Objective To explore the value of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) combined with hypothermia therapy for children patients with refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. Methods From January 2013 to June 2016, we conducted a prospective study of 23 children (18 males, 5 females at age of 7±11 months) who underwent ECMO for refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: a standard group (11 patients) and a hypothermia group (12 patients). The patients of the standard group received standard therapy (the core body temperature maintaining at 37.0℃) and the hypothermia group received hypothermia therapy (the core body temperature maintaining at 33.0℃). The hospital discharge rate, the rate of weaning from ECMO and the morbidity were compared between the two groups. Results Eleven of 23 patients (47.8%) were weaned from ECMO successfully and 7 of 23 patients (30.4%) discharged from hospital. The hospital discharge rate between the hypothermia group (n=6, 50.0%) and the standard group (n=1, 9.1%) had no statistical difference (χ2=4.537, P=0.069). The rate of weaning from ECMO of the hypothermia group (n=9, 75.0%) was higher than that of the standard group (n=2, 18.2%, χ2=7.425, P=0.006). The morbidity between the two groups had no statistical difference. Conclusion Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation can improve the survival rate of the children who suffered from refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. There is no evidence that ECMO combined with hyperthermia therapy is better than the only ECMO in improving the discharge rate. But ECMO combined with hypothermia therapy has higher rate of weaning from ECMO than that of the only ECMO.
Objective To explore the feasibility of ultrasound diagnosis of diaphragmatic paralysis in patients with ventilation after congenital heart disease surgery. Methods There were 542 patients with congenital heart disease after surgery, difficult to be weaned off the ventilator or suspected diaphragmatic paralysis of the patients, respectively, in the ventilator continous positive pressure breathing (CPAP) mode and completely independent breathing state, whose ultrasound examination of diaphragm function was conducted to determine the presence of diaphragmatic paralysis in our hospital between January 1, 2013 and April 30, 2016. There were 327 males and 215 females at age of 14±32 months. The results of ultrasound diagnosis between ventilator CPAP mode and completely spontaneous breathing mode were compared. Results Five hundred and forty-two patients underwent ultrasound diaphragmatic examination. The results of bedside ultrasound were completely diagnosed: in completely spontaneous breathing, 82 patients who were diagnosed as diaphragmatic paralysis, including 39 on the right, 25 on the left, 18 on both sides; in CPAP mode, 82 patients who were diagnosed as diaphragmatic paralysis, 38 on the right, left 25, bilateral 19. Using ultrasound in CPAP mode to diagnose diaphragmatic paralysis after congenital heart disease surgery, compared with the completely spontaneous breathing state, the sensitivity was 100.0% and the specificity was 99.9%. Conclusion It is accurate and feasible to diagnose the presence of diaphragmatic paralysis in patients with ventilation after congenital heart disease surgery.