Relationship Between Time to Left Atrial Decompression and Outcomes in Patients Receiving Venoarterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support: A Multicenter Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Early-Career Society Study.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the variation in timing of left atrial decompression and its association with clinical outcomes in pediatric patients supported with venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation across a multicenter cohort. DESIGN: Multicenter retrospective study. SETTING: Eleven pediatric hospitals within the United States. PATIENTS: Patients less than 18 years on venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation who underwent left atrial decompression from 2004 to 2016. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A total of 137 patients (median age, 4.7 yr) were included. Cardiomyopathy was the most common diagnosis (47%). Cardiac arrest (39%) and low cardiac output (50%) were the most common extracorporeal membrane oxygenation indications. Median time to left atrial decompression was 6.2 hours (interquartile range, 3.8-17.2 hr) with the optimal cut-point of greater than or equal to 18 hours for late decompression determined by receiver operating characteristic curve. In univariate analysis, late decompression was associated with longer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration (median 8.5 vs 5 d; p = 0.02). In multivariable analysis taking into account clinical confounder and center effects, late decompression remained significantly associated with prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation duration (adjusted odds ratio, 4.4; p = 0.002). Late decompression was also associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation (adjusted odds ratio, 4.8; p = 0.002). Timing of decompression was not associated with in-hospital survival (p = 0.36) or overall survival (p = 0.42) with median follow-up of 3.2 years. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study of pediatric patients receiving venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, late left atrial decompression (≥ 18 hr) was associated with longer duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support and mechanical ventilation. Although no survival benefit was demonstrated, the known morbidities associated with prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use may justify a recommendation for early left atrial decompression.

Genetic Modifiers of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Term Infants.

OBJECTIVE: To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in specific candidate genes associated with patent ductus arteriosus in term infants. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted an initial family-based, candidate gene study to analyze genotype data from DNA samples obtained from 171 term infants and their parents enrolled in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS). We performed transmission disequilibrium testing (TDT) using a panel of 55 SNPs in 17 genes. Replication of SNPs with P < .1 in the NBDPS trios was performed with a case-control strategy in an independent population. RESULTS: TDT analysis of the NBDPS trios resulted in 6 SNPs reaching the predetermined cutoff (P < .1) to be included in the replication study. These 6 SNPs were genotyped in the independent case-control population. A SNP in TGFBR2 was found to be associated with term patent ductus arteriosus in both populations after we corrected for multiple comparisons. (rs934328, TDT P = 2 × 10(-4), case-control P = 6.6 × 10(-5)). CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the importance of the transforming growth factor-beta pathway in the closure of the term ductus arteriosus and may suggest new therapeutic targets.

Assessment of Phenobarbital Administration to Reduce Opioid and Benzodiazepine Use in the Immediate Postoperative Period Following Stage 2 Single-Ventricle Palliation.

OBJECTIVE: The Glenn procedure may lead to the development of elevated cerebral venous pressures, which is believed to result in "Glenn headaches." This manifests as excessive irritability, often requiring significant use of opioids and benzodiazepines. This study was designed to report our experience with the use of phenobarbital in the postoperative phase after the Glenn procedure. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review to compare Glenn patients before and after implementation of a sedation protocol using phenobarbital. The 2 groups were compared for demographics, surgical characteristics, and cumulative sedation usage. Correlation coefficients between the preoperative catheterization variables and sedation usage were also calculated. RESULTS: Groups A (pre-phenobarbital; n = 8) and B (post-phenobarbital; n = 11) were comparable in terms of demographics, cardiac anatomy, preoperative catheterization data, and hemodynamics. Patients in Group B received a median dose of 21.8 mg/kg of phenobarbital during their ICU stay. Although there was a decreased administration of morphine equivalents (2.60 mg/kg vs 2.25 mg/kg, p = 0.38), benzodiazepine (0.1 mg/kg vs 0.074 mg/kg, p = 0.43), and dexmedetomidine (47 mcg/kg vs 37.2 mcg/kg, p = 0.53) in Group B, the differences were not statistically significant. There was also no strong correlation between preoperative hemodynamic variables and the postoperative sedation requirement, and there was no statistically significant difference in overall outcomes between the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: While phenobarbital may have mitigated the use of opioids, benzodiazepines, and alpha-agonist agents in some postoperative Glenn patients, the overall findings for all patients were not statistically significant. Further prospective studies are needed to ascertain the role of phenobarbital in these patients.

Acute Myocardial Ischemia Following Bee Sting in an Adolescent Male: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Epinephrine for anaphylactic shock is the standard life-saving treatment in the emergency department. Cardiac symptoms after epinephrine administration in a child with no prior cardiac history are often not suspected. We describe a presentation of diastolic cardiac dysfunction after anaphylaxis from a bee sting in an adolescent male. CASE REPORT A 16-year-old male with no prior history of allergy presented with anaphylaxis following a bee sting. The patient received an inadvertent intravenous rather than intramuscular dose of 1: 1000 epinephrine, leading to myocardial ischemia. Diastolic dysfunction resulting from myocardial ischemia and fluid resuscitation led to development of pulmonary edema. The patient required epinephrine drip for hemodynamic support and BiPAP for respiratory support. CONCLUSIONS This case highlights the risk of giving a rapid intravenous push of epinephrine, which converted an anaphylactic reaction to cardiogenic shock. Anaphylaxis-related coronary ischemia (Kounis) syndrome is another less likely etiology for our patient's presentation.