Pulmonary artery augmentation and aortic valve repair using novel tissue-engineered grafts.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the results when tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs) are used as alternatives to autologous pericardium for surgically augmenting the pulmonary artery (PA) or aortic valve. Methods: TEVG molds were embedded into subcutaneous spaces for more than 4 weeks preoperatively. Since 2014, 6 patients have undergone PA reconstruction, whereas 1 has undergone aortic valve plasty (AVP) with TEVGs. The time from mold implantation to the operation was 8.9 (range, 6.0-26.4) months. The age and body weight at the time of operation were 2.7 (range, 1.8-9.2) and 11.6 (range, 7.9-24.4) kg, respectively. Concomitant procedures comprised the Rastelli, palliative Rastelli, and Fontan operations in 2, 2, and 1 patient, respectively. Results: The median follow-up period was 14.4 (range, 3-39.6) months. There were no early or late mortalities. Moreover, there were no TEVG-related complications, including aneurysmal changes, degeneration, and infection. In 5 patients who underwent PA augmentation, the postoperative PA configuration was satisfactorily dilated. The reconstructed aortic valve function was good in the patient who underwent AVP. Decreased leaflet flexibility due to leaflet thickening was not observed. One patient had postoperative PA re-stenosis; therefore, re-PA augmentation with TEVGs was performed. On histological examination, TEVGs consisted of collagen fibers and few fibroblasts, and elastic fiber formation and/or smooth muscle cells were not observed. Conclusions: The midterm results of PA reconstruction and AVP with TEVGs were satisfactory. TEVGs might be a useful alternative to autologous pericardium in pediatric cardiovascular surgeries that often require multistage operations.

Infection profile of patients with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in paediatric cardiac surgery ICU.

AIM: We investigated the risk of increased nosocomial infections and the associated pathogens in patients who underwent paediatric cardiovascular surgery and were put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. We studied the duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use and other variables that may be associated with increased nosocomial infection risk. METHODS: Patients who were treated with an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in paediatric cardiovascular surgery ICU between 2010 and 2020 were included in this retrospective study. We analysed the site of infection and microbiological profile of infections occurring in these patients according to CDC and National Healthcare Safety Network criteria. RESULTS: The onset of infection development in patients after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was found to be median 8 (3-15, 25-75 IQR) days in the whole group, and median 11 (3-16, 25-75 IQR) days in those who developed infection without being put on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. When patients were divided into those with and without infection, duration of ICU was found to be 19 (16-28, IQR 25-75) days in patients with infection vs. 8 (2-16, IQR 25-75; p: <0.001) days in patients without infection. Duration of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support was found to be 14 (10-25, IQR 25-75) days in patients with infection versus 5 (2-10, IQR 25-75; p: <0.001) days in patients without infection and total hospital stay was 26 (18-33, IQR 25-75) days in patients with infection versus 8 (2-23, IQR 25-75) days in those without infection. A total of 24 patients out of the 70 patients experienced 32 infectious episodes during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. Culture-positive infections were detected at a single site in 19 patients, and multiple sites in 5 patients. CONCLUSION: We propose that prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support is associated with an increased risk of infection. Although extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a life-saving treatment method, prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may increase the development of infectious complications and the associated mortality and morbidity of the patient.

Use of Virtual Reality for Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Simulation.

Simulation is a key component of training in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), a complex environment that lends itself to virtual reality (VR)-based simulations. However, VR has not been previously described for this purpose. Two simulations were developed to test the use of VR in simulating pediatric CICU clinical scenarios, one simulating junctional ectopic tachycardia and low cardiac output syndrome, and the other simulating acute respiratory failure in a patient with suspected coronavirus disease 2019. Six attending pediatric cardiac critical care physicians were recruited to participate in the simulations as a pilot test of VR's feasibility for educational and practice improvement efforts in this highly specialized clinical environment. All participants successfully navigated the VR environment and met the critical endpoints of the two clinical scenarios. Qualitative feedback was overall positive with some specific critiques regarding limited realism in some mechanical aspects of the simulation. This is the first described use of VR in pediatric cardiac critical care simulation.

Accuracy and reliability of continuous blood glucose monitoring during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass.

The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy and reliability of a continuous blood glucose monitoring system (artificial endocrine pancreas; STG-55, Nikkiso, Tokyo, Japan) during pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass surgery. Twenty-five pediatric patients scheduled to undergo cardiovascular surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (age 4 months to 11 years; body weight 5.6-59.7 kg) were enrolled. The glucose sensor line of the artificial endocrine pancreas was connected to the venous side of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit and used for continuous blood glucose monitoring. We obtained 192 samples for blood gas assessment from the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit, and i-STAT (Abbott, East Windsor, NJ, USA) was used for conventional blood glucose assessment. The accuracies of continuous glucose measurements (STG-55) and conventional intermittent glucose measurements (i-STAT) during cardiopulmonary bypass were compared by means of Clarke error grid analysis. The results were divided into five zones, A, B, C, D, and E, and 78.6% of paired measurements were in zone A, while 21.4% were in zone B. We confirmed that the results of this continuous blood glucose monitoring system for cardiopulmonary bypass during pediatric cardiovascular surgery were highly reliable. An artificial endocrine pancreas may facilitate the safe use of intensive insulin therapy during pediatric cardiovascular surgery.

Programa nacional de cardiopatías congénitas: diseños, implementación y resultados a mediano plazo / National program of congenital heart diseases: design, implementation and midterm results

El Programa Nacional de Cardiopatías Congénitas se diseñó e implementó sobre la base de redes, teniendo en cuenta la categorización de las instituciones participantes según estándares internacionales, la oferta derecursos humanos y el pago por desempeño. La cultura evaluativa aplicada ha sido un desafío para mejorar estrategias con el fin de perfeccionar el Programa. En los resultados a mediano plazo se describen los primeros indicadores epidemiológicos que marcan los pasos a seguir para una evolución continua.

Parálisis diafragmática en el post operatorio de cirugía cardiovascular, trasplantes cardíaco y pulmonar / Diaphragmatic paralysis in the postoperative period after cardiovascular surgery, and heart and lung transplantation

Objetivo principal: Describir la incidencia, evolución y tratamiento de los pacientes con parálisis diafragmática (PD) en los postoperatorios (POP) de cardiopatías congénitas (CC), trasplante cardiaco (TC) y trasplante pulmonar (TP) en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos 35 (UCI 35) del Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. Método: Se estudiaron 43 pacientes POP de CC, TC y TP que cursaron con PD durante los años 2010 al 2013. Se estudiaron datos demográficos como edad expresada en meses, sexo, peso en kilos, la existencia de sindromes genéticos, internación prequirúrgica, mala condición previa presencia de cirugía, circulación extracorpórea (CEC), días en ARM, fracaso de extubación, plicatura diafragmática, defecto residual cardiaco, obstrucción de VAS post extubación, atelectasias (ATL), episodios en ventilación no invasiva (VNI), traqueotomía (TQT), entre otros días de internación, tipo de egreso y sobrevida. Resultados: La incidencia de PD fue del 2,35%, de los 43, 22 fueron niñas, la edad M = 9 meses (0,5-204), con un peso M = 6,8 (2,3-65); 34 pacientes POP de CC, 4 POP de TC y 5 de TP. El 95% de la cirugías fue con CEC, 18 pacientes tenían cirugía previa, 21 con mala condición preoperatoria, los días de ARM M = 10 (0-109), el 55% tuvo al menos un fracaso de extubación, se realizaron 21 plicaturas, dentro de los 5 días del diagnóstico de PD en un 50%, se practicaron 6 TQT, el 83% de los pacientes tuvo por lo menos un episodio en VNI, la sobrevida al alta, de 88%. Conclusiones: Si bien la PD es poco frecuente en nuestra población, aumenta considerablemente la morbilidad de estos pacientes.

Glenn bidireccional: resultados y análisis de factores de riesgo en una experiencia de 5 años / Bidirectional Glenn: Outcomes and risk factor analysis in a 5 years' experience

Objetivo: La anastomosis de Glenn es un procedimiento paliativo en pacientes con ventrículo único. Si bien se asocia a baja morbimortalidad, el objetivo es exponer los resultados en cirugía de Glenn y analizar los factores de riesgo en nuestra población. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de pacientes con cirugía de Glenn entre 2005 y 2009. Se registraron variables demográficas, tipo de ventrículo único, cirugía previa, método de cirugía y evolución en postoperatorio. Se efectuó un análisis estadístico univariado y multivariado para identificar factores de riesgo de mortalidad y/o de internación prolongada (Stata 9.0). Resultados: Se operaron 101 pacientes, 87 con Glenn bidireccional y 14 con Glenn bilateral. Edad mediana 15 meses (2.5-108), peso 8.5 kg (4.2-27). El 74% tenían cirugía previa, en 54 se realizó algún procedimiento asociado al Glenn y en 4 se dejó una fuente adicional de flujo pulmonar. La mediana de internación fue de 8 días (2-97). El 35% presentó complicaciones postoperatorias. No encontramos asociación entre edad, peso o cirugías previas y mortalidad. Tampoco entre tiempo de bomba y <

Objective: Bidirectional Glenn shunt is a palliative surgical procedure in patients with single ventricle. Although morbimortality in this surgery is low, risk factors have been described. The purpose of this study is to report our outcomes in Glenn surgery, identifying mortality risk factors in our population. Methods: Retrospective study between 2005 and 2009. Age, weight, previous surgery, surgical procedure, and postoperative condition were analyzed. Results are reported as median and rank, or absolute values and percentage. Uni and multivariate analysis was made to identify risk factors of mortality and/or prolonged hospitalization (Stata 9.0). Results: One hundred and one patients were operated; 87 bidirectional Glenn and 14 bilateral Glenn. Median age 15 months (2.5-108), median weight 8.5 kg (4.2-27), and 74% of them with previous surgery. In 54 patients an associated procedure was performed simultaneously, only in 4 additional pulmonary blood flow was left. Median hospitalization was 8 days (2-97). Thirty-five percent of the patients presented complications. No association between age, weight, pulmonary hypertension, cardiopulmonary bypass, cross clamping, associated procedures or Glenn bilateral with mortality or morbidity was found. Overall mortality was 3.9%. Conclusion: Mortality was similar to other centers, but morbidity in this group of patients is high. No independent risk factors associated with morbidity or mortality were identified.

Ventilación de alta frecuencia en niños postoperatorios de cirugía cardiovascular: experiencia de diez años / High-frequency ventilation after heart surgery in children: a 10-year experience

La ventilación de alta frecuencia (VAF) es una herramienta de uso limitado en el pos- operatorio de cirugía cardiovascular pediátrica. El objetivo de la presente revisión es describir los resultados del uso de VAF en la Unidad de Recuperación Cardiovascular del Hospital de Pediatría Juan P. Garrahan. A tal fin se revisaron las historias clínicas de todos los pacientes en los cuales se utilizó VAF en el período comprendido entre el 1º de enero de 2001 y el 31 de diciembre de 2010. Se registraron variables demográficas, diagnóstico, tipo de cirugía, parámetros utilizados en la VAF, sus complicaciones y mortalidad. La VAF se utilizó en 16 pacientes (10 mujeres) con una mediana de edad de 13 meses (1-72) y de peso de 7,9 kilos (3-18). Nueve de ellos presentaban una cardiopatía congénita cianótica y a todos ellos se les realizó una cirugía reparadora, excepto un paciente con diagnóstico de ventrículo único al que se le realizó cirugía paliativa. La indicación de VAF fue la hipoxemia en 11 pacientes y la hipoxemia con hipercapnia en 5. El 62% presentó algún grado de intolerancia hemodinámica, pero en ningún caso debió suspenderse el procedimiento por esta causa. La sobrevida, con egreso hospitalario fue de 44%. La VAF puede ser útil como técnica de soporte respiratorio en pacientes pos- operatorios cardíacos adecuadamente seleccionados

igh-frequency ventilation (HFV) is a technique with limited use in pediatric post-operative cardiovascular care. The aim of the present review is to evaluate the results of the use of HFV in the cardiac intensive care unit of the Pediatric Hos-pital Juan P. Garrahan. We reviewed the clinical charts of all patients who were placed on HFV over the period of January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2010. Demographic features, di-agnosis, type of surgery, HFV parameters used, HFV–related complications, and mortality were assessed. Sixteen patients (10 girls) with a median age of 13 months (1-72) and a median weight of 7.9 kg (3-18) were placed on HFV. Nine children had a cyanotic heart defect and all children underwent corrective surgery, except one who had a single ventricle defect. HFV was indicated for hypoxemia in 11 patients and for hypoxemia and hypercapnia in five. Sixty-two percent of the patients had some degree of hemodynamic impairment, however, HFV was not withdrawn for this reason in any of the cases. Survival to hospital discharge was 44%. HFV may be useful as a mechani-cal ventilation technique in carefully-selected post-operative cardiovascular patients.