Surgical outcomes of double-orifice mitral valve repair in patients with atrioventricular canal defects: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Double-orifice mitral valve or left atrioventricular valve is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly that may be associated with an atrioventricular septal defect. The surgical management of double-orifice mitral valve/double-orifice left atrioventricular valve with atrioventricular septal defect is highly challenging with acceptable clinical outcomes. This meta-analysis is aimed to evaluate the surgical outcomes of double-orifice mitral valve/double-orifice left atrioventricular valve repair in patients with atrioventricular septal defect. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of eight studies were retrieved from the literature by searching through PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Using Bayesian hierarchical models, we estimated the pooled proportion of incidence of double-orifice mitral valve/double-orifice left atrioventricular valve with atrioventricular septal defect as 4.88% in patients who underwent surgical repair (7 studies; 3295 patients; 95% credible interval [CI] 4.2-5.7%). As compared to pre-operative regurgitation, the pooled proportions of post-operative regurgitation were significantly low in patients with moderate status: 5.1 versus 26.39% and severe status: 5.7 versus 29.38% [8 studies; 171 patients]. Moreover, the heterogeneity test revealed consistency in the data (p < 0.05). Lastly, the pooled estimated proportions of early and late mortality following surgical interventions were low, that is, 5 and 7.4%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The surgical management of moderate to severe regurgitation showed corrective benefits post-operatively and was associated with low incidence of early mortality and re-operation.

"Y" incision and rectangular patch enlargement of aortic annulus and valve reconstruction with autologous pericardium in congenital aortic stenosis.

Surgical aortic valve replacement in children who have undergone prior balloon or surgical valvuloplasty or both is a formidable challenge. The aortic annulus is small, there is no ideal prosthesis and lifelong anticoagulation is highly undesirable. A "Y" incision and rectangular patch enlargement of the aortic annulus introduced by Dr. Bo Yang in 2020 combined with aortic valve reconstruction introduced by Dr. Shigeyuki Ozaki in 2011, is feasible, as described in this case.

Utility of Transfontanelle Ultrasound in Predicting the Fluid Responsiveness in Children After Repair of Congenital Heart Diseases: A Prospective Observational Study.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative fluid management in children undergoing cardiac surgery requires a balanced optimization. The blood flow velocity variation in the internal carotid artery (ΔICA) measured through transfontanelle ultrasound has been shown to predict fluid responsiveness during cardiac surgery. It may provide an excellent window to study fluid responsiveness in infants during the postoperative period when the intensivist is faced with the challenges of poor echocardiographic window. The authors aimed to observe the correlation between ΔICA measured on transfontanelle ultrasound with the respiratory variability of peak aortic blood flow velocity (ΔVpeak) on transthoracic echocardiography as a marker of fluid responsiveness in infants on mechanical ventilation during the postoperative period after cardiac surgery. DESIGN: A prospective observational study. SETTING: The postcardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Thirty infants undergoing congenital cardiac surgery. INTERVENTIONS: A fluid bolus of 10 mL/kg administered over 10 minutes at 1 and 6 hours after ICU admission. Patients were categorized into fluid responders and nonresponders based on >15% increase in the indexed stroke volume. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 50 fluid boluses were administered in 30 patients. Among these, 22 (73.33%) were responders and 8 (26.67%) were nonresponders. There was moderate correlation between ΔICA and peak aortic blood flow velocity variation (ΔVpeak) (r = 0.59, p ≤ 0.001). The ΔVpeak >14.74% had 68% sensitivity and 75% specificity to predict fluid responsiveness (area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC], 0.749; p = 0.001; positive likelihood ratio, 2.71; negative likelihood ratio, 0.43). The ΔICA >9.85% could predict fluid responsiveness in infants (AUROC, 0.728; p = 0.003; 75% sensitivity; 60% specificity; positive likelihood ratio, 1.85; negative likelihood ratio, 0.42). Among children younger than 6 months, ΔICA >9.85% was a better predictor of fluid responsiveness (AUROC, 0.889; p = 0.009) than ΔVpeak >15% (AUROC, 0.778; p = 0.061). CONCLUSION: The ICA variability >9.85% measured via transfontanelle ultrasound is a good predictor of fluid responsiveness in infants, especially those younger than 6 months on mechanical ventilation after cardiac surgery.

Assessment of factors affecting short-term pulmonary functions following cardiac surgery: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary complications after cardiac surgery are very common and lead to an increased incidence of post-operative morbidity and mortality. Several factors, either modifiable or non-modifiable, may contribute to the associated unfavorable consequences related to pulmonary function. This study was aimed to investigate the degree of alteration and factors influencing pulmonary function (forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity), on third, fifth, and seventh post-operative days following cardiac surgery. METHODS: This study was executed in 71 patients who underwent on-pump cardiac surgery. Pulmonary function was assessed before surgery and on the third, fifth, and seventh post-operative days. Data including surgical details, information about risk factors, and assessment of pulmonary function were obtained. RESULTS: The FEV1 and forced vital capacity were significantly impaired on post-operative days 3, 5, and 7 compared to pre-operative values. The reduction in FEV1 was 41%, 29%, and 16% and in forced vital capacity was 42%, 29%, and 19% consecutively on post-operative days 3, 5, and 7. Multivariate analysis was done to detect the factors influencing post-operative FEV1 and forced vital capacity. DISCUSSION: This study observed a significant impairment in FEV1 and forced vital capacity, which did not completely recover by the seventh post-operative day. Different factors affecting post-operative FEV1 and forced vital capacity were pre-operative FEV1, age ≥60, less body surface area, lower pre-operative chest expansion at the axillary level, and having more duration of cardiopulmonary bypass during surgery. Presence of these factors enhances the chance of developing post-operative pulmonary complications.

Fetal cardiac intervention and fetal cardiac surgery: where are we in 21st century?

Fetal cardiac intervention is an in-utero cardiac procedure done in fetuses with heart diseases like severe aortic stenosis with evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome, hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact or restricted atrial septum, pulmonary atresia with an intact ventricular septum, fetal heart block obstructed total anomalous pulmonary venous return, pericardial collection. The successful biventricular repair can be done in postnatal life after aortic or pulmonary valvuloplasty. Fetal bypass is very challenging because of different physiology. Low prime volume with the high flow can be used to prevent an inflammatory response.

Short-term outcome of polytetrafluoroethylene membrane valve versus transannular pericardial patch reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract in tetralogy of fallot: a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Introduction: Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract during primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot often requires the placement of a transannular patch which results in pulmonary regurgitation (PR). We compared the short-term outcomes of bicuspid polytetrafluoroethylene membrane valve versus transannular pericardial patch reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. Methods: Thirty consecutive patients undergoing primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot were randomly allocated to two groups - polytetrafluoroethylene valve (PTFEV) group (n=15) and transannular pericardial patch (TAP) group (n=15). The two groups had similar preoperative demographic characteristics. We compared the short-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes between these groups. The transthoracic echocardiographic follow-up was performed at one week, one month and six months after surgery. Results: The PTFEV group had significantly lower central venous pressure in the immediate postoperative period compared to the TAP group (7.60±2.06 vs. 10.13±1.73, P=0.002). Extubation time was significantly shorter in the PTFEV group compared to the TAP group (12.93±7.55 hrs vs. 22.23±15.11 hrs, P=0.04). PR in the PTFEV group was absent in five patients at 24 hours post-surgery. At the study endpoint, PR was absent in six, trivial in one and mild in eight patients in the PTFEV group compared to TAP group, where all 15 patients had severe PR. Conclusion: The bicuspid polytetrafluoroethylene membrane valves significantly decrease the central venous pressure in the immediate postoperative period, facilitate early extubation and, thus, prevent ventilator-related comorbidities. They achieve a high degree of pulmonary competence and do not increase the right ventricular outflow tract gradient in short-term follow-up.

Short-term outcome of Polytetrafluoroethylene Membrane Valve versus Transannular Pericardial patch Reconstruction of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract in Tetralogy of Fallot: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract during primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot often requires the placement of a transannular patch which results in pulmonary regurgitation (PR). We compared the short-term outcomes of bicuspid polytetrafluoroethylene membrane valve versus transannular pericardial patch reconstruction of the right ventricular outflow tract. METHODS: Thirty consecutive patients undergoing primary repair of tetralogy of Fallot were randomly allocated to two groups - polytetrafluoroethylene valve (PTFEV) group (n=15) and transannular pericardial patch (TAP) group (n=15). The two groups had similar preoperative demographic characteristics. We compared the short-term clinical and echocardiographic outcomes between these groups. The transthoracic echocardiographic follow-up was performed at one week, one month and six months after surgery. RESULTS: The PTFEV group had significantly lower central venous pressure in the immediate postoperative period compared to the TAP group (7.60±2.06 vs. 10.13±1.73, P=0.002). Extubation time was significantly shorter in the PTFEV group compared to the TAP group (12.93±7.55 hrs vs. 22.23±15.11 hrs, P=0.04). PR in the PTFEV group was absent in five patients at 24 hours post-surgery. At the study endpoint, PR was absent in six, trivial in one and mild in eight patients in the PTFEV group compared to TAP group, where all 15 patients had severe PR. CONCLUSION: The bicuspid polytetrafluoroethylene membrane valves significantly decrease the central venous pressure in the immediate postoperative period, facilitate early extubation and, thus, prevent ventilator-related comorbidities. They achieve a high degree of pulmonary competence and do not increase the right ventricular outflow tract gradient in short-term follow-up.

Benefits of perioperative sildenafil therapy in children with a ventricular septal defect with pulmonary artery hypertension on early surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension is a common association in children with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect. It increases perioperative mortality and morbidity. Oral sildenafil is an effective pulmonary vasodilator. In this study, we assessed effects of perioperative oral sildenafil therapy on pulmonary artery pressure and early surgical outcomes. METHODS: This was a single centre, prospective randomized control study. Thirty children with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defects with pulmonary hypertension were divided into two groups. In the sildenafil group (n = 15, mean age 23.3 months), oral sildenafil was administered two weeks before surgery. In the control group (n = 15, mean age 36 months), preoperative sildenafil was not given. Sildenafil was continued postoperatively in both groups, provided the postoperative pulmonary artery pressure was over 50% of systemic pressure. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality, pulmonary hypertensive crisis and there were no intolerable side effects related to sildenafil in either group. Mean pulmonary artery pressure showed a reduction in both groups. Sildenafil group showed statistically significant improvement in duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (100.27 ± 21.09 min vs. 125.40 ± 26.83 min, p = .008), mechanical ventilation requirement (22.79 ± 17.13 h vs. 30.53 ± 13.05 h; p = .04), epinephrine requirement (22% patients vs. 48% patients; p = .03) and hospital stay (6.13 ± 1.40 days vs. 7.53 ± 1.92 days; p = .05). CONCLUSION: Oral Sildenafil therapy is an inexpensive and well-tolerated method for reducing pulmonary hypertension secondary to non-restrictive ventricular septal defect. It has noteworthy advantages regarding early surgical outcomes like reduced cardiopulmonary bypass time, improved mechanical ventilation time, lower inotrope requirement and shorter hospital stay if used preoperatively in select patient population.

Pulmonary hydatid cyst: Review of literature.

Echinococcosis is a rare infectious disease in human being that occurs by the larval stages of taeniid cestodes of the genus Echinococcus. Human cystic echinococcosis is the most common presentation. The liver is the most common site of echinococcal cyst, followed by the lungs. The symptoms of lung infestation lead to sudden onset of chest pain, cough, fever, and hemoptysis after a cyst rupture. The diagnosis is confirmed by radiology supplemented with serology. Chest X-ray and computer tomography of chest is the principal investigation for pulmonary hydatid cyst (PHC). The treatment of PHCs is either pharmacotherapy and/or surgery. Surgical intervention is the most preferred treatment of choice; pharmacotherapy is useful in selected patients. Pharmacotherapy includes oral administration of benzimidazoles group of drugs like mebendazole or albendazole.

Surgical experience with cor triatriatum repair beyond infancy.

BACKGROUND: Cor triatriatum is an exceedingly rare congenital heart defect which can present at any age depending upon the presence of associated cardiac anomalies and the size of communication between the common chamber and the left atrium. Our aim is to present 10 years surgical outcome of cor triatriatum repair in patients who present beyond infancy. METHODS: On going through our institute's surgical database from January 2009 to June 2019 for cor triatriatum, 14 patients were found to have undergone the surgical correction. Their demographic profile and midterm outcome in terms of mortality, functional status, and cardiac function was assessed. RESULTS: There were total 14 patients with slight female predominance (57.14%) who underwent cor triatriatum surgical repair. The mean age at the time of surgery was 12.14 ± 9.97 years ranging from 1 to 29 years. Associated congenital cardiac defects were seen in 12 (85.71%) patients with atrial septal defect being the most common. Partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection was seen in 4 (28.57%) patients. Eight (57.14%) patients had severe pulmonary hypertension preoperatively. All but two patients showed marked reduction in pulmonary artery pressures postoperatively. All the patients underwent excision of the membrane and repair of associated cardiac defects simultaneously. There was no early or midterm mortality or any reintervention over a mean follow-up period of 58.06 ± 30.73 months (range 20-120 months). CONCLUSION: The early and midterm surgical outcome of cor triatriatum is excellent even in patients who present beyond infancy with reversible pulmonary artery hypertension.

Cost of Treatment of Valvular Heart Disease at a Tertiary Hospital in North India: Policy Implications.

BACKGROUND: Lack of data on the cost of cardiac care is an impediment to evidence-based planning, especially for determining provider payment rates under publically financed health insurance schemes. OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the unit costs of outpatient consultation, hospitalization, intensive care, selected surgical procedures and diagnostics for providing cardiac care for valvular heart disease at a tertiary hospital in India. METHODS: We undertook an economic costing of cardiac care using both patient and health system perspectives. For the health system costs, a bottom-up costing methodology was used. Data on all resources (capital and recurrent) utilized for the delivery of cardiac care services for valvular heart disease for 1 year were collected. Data on out-of-pocket expenditures was collected from 100 cardiac patients who underwent valve replacement and balloon valvotomy procedures. All estimated costs represent the year 2016-2017. RESULTS: The health system cost of an outpatient cardiac consultation was estimated as 182.4 Indian rupees (INR) (US$2.8) and INR334.8 (US$5.2) in the cardiology, and cardio-thoracic and vascular surgery (CTVS) departments, respectively. The cost of hospitalization per bed-day in cardiology, CTVS and the intensive care unit (ICU) was INR1040 (US$16), INR3853 (US$60) and INR12,635 (US$197), respectively. The median out-of-pocket expenditure for valve replacement surgery using mechanical and bio-prosthetic valves was estimated to be INR107,800 (US$1684) and INR154,000 (US$2406), respectively, and for balloon valvotomy was estimated to be INR14,456 (US$367). Overall package cost per mechanical and bio-prosthetic single valve replacement surgery and balloon valvotomy procedure was estimated as INR127,919 (US$1999), INR148,919 (US$2372) and INR14,456 (US$226), respectively. CONCLUSION: Our findings are useful for planning expansion of public sector cardiac care services, developing package rates for publically financed insurance schemes in India and for undertaking research on cost effectiveness of various models of cardiac care.

Successful surgical management of an aorto-oesophageal fistula caused by button battery ingestion.

Aorto-oesophageal fistula is a rare complication of foreign body ingestion from which few patients survive. Aggressive surgical treatment is the only form of effective therapy for this fatal complication. We present the successful surgical treatment of an aorto-oesophageal fistula in a child without using cardiopulmonary bypass.

Renal function after off-pump versus on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting.

Background Renal dysfunction is a well-recognized major complication after coronary artery bypass grafting. Off-pump coronary artery bypass theoretically appears to have less impact on renal function. We estimated preoperative and postoperative creatinine clearance as a marker of renal dysfunction in patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump coronary artery bypass. Methods Thirty patients undergoing coronary artery bypass were randomly allocated to undergo either on-pump ( n = 15) or off-pump surgery ( n = 15). The two groups had similar preoperative demographic characteristics. Serum creatinine and creatinine clearance were measured for 4 days postoperatively and the results were compared with preoperative levels. Results The rise in serum creatinine on postoperative day 1 was 0.28 mgcdL-1 in the on-pump group and 0.22 mgcdL-1 in the off-pump group ( p = 0.27); on postoperative day 4 it was 0.15 mgcdL-1 and 0.10 mgcdL-1, respectively, ( p = 0.28). Similarly, the fall in creatinine clearance was 17.34 mLcmin-1 in the on-pump group and 19.62 mLcmin-1 in the off-pump group on postoperative day 1 ( p = 0.42), and 10.9 and 10.94 mLcmin-1, respectively, on postoperative day 4 ( p = 0.64). Conclusion Renal function is not affected by the technique of coronary artery bypass surgery, whether with or without cardiopulmonary bypass, in spite of the theoretical advantage of off-pump surgery. Our study suggests that off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery does not confer significant protection from postoperative renal dysfunction in low-risk patients, when compared with on-pump surgery.

Perioperative echocardiography-derived right ventricle function parameters and early outcomes after tetralogy of Fallot repair in mid-childhood: a single-center, prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) function alterations are invariably present in all patients after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. Unlike the developed world where most of the patients with TOF are corrected in infancy, average age of presentation and thus surgery for these patients in the developing world may be higher. We aimed to study the correlation between RV function parameters such as tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (S') with early outcome variables after intracardiac repair for TOF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with a preoperative diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot scheduled for corrective surgery were included in this single-center, prospective observational study. A preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to measure RV function parameters (FAC0, TAPSE0, S'0). Transthoracic echocardiography was repeated postoperatively to measure FAC1, TAPSE1, S'1 (day 1) and FAC2, TAPSE2, and S'2 (day 3). The relationship between preoperative and postoperative RV function parameters with in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit stay was studied. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 6 years (range 1-14 years). Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis showed RV FAC as best predictor of clinical outcome. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for postoperative RV function parameters, that is, FAC, TAPSE, and S' to predict early or delayed recovery was 0.944, 0.875, and 0.655, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among the RV function parameters studied, RV FAC best predicted the early outcome variables after TOF repair, followed by TAPSE while lateral tricuspid annular velocity S' being the least predictive.