Abstract: Objective To analyze the early outcomes of open heart surgery for congenital heart diseases in sixty low birth weight infants and premature infants. Methods Sixty low birth weight infants (body weight<2 500 g) and premature infants with congenital heart diseases undergoing surgical repair from May 2003 to October 2011 were studied retrospectively in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. There were 43 male patients and 17 female patients with their mean gestational age of 33.5±4.1 weeks (ranging from 26 to 42 weeks) and mean age at operation of 24.9±12.5 d(ranging from 4 to 55 d). Among them there were 47 premature infants with their mean birth weight of 1 729.3±522.5 g(ranging from 640 to 2 500 g)and mean weight at operation of 1 953.2±463.6 g (ranging from 650 to 2 712 g). All the patients received preoperative treatment in newborn intensive care unit(NICU) and underwent surgical repair under general anesthesia, including 29 patients without cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB)and 31 patients with CPB . All surviving patients received postoperative monitoring and treatment in NICU, and their postoperative complications and in-hospital death were reported. Results A total of 13 patients died during hospitalization with a total in-hospital mortality of 21.7%(13/60), including 4 intra-operative deaths, 6 early deaths (within 72 h postoperatively) and 3 patients giving up postoperative treatment. CPB time was 121.0±74.7 min, aortic clamp time was 74.8±44.7 min, and postoperative mechanicalventilation time was (136.9±138.1)h. Thirteen patients underwent delayed sternal closure. Eight patients underwentreexploation for postoperative bleeding. Ten patients had severe pneumonia, 2 patients had pulmonary hypertensive crisis, and 8 patients had low cardiac output syndrome. All the postoperative complications were resolved or improved after proper treatment. Follow-up was complete in 47 patients from 2 to 12 monthes, and all the patients were alive during follow-up. Conclusion Early surgical repair for low birth weight infants and premature infants with congenital heart diseases is safe and effective.
Abstract: Objective To identify the risk factors for shortterm adverse events in infants with congenital heart diseases receiving open heart surgical correction with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), in order to improve the outcome by adopting appropriate treatment measures. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 98 consecutive children with congenital heart diseases who underwent surgical correction with CPB in Beijing Fu Wai Hospital from November 2009 to December 2009. The patients were divided into two groups according to the postoperative complications. Among the patients without complications(n=40): there were 24 males and 16 females with an age of 7.60±0.40 months and a weight of 7.80±0.30 kg. In the patients with complications (n=58): there were 42 males and 16 females with an age of 6.20±0.40 months and a weight of 6.70±0.20 kg. In both groups, perioperative data were recorded, including preoperative fast blood glucose, creatinine, time of aortic crossclamp, modified or zerobalanced ultrafiltration, postoperative glucose level, concentration of lactate, notrope score and complications. Risk stratification was performed by Risk Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS-1). Univariate analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to identify the risk factors for shortterm adverse events. Results One patient(1.02%) died of circulatory failure during the perioperative period. Thirtyseven patients [CM(159mm]were supported by at least 2 vasoactive drugs for more than 48hours,29 by mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours, 5 needed reintubation, 1 experienced tracheotomy, 31 suffered from noscomial infection, 4 had wound infection, 3 developed renal failure, and 1 developed hepatic dysfunction. By logistic regression analysis, age (OR=0.750, P=0.012), percutaneous oxygen saturation (OR=0.840,P=0.005), aortic crossclamp time (OR=1.040, P=0.008), postoperative glucose level (patients with a mean glucose level lower or equal to 8.33 mmol/L had a probability of developing adverse outcomes five times higher; OR=5.051, P=0.011) were found to be the risk factors for shortterm adverse outcomes. Conclusion Age, percutaneous oxygen saturation and aortic crossclamp time are associated with the shortterm adverse outcome of infants undergoing congenital heart disease correction with CPB. The present results do not support perioperative hyperglycemia as a risk factor for adverse outcome.
Objective To summarize the experiences of surgical intervention for tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) in early infancy and to discuss the relevant issues about primary treatment procedures in the period. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical operative information of 21 patients in their early infancy (less than 6 months) with TOF treated in Children’s Hospital of Shanghai from June 2008 to August 2010. There were 14 males and 7 females with a mean age of 4.86±1.15 months and a mean body weight of 6.84±1.33 kg. All patients were diagnosed by heart color Doppler ultrasound. Four patients underwent CT or magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) or right heart catheter arteriography examination. The McGoon ratio was 1.86±0.41 and the pulmonary artery index(PAI) was 142.54±59.46 mm2/m2. The ventricular septal defect (VSD) was closed with autologous pericardium using continuous sutures through right atrium (19 cases) or right ventricle (2 cases). Transannular repair was performed when pulmonary valve annulus was one standard deviation less than the normal Z value (18 cases). If the annulus diameter approached or reached the normal Z value, the valve annulus was preserved and pericardium was used to enlarge the right ventricular outflow tract(RVOT) and the main pulmonary artery (3 cases). Results There was one death due to heart failure on the 15th day after operation, one patient had acute laryngeal edema after removal of endotracheal intubation on the second day after operation, and received reintubation and assisted ventilation for three days. All the other patients recovered well. Eighteen patients were followed up for 9.89±6.47 months. Their heart functions were in modified Ross class I or II. Echocardiography during the followup showed that RVOT pressure was 21.20±12.27 mm Hg (8.10-45.14 mm Hg); pulmonary incompetence (PI) was mild in 10 cases, moderate in 5 cases, and no severe PI occurred. Two cases of residual VSD were spontaneously closed. Compared with the early postoperative period, RVOT pressure and PI levels were not significantly different (Pgt;0.05). Right heart function was good.onclusion Early complete repair of TOF yields good surgical results. Transatrial repair of intracardiac pathology and retaining pulmonary valve annulus can be safely applied to yield good postoperative right ventricular function.
Objective To investigate the optimal timing for surgical treatment of infants less than six months of age with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF), and to improve surgical results and reduce early mortality. Methods Clinical material of 108 consecutive patients with TOF who were less than six months of age undergoing early surgery from Oct.1996 to Dec. 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 70 males and females with mean age of 4.70 months (9 d-6 months). 104 patients underwent complete repair and four patients underwent BlalockTaussig (B T) shunt. Emergency procedures have been performed in 5 patients. Results Five patients (4.63%) died of low cardiac output syndrome (3 patients), pulmonary infection and acute respiratory distress syndrome (1 patient), and acute necrotizing enteritis (1 patient).82 patients were followed up, followup period was 31.17±40.00 months.21 patients lost to followup. One patient(0.92%) required additional intervention for pulmonary valve stenosis 6 months after operation. Heart functional class(New York Heart Association) recovered toⅠ-Ⅱgrading in other patients. Echocardiography shows: no residual ventricular shunt, no stenosis in right ventricular outflow tract and pulmonary valve, pressure difference≤50 mm Hg. No late deaths. Conclusion Early definitive repair of TOF can be performed safely on infants less than six months of age, the results of low mortality is acceptable.
Objective To evaluate the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on pulmonary function in infants with variable pulmonary arterial pressure resulting from congenital ventricular septal defect (VSD). Methods Twenty infants with VSD underwent corrective surgery were divided into pulmonary hypertension group (n= 10) and non-pulmonary hypertension group (n= 10) according to with pulmonary hypertension or not. Pulmonary function was measured before CPB , 3h,6h,9h,12h,15h,18h,21h, and 24h after CPB and duration for mechanical ventilation and cardiac intensive care unit stay were recorded. Results Pulmonary function parameters before CPB in nonpulmonary hypertension group were superior to those in pulmonary hypertension group (P〈0.01), and pulmonary function parameters after CPB deteriorated than those before CPB (P〈0.05), especially 9h,12h and 15h after CPB (P〈0.01). Compared to pulmonary function parameters before CPB, pulmonary function parameters of pulmonary hypertension group at 3h after CPB were improved (P〉0.05), but they deteriorated at 9h,12h and 15h after CPB (P〈0. 05). Pulmonary function parameters at 21h and 24h after CPB was recoverd to those before CPB in two groups. Conclusions Although exposure to CPB affects pulmonary function after VSD repair in infants, the benefits of the surgical correction to patients with pulmonary hypertension outweigh the negative effects of CPB on pulmonary function. Improvement of cardiac function can avoid the nadir of pulmonary function decreasing. The infants with pulmonary hypertension will be weaned off from mechanical ventilator as soon as possible, if hemodynamics is stable, without the responsive pulmonary hypertension or pulmonary hypertension crisis after operation.
Objective To investigate the effect of surgical treatment on ventricular septal defect (VSD) in infants under 6kg weight, including the operative indication, surgical techniques and perioperative therapy. Methods All clinical data of 148 consecutive infants under 6kg weight with VSD were collected and studied retrospectively. The infants, age was 1-13(mean 5.3) months with the body weight of 3.5-6.0 (mean 5.3) kg. VSD was perimembranous in 105 cases, subpulmonary in 25, muscular inlet tract in 8, muscular outlet tract 9, and muscular trabecular in 1 case. Other associated cardiac abnormalities included atrial septal defect in 39, patent ducts arteriosus in 17, insufficiency of mitral valve in 9 and moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension in 52. The operations were performed under cardiopulmonary bypass at moderate to low flow, moderate hypothermia and cold crystalloid cardioplegia. Patch repair was used in 85, direct sutures in 63 and 23 cases repaired with partial sternal incision and beating heart. Results The hospital mortality was 4. 1% (6/148), the causes of death were severe pulmonary hypertention in 2, aortic arch interruption in 2, severe malnutrition in 1 and poor result of mitral valvuloplasty in 1. Other major operative complications included residual shunts (1- 2mm) in 2, and Ⅲ° A-V block in 2, who recoveried 5 days after the operation. The hospital stay was 6 15 (mean 8) days. Follow-up was complete in all 142 survived cases for 4 months-6 years. Two residual shunts healed in first year after the cardiac operation, others recovery smoothly, and are developing well. Conclusion With the improvement of the surgical techniques, the surgical treatment for VSD in infants with low weight is safe and effective, and it is also essential to further improve the effects of surgical treatment in VSD associated with complex abnormalities.
Objective To compare the changes between deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with deep hypothermic low flow (DHLF) cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on pulmonary surfactant (PS) activity in infants with congenital heart disease. Methods Twenty infants with ventricular septum defect and pulmonary hypertension were assigned to either DHCA group or DHLF group according to the CPB methods respectively. Measurements of saturated phosphatidylcholine /total phospholipids (SatPC /TPL), saturated phosphatidylcholine/ total protein (SatPC/TP) and static pulmonary compliance were performed before institution of CPB, 5 minutes after cessation of CPB and 2 hours. Results The length of ICU stay in DHLA group was significantly longer ( P lt;0 05) than that in DHCA group. SatPC/TPL, SatPC/TP and static pulmonary compliance in DHLF group were significantly lower compared with DHCA group ( P lt;0.01). Conclusion DHLF could lower the PS activity level significantly as compared with DHCA in infants with congenital heart disease.