in serum on the first three postoperative measurements compared to those who had BCPC surgery. Conclusions: According to the results of this study, renal function after cardiac surgery appears to have a major effect on the urinary hsTnT concentrations, and we cannot conclude that this is an appropriate marker for the assessment of postoperative myocardial damage in children. Nevertheless, more research is needed to reach a better understanding of the final elimination of cardiac troponins in children.

Recombinant activated factor VII controls chemotherapy-related hemorrhage in patients with solid intra-abdominal tumors: a report of three pediatric cases.

Recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa; NovoSeven, Novo Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark) is used predominantly for the treatment of bleeding in patients with hemophilia and inhibitors, and in patients with traumatic injury. There are also literature reports of its use in chemotherapy-related bleeding in leukemia patients and intra- or postoperative bleeding in patients with solid tumors. We describe three pediatric patients where rFVIIa was successfully used to manage bleeding following the failure of conventional hemostatic treatments during chemotherapy for intra-abdominal tumors (hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma and non-classified malignant sarcoma). Recombinant FVIIa proved effective and maintained hemostasis in two of three cases, with no evidence for toxic or adverse events in any of the treated patients.

The life-threatening hemodialysis catheter heparin lock caused bleeding in a child after peritoneal catheter removal.

Hemodialysis catheter patency is regularly maintained by high-concentration heparin filling, according to manufacturer's recommendation. Surprisingly, there are only few reports on serious bleeding complications in children on dialysis. A case of serious, life-threatening hemorrhage in a child after tunneled peritoneal catheter removal because of hemodialysis catheter heparin lock flushing is described. Discussion of the literature data is presented. Further investigations are needed to develop the guidelines for pediatric dialysis catheter care, including the optimal concentration for heparin lock as the possible heparin alternatives, but until that moment, previously suggested guidelines to prevent hemorrhagic complications in dialyzed children should be emphasized.