Epicardial vs. transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillators in children.

AIMS: The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) has been increasingly used in children. Both epicardial and transvenous approaches are used, with controversy regarding the best option with no specific recommendations. We aimed to compare outcomes associated with epicardial vs. transvenous ICDs in children. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data were analysed from a retrospective study including all patients <18-year-old implanted with an ICD in a tertiary centre from 2003 to 2021. Outcomes were compared between epicardial and transvenous ICDs. A total of 122 children with an ICD (mean age 11.5 ± 3.8 years, 57.4% males) were enrolled, with 84 (64.1%) epicardial ICDs and 38 (29.0%) transvenous ICDs. Early (<30 days) ICD-related complications were reported in 17 (20.2%) patients with an epicardial ICD vs. 0 (0.0%) with a transvenous ICD (P = 0.002). Over a mean follow-up of 4.8 ± 4.0 years, 25 (29.8%) patients with an epicardial ICD and 9 (23.7%) patients with a transvenous ICD experienced at least one late ICD-related complication [hazard ratio (HR) 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.8-4.0]. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead dysfunction occurred in 19 (22.6%) patients with an epicardial ICD vs. 3 (7.9%) with a transvenous ICD (HR 5.7, 95% CI 1.3-24.5) and was associated with a higher incidence of ICD-related reintervention (HR 3.0, 95% CI 1.3-7.0). After considering potential confounders, especially age and weight at implantation, this association was no longer significant (P = 0.112). The freedom from ICD lead dysfunction was greater in patients with pleural coils than in those with epicardial coils (HR 0.38, 95% CI 0.15-0.96). CONCLUSION: In children, after a consideration of patient characteristics at implantation, the burden of complications and ICD lead dysfunction appears to be similar in patients with epicardial and transvenous devices. Pleural coils seem to be associated with better outcomes than epicardial coils in this population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05349162.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: a novel surgical strategy for small-volume centres?

OBJECTIVES: We describe in a prospective study, a novel surgical technique for the management of hypoplastic left heart syndrome inspired by the hybrid Norwood approach. METHODS: This new neonatal palliation comprises replacement of the patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and aortic arch plasty with a pulmonary homograft associated with the banding of both pulmonary arteries and atrial septectomy, under cardiopulmonary bypass without aortic clamping and cardioplegia. Initial results led to tightening of the pulmonary artery band from 3.5 mm to 2.5 mm. RESULTS: From July 2014 to May 2016, 15 patients were initially palliated (13 patients with aortic atresia/mitral atresia, 1 with double inlet right ventricle, 1 with tricuspid atresia) at a median age of 5 days (1-8 days) and a median weight of 3.0 kg (2.3-3.9 kg). All but 2 patients were discharged from the hospital: There was 1 early in-hospital death and 1 patient required hospitalization in the intensive care unit until stage 2. There were also 4 interstage deaths. Nine patients underwent Stage 2 and 1 patient is still waiting. Compared to the classic Norwood procedure, early mortality decreased significantly (43.3-6.7%; P = 0.0074) and overall mortality before Stage 2 was halved (61.6-33.3%). Postoperative morbidity was also reduced. CONCLUSIONS: This new surgical palliative approach to hypoplastic left heart syndrome, particularly useable technically, seems to combine the advantages of the hybrid procedure by avoiding cardiac ischaemia and ventriculotomy without the complications of PDA stenting and restrictive atrial septectomy. Although the mortality rate decreased significantly, it remains substantial in small-volume centres, especially in the interstage period.