Contemporary trends in surgical rheumatic valve disease in a Caribbean nation.

BACKGROUND: Clinical practice suggests that rheumatic heart disease (RHD) represents a significant public health challenge in the Caribbean region where advanced disease appears early often leading to surgical intervention. We aimed to determine the burden of RHD and type of procedure among patients undergoing valve surgery in the Dominican Republic (DR). METHODS: Demographic, clinical and procedural data of all subjects intervened between January 2014 and December 2018 were obtained including valve disorder, anatomic location and type of surgery. Correlation coefficients were used to assess yearly trends of RHD among the 7 cardiovascular surgical centers in the country. RESULTS: Of 1626 valvular surgeries performed, 733 (45%) corresponded to RHD; 55% female patients, age 50 ± 11 (6-72) years; involving mitral 458 (63%); mitral + aortic 139 (19%); aortic 105 (14%); mitral + tricuspid 31 (4%); 95% prosthetic replacement and 5% mitral/tricuspid repairs. Mean proportion of RHD valve procedures per center for the study period was 53 ± 34%. Age-adjusted analysis showed an overall upwards trend in RHD valvular surgery (mean annual increment of 50 ± 40%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Despite inter-center variability, rates of surgical RHD in the DR increased during the last 5 years affecting a relatively young population. Mitral involvement was the predominant lesion and prosthetic replacement the leading procedure. These data may guide local and regional institutions and policy makers towards the implementation of cost-effective initiatives against RHD.

Extrapleural Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus: How We Do It.

Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a clinical condition mostly found in premature newborns. Among several medical, surgical and interventional treatment options, extrapleural ligation through a left minithoracotomy is recognized as a safe, efficient and less expensive technique. In fact, it requires short surgical times, grants good exposure of the duct and nearby structures (e.g., thoracic duct, left recurrent laryngeal nerve), and avoids pleural space opening and subsequent pulmonary complications in preterm patients. This approach seems ideal due to its lower costs, especially in developing countries with a high birth rate and limited resources.

Extrapleural closure of patent Ductus Arteriosus: how we do it

Abstract Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a clinical condition mostly found in premature newborns. Among several medical, surgical and interventional treatment options, extrapleural ligation through a left minithoracotomy is recognized as a safe, efficient and less expensive technique. In fact, it requires short surgical times, grants good exposure of the duct and nearby structures (e.g., thoracic duct, left recurrent laryngeal nerve), and avoids pleural space opening and subsequent pulmonary complications in preterm patients. This approach seems ideal due to its lower costs, especially in developing countries with a high birth rate and limited resources.

Giant Right Atrial Abscess in a Premature Infant With Fungal Endocarditis in a Developing Country.

Although infective endocarditis rarely appears during infancy, fungal infections remain a concern in the preterm neonatal population as the result of compromised immunity, prolonged hospitalization, and invasive procedures. The increased awareness of fungal colonization and improvements in medical therapy have not reduced the high mortality rate of mycotic infections in premature newborns, especially in developing countries, and there is no consensus on the surgical timing to treat neonatal fungal endocarditis. We present the case of a two-month-old boy with a history of three weeks of hospitalization for prematurity. After being discharged, the patient developed symptomatic candidemia resulting from a large right atrial abscess obstructing the tricuspid valve; despite antifungal therapy, urgent surgical resection was required.

Subaortic membrane and aorto-septal angle: an echocardiographic assessment and surgical outcome.

BACKGROUND: Development of a subaortic membrane is not fully understood. Recurrence after surgical removal continues to be high. We sought to assess the differences in aorto-septal angles (AoSA) to possibly explain alterations within the left ventricular outflow tract, hence in subaortic membrane formation. METHODS: A total of 113 patients who underwent subaortic membrane resection were matched by age and sex with 113 controls. The subaortic membrane resection group included isolated subaortic membranes (n = 34, group I), associated with ventricular septal defect (n = 29, group II), or patent ductus arteriosus (n = 50, group III). RESULTS: Mean (± standard deviation) AoSA (in degrees) were not different between subaortic membrane groups I, II, and III but were steeper than their control groups (126.2 ± 9.2 vs 138.6 ± 7.0, 129.2 ± 9.9 vs 137.7 ± 10.0, and 126.2 ± 8.1 vs 135 ± 8.5, respectively; all Ps < .05). Additionally, group II had lower preoperative gradients (28.8 ± 20.7 mm Hg) compared to groups I and III (67.0 ± 32.9 and 66.2 ± 33.1 mm Hg, respectively, P < .001). Follow-up ranged from 3 to 132 months. In 22 (32%) patients, a subaortic membrane recurred. Early postoperative residual gradients and development of aortic regurgutation were associated with the need for reoperation (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest a contributing role of the AoSA in the development of subaortic membrane. Further rheological experiments are warranted. Whether the steeper the angle the higher the risk of recurrence may be revealed by longer follow-up periods.

Pediatric cardiac surgery: a challenge and outcome analysis of the Guatemala effort.

A large underserved population of children with congenital cardiac malformation (CCM) exists in many developing countries. In recent years, several strategies have been implemented to supplement this need. These strategies include transferring children to first-world countries for surgical care or the creation of local pediatric cardiovascular surgical programs. In 1997, an effort was made to create a comprehensive pediatric cardiac care program in Guatemala. The objective of this study is to examine the outcome analysis of the Guatemala effort. The goals of our new and first pediatric cardiac care program were to: 1) provide diagnosis and treatment to all children with a CCM in Guatemala; 2) train of local staff surgeons, 3) established a foundation locally and in the United States in 1997 to serve as a fundraising instrument to acquire equipment and remodeling of the pediatric cardiac unit and also to raise funds to pay the hospital for the almost exclusively poor pediatric cardiac patients. The staff now includes 3 surgeons from Guatemala, trained by the senior surgeon (A.R.C.), seven pediatric cardiologists, 3 intensivists, and 2 anesthesiologists, as well as intensive care and ward nurses, respiratory therapists, echocardiography technicians, and support personnel. The cardiovascular program expanded in 2005 to 2 cardiac operating rooms, 1 cardiac catheterization laboratory, 1 cardiac echo lab, 4 outpatients clinics a 6-bed intensive care unit and a 4-bed stepdown unit, a 20 bed general ward (2 beds/room) and a genetics laboratory. Our center has become a referral center for children from Central America. A total of 2,630 surgical procedures were performed between February 1997 and December 2007, increasing the number of operations each year. Postoperative complication occurred in 523 of 2,630 procedures (20%). A late follow-up study was conducted of all the patients operated from 1997 to 2005. Late mortality was 2.7%. Development of a sustainable pediatric cardiac program in emerging countries presents many difficult challenges. Hard work, perseverance, adaptability, and tolerance are useful aptitudes to develop a viable PCP in an "emerging" country. We are not in favor of Medical-Surgical Safari efforts, unless these efforts include training of a local team and eventual unit independence. It helps if an experienced (+/- senior/retired!) surgeon leads this effort on a full-time, pro bono basis. Local and international fund raising is essential to complement vastly insufficient government subsidies.