Aortic Valve Replacement with Single-Strip Autologous Pericardium.

BACKGROUND: Aortic valve replacement with mechanical valves is the standard treatment for aortic valve disease in Indonesia. Its usage is associated with high cost, risk of endocarditis and thromboembolic event, and lifetime consumption of anticoagulants. We performed a novel replacement technique of the aortic valve using an autologous pericardium and evaluated the short-term outcomes. METHODS: From April 2017 to April 2020, 16 patients underwent aortic valve replacement with a single-strip autologous pericardium. Outcomes of the left ventricular reverse remodeling (LVRR), 6-minute walk test (6MWT), and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 (sST-2) were measured at 6 months postoperation. RESULTS: A total of 16 surgeries were performed using aortic valve replacement with single-strip pericardium without conversion to mechanical valve replacement. The patients included eight males and eight females, and the mean age was 49.63 ± 12.54 years. The most common diagnosis was mixed aortic valve stenosis and regurgitation (9 cases). Five patients underwent a concomitant coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) procedure and 12 patients underwent either mitral or tricuspid valve repair. The mean aortic cross-clamp time was 139.88 ± 23.21 minutes and cardiopulmonary bypass time was 174.37 ± 33.53 minutes. At 6 months postoperation, there was an increase in the distance walked at the 6MWT (p = 0.006) and a decrease of the sST-2 level (p = 0.098). Echocardiogram showed two patients had LVRR. Survival and freedom from reoperation are 100% at 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Aortic valve replacement with a single strip of pericardium is a good alternative to aortic valve replacement with a mechanical valve. Short-term evaluation at 6 months postoperation showed improvement in clinical status and echocardiographic parameters compared to baseline.

Wound Healing in Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients Using Combined Use of Platelet Rich Fibrin and Hyaluronic Acid, Platelet Rich Fibrin and Placebo: An Open Label, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Autologous platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) is an adjunctive method for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in addition to glycaemic control and debridement. This study aimed to evaluate the role of A-PRF + hyaluronic acid (HA), A-PRF and sodium chloride 0.9% (control) in DFU wound healing. Nowaday, the use of  PRF autologous consider as adjuvant therapy in DFU treatment. METHODS: This open-label randomized controlled trial was conducted at Koja District Hospital and Gatot Soebroto Hospital from July 2019 to April 2020. DFU patients with wound duration of three months, Wagner-2, and ulcer size < 40 cm2 were recruited and randomly assigned into A-PRF + AH, A-PRF and control group. On day-0, day-3 and day -7, samples and photographs were taken. Samples were analysed with ELISA and photographs were analysed with ImageJ to calculate granulation index (GI). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20. RESULTS: Topical therapy with A-PRF + AH was associated with a significant increase in VEGF from day 0 (232.8 pg/mg) vs day 7 (544.5 pg/mg) compared to A-PRF on day 0 (185.7 pg/mg) vs day 7 (272.8 pg/mg), and the controls on day 0 (183.7 pg/mg) vs day 7 (167.4 pg/mg). On evaluation  of VEGF swab, there is increasing significantly in A-PRF+HA group compare others group in day -3 ( p=0.022) and day -7 (p= 0.001).In the A-PRF + AH group, there was a significant decrease in IL-6 from day 0 (106.4 pg/mg) vs day 7 (88.7 pg/mg) compared with PRF on day 0 (91.9 pg/mg) vs day 7 (48,8 pg/mg). IL-6 was increased in the control group from day 0 (125.3 pg/mg) vs day 7 (167.9 pg/mg). On evaluation  of IL-6 swab, there is decreasing significantly in A-PRF+HA group compare others group in day -7 (p= 0.041). CONCLUSION: The PRF + HA combination increased angiogenesis and reduced inflammation in DFUs and may represent a new DFU therapy.

Effect of allopurinol on oxidative stress and hypoxic adaptation response during surgical correction of tetralogy of fallot.

AIM: to analyze the role of allopurinol in reducing the ischemia-reperfusion injury, and to confirm the HIF-1 binding activity changes during the surgical correction of tetralogy of fallot (TF). METHODS: randomized, double-blind experimental study on patients undergoing surgical correction of TF in the Integrated Cardiovascular Services, Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital from September 2009-May 2010. Patients were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was given 10 mg/kg body weight of allopurinol 3 times before undergoing operation (n=13) and the other group was given placebo (n=13). Tissue specimen from right ventricular muscle were taken for measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression and blood specimens from intra-coronary sinus for measurement of TNF-, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA). RESULTS: cardiomyocytes expressing ROS in placebo group increased (41.37±29.29%; 42.61±22.82% and 53.81±25.76%), while in allopurinol group decreased (44.68±19.79%, 56.87±15.50%, and 47.98±22.52%). Concentration of TNF- tend to decrease in allopurinol group, while it tended to increase in the placebo goup. Concentration of SOD increased in the allopurinol group, while in the placebo group there were no significant changes. Concentration of MDA was highly increased in the placebo group (1.75 pmol/mg; 2.37 pmol/mg; 2.72 pmol/mg; 4.82 pmol/mg), but statistically it was not significant. On the other hand, there was no significant change of MDA concentration in the allopurinol group. Expression of HIF-1 in TF patients decreased significantly (p=0.026) from pre ischemic phase to ischemic phase, but it increased in the reperfusion phase (0.95 OD/mg protein, 0.52 OD/mg protein, 0.9 OD/mg protein). CONCLUSION: pre-surgical oral allopurinol treatment reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury during TF surgical correction, as indicated by the decrease in the number of cardiomyocytes expressing ROS, reducing TNF-, SOD, and MDA concentration in blood. There was a decrease in HIF-1 concentration in cardiomyocytes of the right ventricle during ischemic phase.

Adult congenital cardiac surgery in Indonesia.

BACKGROUND: Successful paediatric cardiac surgery and cardiology treatment has resulted in an increase in the use of surgery as a method of treatment of congenital cardiac disease in adult population. However, late detection and lower socio-economic condition in developing countries might change patients' characteristics by the time they come for treatment. This study aimed to elaborate the long-term surgical results of adult congenital cardiac disease in Indonesia as a developing country. METHODS AND RESULTS: We reviewed retrospectively all adult congenital cardiac disease patients with a mean age of 28 years plus or minus 9.5 years, who underwent surgery at National Cardiovascular Center. The types of procedures used were corrective in 338 patients (89.2%), palliative in 10 patients (2.6%), and re-operations in 31 patients (8.2%). The overall hospital mortality rate was 2.6% but as high as 20% with palliative surgery. Post-operative New York Heart Association class III-IV is the only independent predictor of death at 60 months (hazard ratio 61.48, 95% confidence interval 9.41-401.69, p<0.001). The survival rates were 96.3% and 95% for overall and non-atrial septal defect in patients at 60 months, which was highest in corrective procedures (97.6%). The percentage of patients free of re-operation at 5 years' follow-up was 85.4% and 42.7% at 10 years. CONCLUSION: In developing countries, surgical treatment of adult congenital cardiac disease is effective and safe, with an overall survival rate of 96.3% at 60 months. Due to high mortality rate, palliative surgery of a non-atrial septal defect patient is recommended to be discontinued. The independent predictor of mortality was post-operative New York Heart Association functional class III-IV.

The role of VEGF, PDGF and IL-6 on diabetic foot ulcer after Platelet Rich Fibrin + hyaluronic therapy.

BACKGROUND: Current standard management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) consists of surgical debridement followed by soak NaCl 0.9% gauzes tight infection and glycaemic control. Nowadays the use of advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) has emerged as an adjunctive method for treating DFUs. This study was conducted to demonstrate the ability of combine A-PRF + HA as a complementary therapy in DFUs healing related with angiogenesis,inflammation and granulation index process. METHODS: This open label randomized controlled trial was conducted in Koja District Hospital and Gatot Soebroto Hospital Jakarta, Indonesia on July 2019-April 2020. DFUs patients with wound duration of three months, Wagner-2, with size of ulcer less than 40 cm2 were included in the study. The number of subjects was calculated based on the rule of thumb and allocated randomly into three groups, namely topical A-PRF + HA, A-PRF and Sodium Chloride 0.9% as a control, for each of 10 subjects. A-PRF made by 10 mL venous blood, centrifuge 200 G in 10 min, meanwhile A-PRF + HA though mix both them with vertex machine around 5 min. Biomarker such as VEGF, PDGF and IL-6 examined from DFU taken by cotton swab and analysis using ELISA. Granulation Index was measured using ImageJ. Biomarkers and granulation index were evaluated on day 0, 3, 7 and 14. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20 with Anova and Kruskal Wallis test to compare the angiogenesis and inflammation effect between the three groups. RESULT: In topical dressing A-PRF + HA, there is an increase in delta VEGF on day-3 (43.1 pg/mg protein) and day-7 (275,8 pg/mg protein) compared to A-PRF on day-3 (1.8 pg/mg protein) and day-7 (104.7 pg/mg protein), also NaCl (control) on day-3 (-4.9 pg/mg protein) and day-7 (28.3 pg/mg protein). So that the delta VEGF of A-PRF + HA group increase significantly compared with others on day-3 (p = 0.003) and day- 7 (p < 0.001). Meanwhile A-PRF + AH group, there is also a decrease in delta IL-6 after therapy on day-3 (-10.9 pg/mg protein) and day-7 (-18.3 pg/mg protein) compared to A-PRF in delta IL-6 on day- 3 (-3.7 pg/mg protein) and on day-7 (-7.8 pg/mg protein). In NaCl (control) group there is a increase delta IL-6 on day-3 (4.3 pg/mg protein) and on day-7 (35.5 pg/mg protein). So that the delta IL-6 of A-PRF + HA group decrease significantly compared with others only on day- 7 (p = 0.015). In PDGF le level analysis, A-PRF + HA group increase significantly (p = 0.012) only in day -7 compare with other group (5.5 pg/mg protein). CONCLUSION: The study shows the superior role of combined A-PRF + HA in the treatment DFU though increase angiogenesis and decrease inflammation pathway. The advantage of using A-PRF + HA is that it accelerates wound healing by increasing granulation tissue compared to A-PRF alone.

Comparison between blood and non-blood cardioplegia in tetralogy of Fallot.

BACKGROUND: Cardioplegia is an integral part of myocardial protection. The superiority of blood cardioplegia in adult patients has been reported. However, this is yet to be studied in cyanotic pediatric patients. METHODS: A randomized open-label trial was conducted in 70 patients with tetralogy of Fallot. They were divided into two groups: 35 patients had crystalloid cardioplegia (controls), and 35 had blood cardioplegia. Lactate and coronary oxygen extraction in arterial blood and the coronary sinus were measured immediately after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass, 15 and 30 min later. Postoperative mortality, major adverse cardiac events, mechanical ventilation time, inotrope administration, arrhythmias, right ventricular function, intensive care unit and hospital length of stay were observed. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes or lactate levels. There was a significant difference in coronary oxygen extraction immediately and 15 min after cessation of cardiopulmonary bypass ( p = 0.038, p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Blood cardioplegia gave a better postoperative oxygen extraction value but there were no differences in myocardial damage or clinical outcome between the two groups.

Outcome of pediatric cardiac surgery and predictors of major complication in a developing country.

BACKGROUND: Evaluating outcome and identifying predictors of major complications among children undergoing cardiac surgery are essential to improve care. We evaluated short-term outcomes of postcardiac surgery and predictors of major complications in a national referral hospital in Indonesia. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted from April 2014 to March 2015 on all children undergoing cardiac surgery. Participants were followed up from the time of surgery until hospital discharge and 30-day mortality. We performed univariate and multivariate logistic regression using STATA 12-1 to identify predictors of postsurgical major complications. RESULTS: A total of 257 patients (median age: 36 months) were recruited; 217 (84.1%) had complications, including low cardiac output syndrome (19.8%), arrhythmia (18.6%), sepsis (17.4%), and pleural effusion (14.8%). Forty-nine (19%) patients had major complications, including cardiac arrest (5%), need for emergency chest opening (3.9%), and multiple organ failure (7.4%). 12.8% died during hospital stay, and 30-day mortality was 13.6%. Predictors of major complications were cyanotic congenital heart disease (odds ratio [OR]: 4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.5-14.2), longer duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, OR: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.5-13.4), high inotropes (OR: 13.1, 95% CI: 3.2-54.2), and increase in lactate >0.75 mmol/L/h or more in the first 24 h (OR: 37.1, 95% CI: 10.1-136.3). CONCLUSION: One-fifth of children undergoing cardiac surgery experienced major complications with around 13% mortality. Cyanotic congenital heart disease, longer duration of CPB, high inotropes on leaving operating theater, and increase in blood lactate are associated with major complications in children after cardiac surgery.

A rare case of primary cardiac lymphoma and the role of early surgical debulking: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a very rare disease and is most commonly found among immunocompromised patients. Its cardiac manifestations are non-specific, leading to delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis. However, chemotherapy could improve survival, which makes early and prompt diagnosis very crucial. This is a report of a rare case of PCL found on a 73-year-old man who benefit from early debulking surgery. CASE SUMMARY: A 73-year-old man presented with worsening dyspnoea over the last 2 months. A 7.2 × 10.2 cm intramural tumour was found extending from the right atrium to the right ventricle. It was considered that the tumour could cause sudden death due to its size and extension. Therefore, surgical debulking with biopsy and valve repair was done. Cytology examination from the resected specimen demonstrated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma non-germinal centre B-cell like type. He was discharged 2 weeks after the surgery in stable condition and referred to internal medicine department for chemotherapy. However, he chose palliative home care and died 44 days after surgery. DISCUSSION: In cases of PCL with concerning tumour size and symptoms due to cardiac obstruction, early surgical debulking could improve haemodynamics, prevent sudden death, and confirm immunopathological diagnosis needed in determining further chemotherapy, which is proven to improve survival.

Role of terminal warm blood cardioplegia in complex congenital heart surgery.

Introduction Myocardial protection is vital to ensure successful open heart surgery. Cardioplegic solution is one method to achieve good myocardial protection. Inevitably, ischemia-reperfusion injury occurs with aortic crossclamping. Histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate solution is a frequently used cardioplegia for complex congenital heart surgery. We postulated that addition of terminal warm blood cardioplegia before removal of the aortic crossclamp might improve myocardial protection. Method A randomized controlled trial was conducted on 109 cyanotic patients aged, 1 to 5 years who underwent complex biventricular repair. They were divided into a control group of 55 patients who had histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate only and a treatment group of 54 who had histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate with terminal warm blood cardioplegia. Endpoints were clinical parameters, troponin I levels, and caspase-3 as an apoptosis marker. Results The incidence of low cardiac output syndrome was 34%, with no significant difference between groups (35.2% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.84). The incidence of arrhythmias in our treatment group was lower compared to the control group (36% vs. 12%, p = 0.005). Troponin I and caspase-3 results did not show any significant differences between groups. For cases with Aristotle score ≥ 10, weak expression of caspase-3 in the treatment group post-cardiopulmonary bypass was lower compared to the control group. Conclusion For complex congenital cardiac surgery, the addition of terminal warm blood cardioplegia does not significantly improve postoperative clinical or metabolic markers.

Genetic polymorphism in postoperative sepsis after open heart surgery in infants.

BACKGROUND: Sepsis is one of the complications following open heart surgery. Toll-like receptor 2 and toll-interacting protein polymorphism influence the immune response after open heart surgery. This study aimed to assess the genetic distribution of toll-like receptor 2 N199N and toll-interacting protein rs5743867 polymorphism in the development of postoperative sepsis. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 108 children <1-year old who underwent open heart surgery with a Basic Aristotle score ≥6. Patients with an accompanying congenital anomaly, human immunodeficiency virus infection, or history of previous open heart surgery were excluded. The patients' nutritional status and genetic polymorphism were assessed prior to surgery. The results of genetic polymorphism were obtained through genotyping. Patients' ages on the day of surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass times were recorded. The diagnosis of sepsis was established according to Surviving Sepsis Campaign criteria. RESULTS: Postoperative sepsis was observed in 21% of patients. There were 92.6% patients with toll-like receptor 2 N199N polymorphism and 52.8% with toll-interacting protein rs5743867 polymorphism. CONCLUSIONS: Toll-like receptor 2 N199N polymorphism tends to increase the risk of sepsis (odds ratio = 1.974; 95% confidence interval: 0.23-16.92; p = 0.504), while toll-interacting protein rs5743867 polymorphism tends to decrease the risk of sepsis (odds ratio = 0.496; 95% confidence interval: 0.19-1.27; p = 0.139) in infants <1-year old undergoing complex open heart surgery.

Pulmonary artery sling associated with tetralogy of fallot.

We describe a rare case of pulmonary artery sling occurring simultaneously with tetralogy of Fallot. This report describes the successful concomitant repair of both intracardiac anomalies.

Ischemic preconditioning reduces apoptosis in open heart surgery.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to assess the role of ischemic preconditioning on cardiomyocyte apoptosis after open heart surgery, based on morphology by transmission electron microscopy, caspase-3 activity, biochemical markers, and cardiac performance. METHODS: 12 piglets were divided into 2 equal groups: an ischemic preconditioning group and a control group. Ventricular muscles were collected to examine apoptotic ultrastructure morphology and caspase-3 activity. Blood samples from the coronary sinus were obtained for measurement of tumor necrosis factor-α, malondialdehyde, and cardiac troponin I. Aortic blood samples were taken for lactate measurements before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. Cardiac performance was measured by echocardiography before and after surgery. RESULTS: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis occurred postoperatively, as shown by ultrastructure observation. Caspase-3 activity was less in the ischemic preconditioning group than the control group (p < 0.05). Measurements of specific markers of cardiomyocyte injury also showed lower increases in the ischemic preconditioning group, although not significantly different. Clinical outcomes showed that ischemic preconditioning was able to preserve cardiac performance in terms of ejection fraction, cardiac index, and stroke volume index; these were statistically significant, except for lactate concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiomyocyte apoptosis occurs after open heart surgery. Ischemic preconditioning can reduce cardiomyocyte apoptosis and improve cardiac performance. Laboratory findings showed that ischemic preconditioning prevents injury of cardiomyocytes and reduces lactate concentration, although not statistically significant.