Antegrade cerebral perfusion at 25 °C for arch reconstruction in newborns and children preserves perioperative cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine.

BACKGROUND: Antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) typically is used with deep hypothermia for cerebral protection during aortic arch reconstructions. The impact of ACP on cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine at a more tepid 25 °C was studied in newborns and children. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2014, 61 newborns and children (<5 years old) underwent aortic arch reconstruction using moderate hypothermia (25.0±0.9 °C) with ACP and a pH-stat blood gas management strategy. These included 44% Norwood-type operations, 30% isolated arch reconstructions, and 26% arch reconstructions with other major procedures. Median patient age at surgery was 9 days (range, 3 days-4.7 years). Cerebral oxygenation (NIRS) was monitored continuously perioperatively for 120 hours. Serum creatinine was monitored daily. RESULTS: Median cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and cross clamp times were 181 minutes (range, 82-652 minutes) and 72 minutes (range, 10-364 minutes), respectively. ACP was performed at a mean flow rate of 46±6 mL/min/kg for a median of 48 minutes (range, 10-123 minutes). Cerebral and somatic NIRS were preserved intraoperatively and remained at baseline postoperatively during the first 120 hours. Peak postoperative serum creatinine levels averaged 0.7±0.3 mg/dL for all patients. There were 4 (6.6%) discharge mortalities. Six patients (9.8%) required ECMO support. Median postoperative length of hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) stay were 16 days(range, 4-104 days) and 9 days (range, 1-104 days), respectively. Two patients (3.3%) received short-term peritoneal dialysis for fluid removal, and none required hemodialysis. Three patients (4.9%) had an isolated seizure which resolved with medical therapy, and none had a neurologic deficit or stroke. CONCLUSIONS: ACP at 25 °C preserved perioperative cerebral oxygenation and serum creatinine for newborns and children undergoing arch reconstruction. Early outcomes are encouraging, and additional study is warranted to assess the impact on late outcomes.

Ascending Aortic Slide for Interrupted Aortic Arch Repair.

For repair of interrupted aortic arch, unfavorable anatomy challenges a tension-free anastomosis. We describe a useful alternative surgical technique used in five neonates/infants, involving splitting the ascending aorta from the sinotubular junction to the arch origin, leftward and posterior "sliding" of the flap with anastomosis to the distal arch creating a native tissue bridge, and reconstruction with a patch. With wide interruption gaps between proximal and distal aortic portions, the ascending aortic slide is a safe and reproducible technique, providing a tension-free native tissue bridge with potential for growth, and a scaffold for patch augmentation in biventricular hearts, or for Norwood stage I in univentricular palliation.

Resource and cost considerations in treating hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) was a uniformly fatal diagnosis before 1983, when surgical treatment was first undertaken with the Norwood I operation as the first of 3-staged operations. Since then, operative survival rate of stage I has risen from 53% to over 90% in the current era, not only thanks to technical advances in surgery but also through prenatal diagnosis and imaging, enhanced cardiopulmonary bypass technology, better perioperative intensive care, and closer interstage monitoring. The improvements in patient outcomes achieved through rigorous multidisciplinary teamwork have come at a tremendous cost in manpower and resources, making HLHS still a challenge to all congenital heart programs, established or emerging. We review the various surgical steps to treat HLHS and their current expected outcomes, and put into perspective cost considerations compared to other more "simple" congenital heart defects.

A technique for implantation of the CentriMag left ventricular assist device to allow ambulation and rehabilitation in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The therapeutic options for heart failure include inotropic agents, intraaortic balloon pumps, and left ventricular assist devices (LVAD). Implantable LVADs are not appropriate for all patients. The short-term devices require patients to stay in bed, connected to cannulas, which are usually inserted using a median sternotomy. This approach requires a subsequent sternotomy, midline cannulas (which can make sitting difficult), and immobility. We began using a right thoracotomy with cannulas placed through intercostal spaces for selected patients in need of temporary LVAD support.  METHODS: This retrospective chart review examined our experience with CentriMag LVAD placement via right thoracotomy from August 2009 to June 2013. We reviewed the reasons for support, the degree of postoperative mobilization, and the outcomes of the patients treated in this manner. RESULTS: This approach was used in 6 patients. Four patients lacked financial or social support for a long-term, implantable LVAD. One patient was considered too ill to have an implantable LVAD placed, and one was treated with temporary support with hope for recovery from myocarditis.  Five of these 6 patients were able to walk soon after LVAD implantation and initiate rehabilitation.  One did not recover and had support withdrawn. Another suffered a stroke and had support withdrawn. Four of the 6 were transplanted successfully. CONCLUSIONS: CentriMag LVAD implantation via a right thoracotomy is a feasible approach that provides adequate hemodynamic support while allowing patients to ambulate, making subsequent cardiac transplantation less complicated by allowing the avoidance of a repeat sternotomy.

[Aortic arch advancement surgery as treatment for aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch in children]. / Avance de arco aórtico en el manejo de la coartación de aorta con hipoplasia del arco aórtico en niños.

INTRODUCTION: Treatment of aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch is still a surgical challenge. The aortic arch advancement surgery has shown less re-coarctation frequency. OBJECTIVE: To determine the re-coarctation frequency in patients who underwent aortic arch advancement technique for aortic coarctation with hypoplastic aortic arch and analyze the results. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective and observational study of 38 patients who underwent aortic arch advancement in a third level Institution from 2002 to 2010. RESULTS: Twenty four males and 14 females all with aortic arch Z index diameter of < or = -2 were found. The median age was 2.6 months and the median weight was 3.8 kg. Twelve patients (31.5%) did not show post operative complications. Eighteen (47%) had only one complication; one patient (2.6%) had 2 complications and 2 (5.2%) had 3 complications. After a follow up of 3.7 years the frequency of re-coarctation was O%. DISCUSSION: With the previously mentioned technique the recoarctation frequency on medium and long term basis was 0%. From the anatomical and functional point of view, we believe this technique offers the best possible results.

Right and left partial iatrogenic injuries of the biliary tree. Therapeutic options.

BACKGROUND: Bile duct injuries (BDI) have a wide array of presentation. Left partial injuries (Strasberg D) of the hepatic duct are the result of excessive traction, which dissects the hepatic hilum and provokes medial perforations without continuity loss. Right partial injuries (Strasberg A, B and C) are produced by direct damage to the hepatic duct or isolated injury to the right and accessory ducts. It is important to determine frequency, spectrum and treatment outcome of this BDI in the surgical scenario. METHODS: Patients with BDI who underwent surgical treatment in our hospital were reviewed, right and left partial injuries were selected. Demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were analyzed. RESULTS: In a 16-year period, 405 patients underwent surgical treatment of BDI. 31 (8%) were classified as a left partial injury (Strasberg D): 23 injuries at the common hepatic duct treated with a Hepatojejunostomy (HJ); four at the confluence level which received a HJ with neoconfluence construction; two partial injuries in the left hepatic duct underwent a selective left HJ; and two complete occlusions of the left hepatic duct, one treated with a partial hepatectomy and the last case underwent a partial HJ. Right partial injuries (Strasberg A, B or C) were identified in 21 cases (5%), their treatment was tailored according to the type of BDI (conservative, selective HJ, or hepatectomy). CONCLUSIONS: In our series the frequency of left and right partial BDI injuries was 8% and 5%, respectively. The spectrum of analyzed injuries included four subtypes for the left partial and eight for the right partial lesions. Most BDI in the two analyzed groups presented concomitant devascularization of the extra-hepatic ducts, therefore receiving surgical treatment rather than endoscopic treatment was done.