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 different gases and hematocrits on cerebral injury during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) in a piglet model including monitoring by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). Methods Twenty-four piglets were assigned to 4 groups with respect to different blood gas and hematocrit during DHCA. Group A: hematocrit was maintained between 0.25 to 0.30, pH-stat strategy during cooling phases and alpha stat strategy in other phases; group B: hematocrit was maintained between 0.25 to 0.30 and alpha stat strategy; group C: hematocrit was maintained between 0.20 to 0.25, pH-stat strategy during cooling phases and alpha stat strategy in other phases; group D: hematocrit was maintained between 0.20 to 0.25 and alpha stat strategy. Cerebral oxygenations of piglets were monitored continuously by NIRS. The brain was fixed in situ at 6 hours after operation and a histological score for neurological injury was assessed. Results Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) and total hemoglobin (HbT) signals detected by NIRS were significantly lower in group D than those in group A and group B during cooling (Plt;0.05). Oxygenated hemoglobin nadir time was significantly shorter in group A(Plt;0.05). All piglets with oxygenated hemoglobin signal nadir time less than 25 minutes were free from histological evidence of brain injury. Conclusion Combination of pH-stat strategy and higher hematocrit reduces neurological injury after DHCA.