Neuraxial anesthesia in Lutembacher's syndrome? Yes, we can!

Lutembacher's syndrome is a rare congenital cardiac syndrome comprising of a combination of an atrial septal defect complicated by congenital or acquired mitral stenosis. The applied physiology of the patient depends upon the severity and the interactions of the lesions. They pose certain difficulties to the administration of both general or neuraxial anesthesia. A preference of one form of anesthesia over the other should be based on the understanding of the physiology of the patient. There should not be an orthodox avoidance of neuraxial anesthesia in complex cardiac pathologies as general anesthesia can be associated with certain complications of its own. Here, we report our successful experience of neuraxial anesthesia being administered in a patient with Lutembacher's syndrome.

Pulmonary valve neocuspidisation with glutaraldehyde-treated autologous pericardium-A novel technique in pulmonary valve endocarditis.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a serious condition leading to heart failure, persistent sepsis. The management of IE involving valve is mainly excision of the infected valve and replacement with a heart valve; which are also at the risk of prosthetic valve endocarditis. Hence repair of the valve with autologous pericardium is much more physiological. We had a 20-year-old male presented with features of heart failure and high-grade fever not responding to optimum medical management. Two-dimensional echocardiogram revealed vegetation on pulmonary valve cusps with the erosion of the left and right cusps. Neo cusps with autologous pericardium offered good hemodynamics with trivial regurgitation. The patient is doing well with normal pulmonary valve function 3 months after surgery. This technique is reliable, economic, and easily reproducible.

Pulmonary venous baffle obstruction following senning procedure - Role of transesophageal echocardiography.

We present a case of D-transposition of great arteries with atrial septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus electively posted for Senning's operation at 10 months of age. The patient developed signs of lung congestion immediately after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass. A stenosis in the pulmonary venous baffle was detected in transesophageal echocardiography showing a peak gradient of 10 mmHg and a mean gradient of 5 mmHg. Hence, revision of baffle was planned. The stenotic area was excised and augmented with homologous pericardium. Post-correction, lung compliance improved and the peak and mean gradient decreased to 3 and 1 mm Hg, respectively. The patient was extubated in the intensive care unit after 36 h and shifted to ward after 5 days with stable hemodynamics.

Iatrogenic aortic regurgitation following primary closure of ventricular septal defect: Role of transesophageal echocardiography.

Iatrogenic valvular regurgitation following cardiac surgery has been reported as a result of leaflet perforation or entrapment. Due to its central location, the aortic valve is one of the most vulnerable structures for iatrogenic injuries. Proper assessment of the aortic valve by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) should be done after a cardiac surgery in the periaortic area. We hereby report a case of iatrogenic aortic regurgitation which was developed after primary closure of perimembranous ventricular septal defect. It was timely diagnosed by TEE after termination of cardiopulmonary bypass and helped in further management.