Outcomes of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Reconstruction in Children: Retrospective Comparison Between Bovine Jugular Vein and Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Conduits.

Bovine jugular vein (BJV) and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) conduits have been described as alternatives to the homograft for right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. This study compared RVOT reconstructions using BJV and ePTFE conduits performed in a single institution. The valve functions and outcomes of patients aged < 18 years who underwent primary RVOT reconstruction with a BJV or ePTFE conduit between 2013 and 2017 were retrospectively investigated. 44 patients (20 and 24 with BJV and ePTFE conduits, respectively) met the inclusion criteria. The mean follow-up time was 4.5 ± 1.5 years. No significant differences in peak RVOT velocity (1.8 ± 0.9 m/s vs 2.1 ± 0.9 m/s, P = 0.27), branch pulmonary stenosis (P = 0.50), or pulmonary regurgitation (P = 0.44) were found between the BJV and ePTFE conduit groups, respectively. Aneurysmal dilatation of the conduit was observed in 25.0% of the patients in the BJV conduit group but not in the ePTFE conduit group (P = 0.011). All the cases with aneurysmal dilatation of the BJV conduit were complicated with branch pulmonary stenosis up to 3.0 m/s (P = 0.004). No conduit infections occurred during the follow-up period, and no significant difference in conduit replacement (20.0% vs 8.3%, P = 0.43) was found between the BJV and ePTFE conduit groups, respectively. The outcomes of the RVOT reconstructions with BJV and ePTFE conduits were clinically satisfactory. Aneurysmal dilatation was found in the BJV conduit cases, with branch pulmonary stenosis as the risk factor.

Effect of Minocycline Pleurodesis in Infants With Refractory Chylothorax After Palliative Surgery for Complex Congenital Heart Disease.

Chylothorax is a critical complication after surgery for congenital heart disease, which markedly compromises the postoperative course with increased mortality. As the cardiovascular load additively causes stagnation of the thoracic duct, chylothorax after palliative cardiac surgery can be highly refractory to the therapies. Here we report a case of two patients with refractory chylothorax attributed to hemodynamic load which was successfully treated with minocycline pleurodesis. In combination with congenital heart disease, extremely low birth weight coupled with prematurity in case 1 and venous obstruction with excessive volume load due to additional aortopulmonary shunt in case 2 additively increased resistance to the therapies, including fasting with total parenteral nutrition (TPN), XIII factor supplementation, octreotide infusion, as well as the use of steroids. As pleural effusion was sustained at more than 50 ml/kg/day, the condition of both patients deteriorated severely; pleurodesis using minocycline was urgently introduced. Pleural effusion declined at every session and both cases were in remission in a few sessions without unfavorable acute reaction. No symptoms suspecting chronic adverse effects were observed during follow-up, including respiratory dysfunction, pulmonary hypertension, tooth staining, or abnormal bone mineralization. Although the application of minocycline for children should be minimized, minocycline pleurodesis can be an option for patients with refractory and life-threatening chylothorax.

Ecological approach to graphene oxide reinforced poly (methyl methacrylate) nanocomposites.

Graphene oxide (GO) possesses the desirable characteristic of aqueous solution processability attributed to the oxygen-containing functional groups on the basal planes and edges of graphene. To provide an alternative to conventional procedures for fabricating poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)/GO nanocomposites, which use organic solutions and/or surfactants, we have developed an environmentally friendly technique in which PMMA is polymerized by soap-free emulsion polymerization and incorporated with GO using water as a processing medium. Experimental results showed that the fabricated PMMA/GO nanocomposites had excellent mechanical, thermal, and O2 barrier properties with the nanodispersion of GO.