Validation of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin Score for Prediction of Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury.

BACKGROUND: The Cardiac Surgery-Associated Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin (CSA-NGAL) score has been developed to stratify patients with cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI). Its predictive power needs to be validated to guide clinical decision for such high-risk patients. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 637 consecutive adult patients who developed postoperative AKI after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass. AKI was defined according to Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria (KDIGO). The CSA-NGAL score was calculated. Assessment of the diagnostic performance of the scoring model was performed by area under the receiver operating curve analysis. RESULTS: The area under the curve for the postoperative Urinary NGAL showed an area under the curve ([standard error (SE)] 0.80 (0.38); p<0.001; 95% CI 0.72-0.87). Its sensitivity for CSA-AKI in the first 24 hours was 66% and specificity was 80% (cut-off value 300.1 ng/mL). There was a positive correlation between NGAL score and KDIGO criteria, with a significant increase in postoperative mean Urinary NGAL values as the KDIGO stage increased. CONCLUSION: The CSA-NGAL score has a high sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value that can translate into improved outcomes and resource allocation. It is believed that adding it to the existing clinical scoring systems for AKI prediction will be productive.

Surgery for Pulmonary Parenchymatous Schistosomiasis (Bilharziomas): A 20-Year Single-Centre Experience.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary schistosomiasis may complicate urinary or intestinal infestations. Pulmonary pathology is either in the acute or chronic form. The chronic form of the disease may result in granuloma formation. This study presents 20 years of experience in surgical management of pulmonary bilharziomas. METHODS: A retrospective review was undertaken of 17 consecutive patients who had surgery for lung bilharziomas from 1996-2016. Demographics, clinical presentation, underlying lung disease, investigations performed, operative procedure, and outcome were retrieved and reviewed. RESULTS: All patients were males, with ages ranging from 22-52 years (median 33 years). Haemoptysis was the main presentation (53%). Coexisting lung tuberculosis was present in five (29.4%) patients. Indications for surgery were solitary shadows in 12 (70.6%) patients and persistent tuberculous cavities in five (29.4%) patients. Segmentectomy was performed in one (5.9%) patient, lingulectomy in one (5.9%) patient, lobectomy in 14 (82.3%) patients, and bi-lobectomy in one (5.9%) patient. The histologic nature of the infestation was: bilharzial ova with extensive granulomatous reaction and suppuration in eight cases (47%); both tuberculosis and bilharzial ova within a granulomatous tissue reaction in five cases (29.4%); and bilharzial ova within malignant tissue in four cases (23.6%). There was no operative mortality. One (1) patient (5.9%) developed postoperative bronchopleural fistula after left upper lobectomy; surgical repair of the fistula and omental flap buttress was needed after failure of conservative management. CONCLUSION: Pulmonary schistosomiasis is not an uncommon infestation and occurs more frequently in patients with underlying tuberculosis. It may predispose to granulomatous parenchymatous lung masses or even malignancy, which necessitate surgical intervention with a good outcome. However, predisposition of pulmonary schistosomiasis for the development of bronchogenic carcinoma warrants further studies.

Bilateral bidirectional Glenn: outcome of off-pump technique.

OBJECTIVES: Off-pump bilateral bidirectional Glenn (b-BDG) poses a surgical challenge and may add complexity to the postoperative outcome especially regarding uniformity of the anastomosis and central pulmonary artery growth. Herein, we report early- and mid-term outcomes after off-pump b-BDG without using superior vena cava decompression techniques. METHODS: Ninety-seven consecutive patients, between 2009 and 2014, were included in this prospective study. All patients had complete pre- and postoperative clinical and detailed neurological assessments. Diagnosis and follow-up were done by echocardiography and cardiac catheterization for assessment of pulmonary artery anatomically and haemodynamically. Median follow-up period was 3.5 years. Perioperative variables, clinical outcome, morbidity, mortality and follow-up data were recorded. RESULTS: Hypoplastic right ventricle was present in 52 cases (53.6%) and hypoplastic left ventricle was present in 45 cases (46.4%). Mean superior vena cava pressure on clamping was 21.49 ± 3.04 mmHg. Mean total clamping time was 23.11 ± 3.44 min. Mean oxygen saturation increased from preoperative 69.22 ± 6.01% to 83.66 ± 3.97% after b-BDG construction (P-value ≤ 0.0001). The Nakata index increased from 288.47 ± 28.66 mm2/m2 to 303.64 ± 26.85mm2/m2 on follow-up (P-value ≤ 0.05). In-hospital mortality was 4 patients (4.1%) due to low-cardiac output. There were chylothorax in 9 patients (9.3%) and convulsions in 4 patients (4.1%) who were treated conservatively. CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump b-BDG can be conducted safely, with a uniform anastomosis that allows a good central pulmonary artery growth for subsequent Fontan completion. Moreover, avoiding the use of cardiopulmonary bypass is more economic and less hazardous.

Single-stage, three-fold repair for Ebstein's anomaly.

Objectives: Favourable outcomes in the repair of Ebstein's anomaly are predicated on tricuspid valve competence, right ventricular function and presence of arrhythmia. We report our experience with a single-stage, three-fold repair of Ebstein's anomaly, namely, cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve supplemented by bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis and right atrial electrocautery maze. Methods: From 2010 to 2014, 37 consecutive patients with Ebstein's anomaly, median age 17.3 (9.1-56.2) years, underwent this single-stage, three-fold surgical procedure. The principal elements of the procedure include (i) cone reconstruction of the tricuspid valve, limited plication at the level of the displaced valve, insertion of a homemade annuloplasty ring, defect repair and reduction atrioplasty supplemented by (ii) right atrial electrocautery maze and (iii) bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis. Postoperatively, all patients were followed up regularly for a mean period of 2.3 (1-4) years by clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations. Results: The in-hospital mortality rate was 2.7% (1 patient) with no late deaths. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass time was 110 ± 18.3 min and aortic cross-clamp time was 48.5 ± 7.4 min. Echocardiographic examination showed significant improvement of valve regurgitation (P < 0.0001). NYHA functional class was I in 77.8% of the survivors and II in 22.2%. The cardiothoracic ratio decreased significantly (P < 0.05). No deleterious effects of the Glenn shunts have been reported. Sinus rhythm has remained stable in 31 patients (86.1%) during the follow-up period. Conclusions: Single-stage, three-fold repair for the management of Ebstein's anomaly offers good outcome in terms of low mortality and morbidity rates. It can achieve a durable valve-sparing repair, good functional mid-term outcomes and good quality of life among survivors.

Perioperative sildenafil therapy for pulmonary hypertension in infants undergoing congenital cardiac defect closure.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension in paediatric patients with ventricular septal defect remains one of the most important determinants of perioperative morbidity and mortality. Sildenafil is an oral, well-tolerated pulmonary vasodilator with few drug interactions. We studied the effect of oral sildenafil, when given before and after surgical closure compared with starting it postoperatively, on the pulmonary artery pressure and patients' outcome. METHODS: We enrolled 101 infants with large ventricular septal defects who had moderate-to-severe pulmonary hypertension scheduled for surgical closure. They were randomly assigned to the sildenafil group (n = 51, mean age 10 months and mean weight 6.5 kg), in which oral sildenafil was started 2 weeks before surgery to be continued postoperatively, and to the control group (n = 50, mean age 11 months and mean weight 7.3 kg), in which sildenafil was started only postoperatively. It was started at 0.5 mg/kg and increased gradually to a maximum dose of 2 mg/kg in both groups. RESULTS: Overall hospital mortality was 4.9%. Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased significantly at all time points of recording in both groups (P < 0.0001). In the sildenafil group, it decreased preoperatively after sildenafil administration from 75.4 to 59.4 mmHg and postoperatively from 50.4 mmHg immediate post-cardiopulmonary bypass to reach 44.2 mmHg before discharge. In the control group, it decreased from 74.6 mmHg to 51 mmHg immediate post-cardiopulmonary bypass to reach 42.7 mmHg before discharge. No adverse effects have been recorded. Although there was no difference in the duration of mechanical ventilation and hospital stay between the two groups, intensive care unit stay was significantly shorter in the sildenafil group. Dobutamine doses were significantly higher in the sildenafil group; however, milrinone and epinephrine have been used more significantly in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The low cost, the oral availability and the good tolerability of sildenafil make it a suitable and simple alternative therapy for secondary pulmonary hypertension including persistent postoperative pulmonary hypertension associated with ventricular septal defect in resource limited places. However, starting sildenafil early before surgery does not add a great benefit in terms of improving postoperative pulmonary hypertension or patients' outcome.

Cavopulmonary anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass.

OBJECTIVES: There is an increasing trend to perform the bidirectional superior cavopulmonary (Glenn) anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass. In this report, we present our results of off-pump bidirectional Glenn operation done without using a venoatrial shunt to decompress the superior vena cava during clamping. [corrected]. METHODS: A prospective, non-randomized comparative study was conducted in 50 patients with functional single ventricle anomalies who underwent bidirectional Glenn anastomosis without cardiopulmonary bypass. The patients were divided into two groups: Group I (n = 25), where it was done without a veno-atrial shunt, and Group II (n = 25), where it was done with a veno-atrial shunt. Two patients in Group I and 4 patients in Group II had a bilateral bidirectional Glenn shunt. Five patients in Group I and three patients in Group II had a previous left modified Blalock-Taussig shunt. All patients underwent a complete neurological examination both preoperatively as well as postoperatively. RESULTS: The early hospital mortality was 4% (2/50), one in each group. The median follow-up was 14 months. The mean internal venous pressure on clamping the superior vena cava was 37.07 ± 7.12 mmHg in Group I and 24 ± 4.4 mmHg in Group II. The mean clamp time was 9.85 ± 3.52 min in Group I and 21.3 ± 4.4 min in Group II. The transcranial pressure gradient was 62.37 ± 15.01 mmHg in Group I, while 65.08 ± 13.89 in Group II. The mean intensive care unit stay was 2.57 ± 75 days in Group I, 3.3 ± 1.09 in Group II. There were no major neurological complications apart from treatable convulsions in one case in Group I (4%), 2 cases in Group II (8%), and delayed recovery in one case (4%) in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: Off-pump bidirectional Glenn operation without caval decompression is a safe, simple and more economic procedure.

Importance of accurate diagnosis using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in the surgical treatment of congenital intramitral ring in infants.

Congenital mitral ring is a rare type of congenital mitral stenosis. There are two types of mitral ring: the intramitral ring and the supramitral ring. Intramitral rings are often associated with complex valve pathology, and therefore have a worse prognosis than supramitral rings, in which the mitral apparatus is usually normal. The role of echocardiography in the evaluation of the mitral valve apparatus is crucial, because it allows an identification of the types of malformation, their hemodynamic repercussion and early predictors of the outcome. We describe two cases of intramitral ring, the diagnostic challenge they provided, and the value of the information obtained using real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in such cases.