SARS-CoV-2 in a Neonate with Truncus Arteriosus: Management and Surgical Correction Timing.

Children seem to be less affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. High risk categories should include patients with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), both children and adults. We describe the case of a newborn with a postnatal diagnosis of Truncus Arteriosus (TA) type A1 without 22.q.11 deletion syndrome. Soon after birth, SARS-CoV-2 infection was transmitted by the father. Due to the onset of heart failure symptoms, diuretic therapy has been set up. For worsening of clinical conditions, inotropic support with milrinone was added. A progressive reduction of N-terminal-pro hormone BNP over the days has been observed. Fourteen days after the negativization of the nasopharyngeal swab, the patient underwent surgical repair with Cardiopulmonary Bypass (CPB). Postoperative course was not complicated and the patient was discharged in good clinical conditions. There is very little evidence suggesting the optimal timing for surgery in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. With a lack of specific guidelines, current strategy suggests a symptom-based or a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test-based approach. In our case it was challenging to determine COVID-19 impact on heart failure symptoms. Our case is the first describing the surgical correction of CHD in a 40 days year old patient, performed in CPB after 14 days from SARS-CoV-2 infection negativization.

Reliability of Fetal Echocardiography in Predicting Postnatal Critical Hypoxia in Patients with Transposition of Great Arteries and Intact Ventricular Septum.

Critical hypoxemia soon after birth is the most critical preoperative determinant of neurological outcomes and survival in newborns with Dextro Transposition of the Great Arteries and Intact Ventricular Septum (D-TGAIVS). Our study aimed to define fetal echocardiographic aspects that can better predict neonates with D-TGAIVS at risk for restricted interatrial communication after birth. 31 fetuses with a prenatal diagnosis of D-TGAIVS were included in our study. We divided patients with D-TGAIVS according to the timing of balloon atrial septostomy: Urgent, Not-Urgent and no BAS. We identified five fetal echocardiographic aspects of the interatrial septum (redundant, aneurysmal, flat, fixed, hypermobile). No significant differences in these fetal echocardiographic features were found between the three different groups of D-TGAIVS according to the timing of balloon atrial septostmy. However, only two patients showed flat appearance of interatrial communication: both needed Urgent balloon atrial septostomy. The prevalence of hypermobile septum primum was significantly lower in the control group compared to patients with D-TGAIVS. Fetal echocardiographic aspects cannot predict patients with D-TGAIVS who will not need Urgent balloon atrial septostomy. Therefore, we recommended a delivery in a tertiary center, equipped for Urgent balloon atrial septostomy, for all patients with D-TGAIVS regardless of fetal echocardiographic features.

Evolution of Ventricular Energetics in the Different Stages of Palliation of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: A Retrospective Clinical Study.

Hyperplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) patients are palliated by creating a Fontan-type circulation passing from different surgical stages. The aim of this work is to describe the evolution of ventricular energetics parameters in HLHS patients during the different stages of palliation including the hybrid, the Norwood, the bidirectional Glenn (BDG), and the Fontan procedures. We conducted a retrospective clinical study enrolling all HLHS patients surgically treated with hybrid procedure and/or Norwood and/or BDG and/or Fontan operation from 2011 to 2016 collecting echocardiographic and hemodynamic data. Measured data were used to calculate energetic variables such as ventricular elastances, external and internal work, ventriculo-arterial coupling and cardiac mechanical efficiency. From 2010 to 2016, a total of 29 HLHS patients undergoing cardiac catheterization after hybrid (n = 7) or Norwood (n = 6) or Glenn (n = 8) or Fontan (n = 8) procedure were retrospectively enrolled. Ventricular volumes were significantly higher in the Norwood circulation than in the hybrid circulation (p = 0.03) with a progressive decrement from the first stage to the Fontan completion. Ventricular elastances were lower in the Norwood circulation than in the hybrid circulation and progressively increased passing from the first stage to the Fontan completion. The arterial elastance and Rtot increased in the Fontan circulation. The ventricular work progressively increased. Finally, the ventricular efficiency improves passing from the first to the last stage of palliation. The use of ventricular energetic parameters could lead to a more complete evaluation of such complex patients to better understand their adaptation to different pathophysiological conditions.

Management of fluid balance in continuous renal replacement therapy: technical evaluation in the pediatric setting.

Fluid overload control and fluid balance management represent very important factors in critically ill children requiring renal replacement therapy. A relatively high fluid volume administration in children and neonates is often necessary to deliver adequate amounts of blood derivatives, vasopressors, antibiotics, and parenteral nutrition. Fluid balance errors during pediatric continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) might significantly impact therapy delivery and have been described as potentially lethal. The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of delivered vs. prescribed net ultrafiltration (UF) during CRRT applied to 2 neonates and 2 small children, either as dialytic treatment alone or during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). In accordance with an Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative workgroup statement, net UF was defined as the ""overall amount of fluid extracted from the patient in a given time"". Mean prescribed net UF was 18.5 ml/h (SD=6.7) during neonatal treatments and 70.3 ml/h (SD=22.5) during CRRT in small children. Daily net UF ranged from 200 mL to about 600 mL in the 2 neonates and from 1,200 to 1800 mL in the 2 children. The percentage error of delivered net UF ranged from -1.6% to 5.8% of the prescribed level. The mean error of the ECMO/CRRT patients was 3.024 ml/h vs. 0.45 m/h for the CRRT patients (p<0.001). The same difference was not evident when the 2 neonates were compared with the 2 small children (without considering the presence of ECMO). CRRT and net UF delivery appeared to be accurate, safe, and effective in this small cohort of high-risk pediatric patients.

Continuous hemofiltration dose calculation in a newborn patient with congenital heart disease and preoperative renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of a newborn patient with renal failure due to polycystic kidneys requiring renal replacement therapy, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return requiring major cardiosurgical intervention. SETTING: Pediatric cardiosurgery operatory room and pediatric cardiologic intensive care. PATIENT: A 6-day-old newborn child weighing 3.1 kg. RESULTS: Renal function (creatinine value and urine output) was monitored during the course of the operation and intraoperative renal replacement therapy was not initiated. Serum creatinine concentration decreased from 4.4 to 3 mg/dL at cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) start and to 1.5 at the end of surgery: the creatinine decrease was provided by the dilutional effect of CPB priming and the infusion of fresh blood from transfusions together with an adequate filtration rate (800 m/L in about 120 minutes). After the operation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for ventricular dysfunction and continuous hemofiltration for anuria refractory to medical therapy were prescribed. The hemofiltration machine was set in parallel with the ECMO machine at a blood flow rate of 60 ml/min and a predilution replacement solution infusion of 600 ml/h (4.5 ml/min of creatinine clearance once adjusted on extracorporeal circuits; 3000 mL/m2 hemofiltration): after a single hemofiltration session lasting 96 hours, serum creatinine reached optimal steady state levels around 0.5 mg/dL on postoperative day 2 and 3. CONCLUSION: Administration of intraoperative continuous hemofiltration is not mandatory in the case of a 3-kg newborn patient with established renal failure needing major cardiosurgery: hemodilution secondary to CPB, transfusion of hemoderivates, and optimal UF rate appear to be effective methods for achieving solute removal. If postoperative continuous hemofiltration is started, however, a "dialytic dose" of 4.5 ml/min allows an adequate creatinine clearance, quick achievement of a steady state of serum creatinine concentration and an eventual acceptable rate of inflammatory mediator removal.

Thymoglobuline use in pediatric heart transplantation.

The literature has few data regarding the use of polyclonal anti-thymocyte globulin in pediatric cardiac transplantation. We describe our single-center, retrospective study of the use of Thymoglobuline in a pediatric population. We included in the study 31 consecutive heart transplant recipients (mean age, 7.8 years; median age, 9 years; range, 4 months-17 years), who all survived surgery. To induce immunosuppression, all patients received Thymoglobuline therapy at age-dependent doses (1-1.5 mg/kg/day between 0 and 1 year; 1.5-2 mg/kg/day from 1 year to 8 years; and 2.5 mg/kg/day >8 years). Duration of treatment was 1 to 7 days. In patients <1 year, the total number of lymphocytes was maintained at >500/mm(3). Thirty of 31 patients are alive at the end of follow-up. During the first 3 months, 3 Grade 3A and 10 Grade 1A (Working Formulation grading system) rejection episodes occurred. All reversed after steroid treatment. Eleven viral infections, 2 bacterial infections, and 1 fungal infection occurred. Not all patients with infection were symptomatic but all responded successfully to treatment. One episode of post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease regressed after decreasing immunosuppression therapy and after acyclovir therapy. At the end of follow-up, 19 patients are without steroids. Immunosuppression therapy with Thymoglobuline is safe in the pediatric age group if the number of lymphocytes is monitored strictly.

Right submammary minithoracotomy for repair of congenital heart defects.

OBJECTIVE: The initial experience with the right submammary minithoracotomy incision for correction of intracardiac congenital defects is reported. METHODS: Between March 1997 and March 1999, 100 children underwent repair of congenital heart disease through this approach. Their mean age and weight were 4.6 years and 20 kg, respectively. Diagnosis included: atrial septal defect (78), ventricular septal defect (7), tetralogy of Fallot (6), partial atrioventricular canal (5), double-chambered right ventricle (3) and single ventricle with dextrocardia (1). The standard technique entailed a 5 to 6 cm right submammary incision, entering the chest through the third or fourth intercostal space (depending on the body weight), direct aortic and bicaval cannulation and aortic cross-clamping with cardioplegic protection. RESULTS: There were no hospital deaths. Postoperative morbidity included bleeding in two cases, recurrent atrial septal defect in one, spleen injury in one. The average hospital stay was 3.5 days. All patient are currently free of symptoms and medications. CONCLUSIONS: (1) This approach for repair of selected congenital cardiac malformations is technically feasible, safe and effective; (2) younger age is a facilitating factor; (3) hospital stays are effectively reduced.

[Unreliability of pulse oximetry in hypothermic children after cardiovascular surgery with deep hypothermic circulation]. / Inattendibilità del pulse oximetry in lattanti ipotermici dopo interventi di cardiochirurgia in ipotermia profonda.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to evaluate the accuracy of oxygen saturation with the pulse oximeter (SpO2) in children undergoing cardiovascular surgery with deep hypothermic circulation. METHODS: The SpO2 values measured at the hand and at the foot were compared in 50 patients with the arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) measured with the oximeter. A variance value between the two measurements less than 3% was considered as a reliable measurement, and the precision of the measurement was defined as the standard deviation of the variability. RESULTS: For skin temperature between 35 and 28 C grade, and for core temperature more than 34 grade, the SpO2 is a reliable measurement of the SaO2; for skin temperature less than 28 grade and core temperature less than 34 grade the SpO2 do not correspond the SaO2. CONCLUSIONS: The variability and the precision of the measurements are not affected the position of the probe (hand or foot).