Right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for early prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prognostic value of early echocardiographic indices of right ventricular function and vasoactive peptides for prediction of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) or death in very preterm infants. METHODS: Prospective study involving 294 very preterm infants (median [IQR] gestational age 28.4 [26.4-30.4] weeks, birth weight 1065 [800-1380] g), of whom 57 developed BPD (oxygen supplementation at 36 weeks postmenstrual age) and 10 died. Tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular index of myocardial performance (RIMP), plasma concentrations of mid-regional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) and C-terminal pro-endothelin-1 (CT-proET1) were measured on day 7 of life. RESULTS: RIMP was significantly increased (median [IQR] 0.3 [0.23-0.38] vs 0.22 [0.15-0.29]), TAPSE decreased (median [IQR] 5.0 [5.0-6.0] vs 6.0 [5.4-7.0] mm), MR-proANP increased (median [IQR] 784 [540-936] vs 353 [247-625] pmol/L), and CT-proET1 increased (median [IQR] 249 [190-345] vs 199 [158-284] pmol/L) in infants who developed BPD or died, as compared to controls. All variables showed significant but weak correlations with each other (rS -0.182 to 0.359) and predicted BPD/death with similar accuracy (areas under receiver operator characteristic curves 0.62 to 0.77). Multiple regression revealed only RIMP and birth weight as independent predictors of BPD or death. CONCLUSIONS: Vasoactive peptide concentrations and echocardiographic assessment employing standardized measures, notably RIMP, on day 7 of life are useful to identify preterm infants at increased risk for BPD or death.

Lung function in very low birth weight infants after pharmacological and surgical treatment of patent ductus arteriosus - a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The indications and strategies for treatment of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) are controversial, and the safety and long-term benefits of surgical PDA closure remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to compare the lung function of very low birth weight (VLBW) infants after successful PDA treatment with a cyclooxygenase inhibitor or secondary surgical ligation. METHODS: A total of 114 VLBW infants (birth weight < 1500 g), including 94 infants (82%) with a birth weight < 1000 g, who received treatment for hemodynamically significant PDA (hsPDA), were examined at a median postmenstrual age of 48 weeks. All infants were initially given pharmacological treatment, and 40 infants (35%) required PDA ligation. Lung function testing (LFT) included tidal breathing measurements, measurement of respiratory mechanics assessed by the occlusion test, whole-body plethysmography, SF6 multiple breath washout, forced expiratory flow (V'maxFRC) by the rapid thoracoabdominal compression technique, exhaled NO (FeNO), and arterialized capillary blood gas analysis. RESULTS: On the day of the LFT, the 2 groups had similar postconceptional age and body weight. However, the PDA ligation group was more immature at birth (p < 0.001) and had reduced respiratory compliance (p < 0.001), lower V'maxFRC (p = 0.006), increased airway resistance (Raw) (p < 0.001), and impaired blood gases (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that PDA surgery was an independent risk factor for increased Raw. CONCLUSION: PDA ligation after failed pharmacological treatment is associated with impaired lung function as compared to successful pharmacological closure in infants at a postmenstrual age of 48 weeks. However, only Raw was independently affected by PDA ligation, while all other differences were merely explained by patient characteristics.

Postnatal lung function in congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung.

BACKGROUND: Management of prenatally diagnosed but postnatal asymptomatic pulmonary lesions remains controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation of the lung (CCAM) on postnatal lung function tests (LFT) and to elucidate whether LFTs help identify infants who would benefit from early surgery. METHODS: The LFTs were performed in 26 CCAM infants at a median (interquartile range) postmenstrual age of 42.4 (39.6 to 44.0) weeks and compared with LFT from 30 healthy controls. The LFT included the measurement of tidal breathing, functional residual capacity by body plethysmography, respiratory mechanics (respiratory compliance), and respiratory resistance by occlusion test and blood gas analysis. RESULTS: The CCAM infants showed a restrictive ventilation disorder with increased respiratory rates (p = 0.006) and marginally decreased tidal volumes (p = 0.043). Furthermore, respiratory compliance was significantly reduced as compared with controls (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were seen in the respiratory resistance, functional residual capacity, and capillary blood gases. Particularly in CCAM infants who had surgery in the first 2 years of life, a marked reduction of respiratory compliance (p < 0.001) was seen preoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation can cause restrictive ventilation disorders, which can be detected and monitored by postnatal LFT. Thus, LFT represents an additional tool to support the decision for or against surgical intervention.

Analysis of the risk factors for early failure after extracardiac Fontan operation.

BACKGROUND: We analyzed risks for severe morbidity in the early period after extracardiac Fontan operation. METHODS: Between November 1995 and May 2011, 140 patients (median age, 3.8 years) underwent extracardiac Fontan operation. We assumed as preoperative risk factors systemic right ventricle (n=51), heterotaxia (n=25), arterial oxygen saturation less than 75% (n=22), and adult age (>16 years, n=20) at time of surgery. Prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time of longer than 120 minutes (n=30) and use of cardioplegia (n=26) were analyzed as intraoperative risks. RESULTS: Heterotaxia was revealed as a risk factor for postoperative prolonged inotropic support, acute renal failure, prolonged mechanical ventilation, prolonged pleural effusions, and tachyarrhythmias. With the exception of pleural effusions, the same held true for right ventricle morphology. Low preoperative arterial oxygen saturation was found to be associated with an increased risk of prolonged inotropic support, acute renal failure, and prolonged mechanical ventilation. Adult age was identified as a risk factor for acute renal failure. Of the intraoperative factors, prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time longer than 120 minutes was a risk factor for acute renal failure and prolonged pleural effusions, whereas use of cardioplegia was associated with an increased risk of prolonged inotropic support, prolonged mechanical ventilation, acute renal failure, and tachyarrhythmias. Multivariate analysis demonstrated heterotaxia, right ventricular morphology, and low preoperative arterial oxygen saturation to be independent risk factors for postoperative prolonged inotropic support and prolonged mechanical ventilation. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with heterotaxia, systemic right ventricle, and low preoperative arterial oxygen saturation are still at high risk for early Fontan failure after extracardiac Fontan operation and require special management for optimal outcome.