Retrospective study of preoperative sildenafil in prolonged pleural effusion after Fontan.

Background: By rerouting the systemic venous return into the pulmonary circulation, the Fontan operation is perhaps the most effective palliative procedure in patients with complex congenital heart disease. The Fontan, however, still comes with several significant complications and morbidities, one of them being postoperative prolonged pleural effusion. In our center from 2017 to 2021, 10% of all our patients who underwent Fontan operation developed prolonged pleural effusion. With this study, we aimed to analyze the preoperative use of sildenafil for 6 months and its role in prolonged pleural effusion after the Fontan operation. Materials and Methods: In total, 158 patients were included in the analysis. The cohort was divided into patients who developed prolonged pleural effusion after Fontan surgery (n = 17) and those who did not (n = 141). We analyzed several risk factors and the history of sildenafil use in each group in the cohort. We found that patients who used sildenafil for at least 6 months prior to Fontan surgery versus those who did not use (n = 112 vs. n = 46) were found to be at lower risk of developing prolonged pleural effusion (odds ratio [OR]: 0.32 [confidence interval 95%: 0.11-0.88], P = 0.027). Conclusion: Preoperative administration of sildenafil for at least 6 months before Fontan might reduce the risk of postoperative prolonged pleural effusion.

Preparation of Cell-Seeded Heart Patch In Vitro; Co-Culture of Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell and Cardiomyocytes in Amnion Bilayer Patch.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the second killer across the globe, while coronary disease is the major cause. Cell therapy is one alternative to regenerate the infarcted heart wall. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, the cardiomyogenesis capacity of human adipose stem cells (hAdSC) and human cardiomyocytes (hCardio) cultured in a 3-D biological scaffold (decellularised amnion bilayer) for nine days in a static condition was investigated. The cardiomyogenesis capacity of hAdSC were identified using immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. The population of the cells isolated from the heart tissue expressed cTnT-1 (13.38 ± 11.38%), cKit (7.85 ± 4.2%), ICAM (85.53 ± 8.69%), PECAM (61.63 ± 7.18%) and VCAM (35.9 ± 9.11%), while from the fat tissue expressed the mesenchymal phenotypes (CD73, CD90, CD105, but not CD45, CD34, CD11b, CD19 and HLA-DR). Two age groups of hAdSC donors were compared, the youngsters (30-40yo) and the elderly (60-70 yo). RESULTS: The co-culture showed that after 5-day incubation, the seeded graft in the hAdSC-30 group had a tube-like appearance while the hAdSC-60 group demonstrated a disorganised pattern, despite of the MSC expressions of the hAdSC-60 were significantly higher. Initial co-culture showed no difference of ATP counts among all groups, however the hAdSC-30 group had the highest ATP count after 9 days culture (p = 0.004). After normalising to the normal myocardium, only the hAdSC-60 group expressed cTnT and MHC, very low, seen during the initial cultivation, but then disappeared. Meanwhile, the hAdSC-30 group expressed α-actinin, MHC and cTnT in the Day-5. The PPAR also was higher in the Day-5 compared to the Day-9 (p < 0.005). CONCLUSION: Cardiomyogenesis capacity of hAdSC co-cultured with hCardio in a 3-D scaffold taken from the 30-40yo donor showed better morphology and viability than the 60-70yo group, but maintained less than 5 days in this system.

Berry syndrome; a successful one-stage repair in neonate periods, evaluation result after 9 years, a case report.

BACKGROUD: IAA with an intact ventricular septum is distinctly unusual. Combination with an Aortopulmonary Window (APW), ascending aortic origin of the right pulmonary artery and PDA may be present which is called as Berry syndrome, a rare combination of cardiac anomalies, reported to be 0.046%, lethal combination and die shortly after birth. CASE REPORT: We report a 9 days-old male neonates weighing 3.85 kg was referred by local hospital to our center and was ventilated with history of respiratory distress and severe infection since he was born. Admitted to our PCICU, 2D echo showed an IAA type A associated with a huge APW type II and restrictif PDA. A PGE1 infusion was started, during the following days the baby experienced several epileptic episodes. After improvement of the clinical condition, surgery was performed on the 20th days of life on year 2011. A successful one-stage repair of such anomalies in which cutting of PDA that arised from PA trunk and distally becoming into descending aorta, extended end to end anastomosis to conduct the ascending aortic blood flow into the descending aorta and intra arterial baffle was used. A 4-0 Gore-Tex baffle was used both to close the APW and separated the RPA from aortic origin with a good result, as his recently grown up as a cheerful 9 year old child who is growing actively and has entered elementary school in grade 2. CONCLUSION: Berry syndrome is a rare but well-identified and surgically correctable anomaly. Early diagnosis and surgical treatment to avoid irreversible pulmonary hypertension is mandatory.

A successful management of late-presenting transposition with intact septum and severe coarctation of the aorta.

A 13-week-old baby was referred with dextrocardia, situs inversus, transposition of the great arteries, intact ventricular septum, patent foramen ovale, right aortic arch with severe preductal aortic coarctation and large patent ductus arteriosus. Left ventricular mass index as well as thickness was adequate, 118 g/m2 and 5.9 mm, respectively; thus, a primary arterial switch with aortic coarctation repair was performed. The patient made a full recovery without the need for extracorporeal life support. Adequate left ventricular mass index and thickness in late-presenting transposition of the great arteries with intact ventricular septum might justify primary arterial switch.

Prevalence and predictors of postoperative peritoneal dialysis in infants.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding predictors of the eventual need for postoperative peritoneal dialysis in infants undergoing open heart surgery is still limited. We aimed to determine whether prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass time, surgical complexity classified according to Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery category, younger age, and lower body weight increase the probability of requiring postoperative peritoneal dialysis. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 181 infants who underwent open heart surgery at our institution from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Cardiopulmonary bypass time, Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery category, age, body weight, and the need for postoperative peritoneal dialysis were recorded and analyzed. RESULTS: Thirteen (7.2%) of the 181 patients required postoperative peritoneal dialysis. This group was found to have a longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, younger age, and lower body weight. Longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.001), higher Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery category (p = 0.018), younger age (p < 0.001), and lower body weight (p < 0.001) significantly increased the risk of postoperative peritoneal dialysis. CONCLUSION: Longer cardiopulmonary bypass time, more complex surgery, younger age, and lower body weight increase the probability of requiring postoperative peritoneal dialysis in infants undergoing open heart surgery.

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.