ObjectiveTo explore effectiveness and safety of bioabsorbable anti-adhesive pericardial substitute (GM042) to eliminate pericardial adhesion. MethodsEighty patients who were expected to undergo multistage cardiac surgery in three years were randomly divided into a trial group (40 patients) and a control group (40 patients). The mean age of the patients in the trial group was 1.79±1.72 years and 1.63±1.52 years in the control group. Finally, 73 patients were included with 36 patients (13 females and 23 males) in the trial group and 37 patients (20 males and 17 females) in the control group. The trial group used GM042 to fill the pericardium defect at the first surgery while the control group didn't. The manipuility, safety, and the anti-adhesive role of GM042 were evaluated. ResultsThere was no significant difference in clinical indexes between at first surgery and six months after surgery in the trial group. There was no significant adverse event correlated to GM042. GM042 presented fine maneuverability during surgery. The adhesive score of the trial group was significantly lower than that of the control group (P<0.05). Adhesion score, pericardiac thickening, calcification, and visibility of heart surface structures were better in the trial group than those in the control group (P<0.05). ConclusionGM042 presented anti-adhesion effect and safety in cardiac surgery. Therefore, it's applicable to patients requiring re-operation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical results of left ventricular retraining followed by double switch operation (DSO) for patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) and a deconditioned morphologically left ventricle (mLV). MethodsClinical data of 14 patients with CCTGA and a deconditioned mLV who underwent surgical therapy in Fu Wai Hospital from May 2005 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 male and 6 female patients with their age of 2.5-72.0 (34.4±24.0) months and body weight of 5.1-23.0 (12.7±4.9) kg. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography, angiography or cardiac catheterization. Major concomitant anomalies included tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in 13 patients, restrictive ventricular septal defect in 10 patients, atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale in 7 patients, mild pulmonary valve stenosis in 4 patients, patent ductus arteriosus in 4 patients, and third-degree atrioventricular block in 1 patient. All the patients underwent first-stage morphologic left ventricular retraining under general anesthesia followed by second-stage atrial switch and arterial switch operations (DSO) under cardiopulmonary bypass with the interval of 0.67-34.0(10.23±9.47)months. ResultsAfter the first-stage morphologic left ventricular retraining, there was no postoperative complication or death. During follow-up, mLV end-diastolic diameter (mLVEDd) and posterior wall thickness of mLV were significantly larger than preoperative parameters (P < 0.05). The interventricular septum moved partially towards morphologically right ventricle (mRV). TR degree was significantly decreased, the pressure gradient across the pulmonary artery band was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not statistically different from preoperative LVEF. And mLV/mRV pressure ratio was significantly increased (P < 0.05). After the second-stage DSO, 2 patients died with the in-hospital mortality of 14.3% (2/14). The causes of death included serious arrhythmia, circulatory collapse and sudden death. Early postoperative complications included pulmonary infection in 6 patients, atrial arrhythmias in 2 patients, pleural effusion in 2 patients, pneumothorax in 1 patient, diaphragmatic paralysis cured by diaphragm placation in 1 patient, respiratory tract hemorrhage in 1 patient, mild aortic insufficiency in 1 patient, peritoneal dialysis for 1 patient, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 1 patient, and tracheal intubation for a second time for 1 patient. All the 12 patients who were discharged alive were followed up for 2 to 8 years. One patient died during follow-up with the late mortality of 8.33% (1/12), and the cause of death was serious arrhythmia and circulatory collapse. Eight patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classⅠ, and 3 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ. Major late complications included left ventricular dysfunction in 3 patients, moderate aortic valve regurgitation in 3 patients, and moderate mitral valve regurgitation in 1 patient. ConclusionShort-term clinical results of left ventricular retraining followed by DSO for patients with CCTGA and a deconditioned mLV are satisfactory, and its middleand long-term results need further follow-up. But postoperative left ventricular dysfunction and new-onset aortic valve regurgitation deserve more attention.
ObjectiveTo assess the function of left ventricular outlet tract and aortic valve after arterial switch operation (ASO) for patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and left ventricular outlet tract obstruction (LVOTO). MethodsFrom 2002 to 2013, 549 pediatric TGA patients received ASO in Fu Wai Hospital. Among them, 42 patients had LVOTO, including 31 males and 11 females with their median age of 12 months (range, 7 days to 96 months), median body weight of 6.5(3.5-26.0) kg and percutaneous oxygen saturation of 52%-85%. LVOTO anomalies included pulmonary valve stenosis, subaortic membrane, tunnel-like subaortic stenosis, muscular subaortic stenosis, subvalvular apparatus and combined anomalies. Different surgical procedures were performed according to respective anomalies. Echocardiographic characteristics, intraoperative findings, surgical methods, early and follow-up results were summarized. ResultsCardiopulmonary bypass time was 147-344 (193.5±73.1) minutes, mean aortic cross-clamping time was 139(109-305) minutes, mean mechanical ventilation time was 36(3-960) hours, and mean length of ICU stay was 5(1-48) days. Three patients received and later successfully weaned from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Two patients died postoperatively including 1 patient with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome and another patient with severe infection. One patient died during follow-up for unknown reason, and 3 patients were lost during followup. Thirty-six patients were followed up for 24 (3-116) months. During follow-up, there were 1 patient with LVOTO recurrence, 1 patient with new-onset mild aortic valve stenosis, 11 patients with new-onset mild aortic regurgitation (AR), and 2 patients with new-onset moderate AR. Median systolic left ventricular-aortic pressure gradient[4 (2-49) mm Hg] was significantly lower than preoperative value[37.2 (12.1-70.6) mm Hg] (Z=-5.153). Cardiac event-free rate was 91%±5% at 1 year and 78%±8% at 5 years after discharge. ConclusionFor TGA patients with LVOTO, ASO can produce satisfactory mid-and long-term results if proper surgical indications and strategies are chosen according to different severity of LVOTO which can be evaluated by anatomic features of TGA and systolic left ventricular-aortic pressure gradient.
Objective To evaluate the efficacy of 3-dimensional printing model (3DPM) aiding decision making and surgery rehearsal for the treatment of double outlet right ventricle (DORV) with non-committed ventricular septal defect (NC-VSD). Methods From January 1st, 2012 through December 30th, 2014, 12 patients with DORV and NC-VSD were operated with the aid of “3DPM guidance” to do decision making and surgical technique rehearsal preoperatively. There were 9 males and 3 females at age of 2.9±2.2 years. The “3DPM guidance” consisted of step by step procedures: computerized tomography (CT) scan for the patients, CT based 3DPM rendering, 3DPM exploration, decision making, and surgery rehearsal. During surgery rehearsal, surgeons did patch designing, VSD enlargement planning, muscle bundle resection etc. Eight out of the twelve patients underwent biventricular repair, 4 patients underwent single ventricle repair. Six of the eight biventricular repair patients had intra-ventricular baffle repair, 1 patient had intra-ventricular baffle repair and arterial switch procedure, 1 had modified Nikaidoh procedure. VSD enlargement was performed in all the patients in biventricular repair group. The reasons not to do a biventricular repair included very restrictive VSD, tricuspid attachments across the sub-aortic passway. Results The operation findings correlated well with the 3DPM in all the cases. There was no hospital death, no major complication. One patient had a mild sub-aortic stenosis and he was under close follow-up. There was no late death and reoperation. Surgeons involved were satisfied with the “3DPM guidance”. Conclusions 3-D printing model is an excellent way to help decision making for DORV with NC-VSD and can provide surgery simulation which decrease complication rate and help achieve good outcomes.