ObjectiveTo explore the hemodynamic effects of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) on postoperative hemodynamic in patients with cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD) combined with decreased pulmonary blood flow.MethodsFrom 2014 to 2018, there were 1 764 patients who received corrective repair of cyanotic CHD with decreased pulmonary blood flow in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Hospital. We included 61 patients with the ratio of right ventricular systolic pressure to systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥75% after weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass. There were 41 males and 20 females, with the age of 20.5 (9.0, 39.0) months and weight of 12.5±7.8 kg. The patients were divided into two groups: a conventional group (33 patients, conventional therapy only) and a combined therapy group (28 patients, iNO combined with conventional therapy). The hemodynamics during the first 24 hours after iNO therapy and the in-hospital outcomes of the two groups were investigated and compared.ResultsThere was no statistical difference between the two groups in demographic characteristics and surgical parameters (P>0.05). The hemodynamic effects of iNO within 24 hours included the decrease in the vasoactive inotropic score (VIS, 21.6±6.6 vs. 17.3±7.2, P=0.020) along with the increase in blood pressure (SBP: 73.7±9.7 mm Hg vs. 90.8±9.1 mm Hg, P<0.001) , the decrease in central venous pressure (10.0±3.1 mm Hg vs. 7.9±2.1 mm Hg, P=0.020), the decrease in lactate (2.2±1.7 mmol/L vs. 1.2±0.5 mmol/L, P<0.001) and increase in urine output [2.8±1.7 mL/(kg·h) vs. 4.9±2.2 mL/(kg·h), P<0.001]. The decrease of VIS at 24 h after the surgery in the conventional therapy group was not statistically significant (22.1±7.9 vs. 20.0±8.5, P=0.232). Besides, we discovered that the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) was less in the combined therapy group than that in the conventional therapy group, especially in the moderate complicated surgery [risk adjustment in congenital heart surgery (RACHS-1) ≤3] subgroup (9.5% vs. 40.7%, P=0.016).ConclusionIn pediatric patients after corrective repair of cyanotic and pulmonary blood follow decreased CHD with increased pulmonary vascular resistance, iNO combined with conventional therapy can improve the hemodynamics effectively. Compared with the conventional therapy, the combined therapy with iNO can decrease the VIS and the need for RRT, which is beneficial to the postoperative recovery of patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic value of various severity assessment scoring systems for sepsis after cardiac surgery and the predictive value for long-term prognosis.MethodsThe clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac sugeries including coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and (or) valve reconstruction/valve replacement were extracted from Medical Information Mark for Intensive Care-Ⅲ (MIMIC-Ⅲ). A total of 6 638 patients were enrolled in this study, including 4 558 males and 2 080 females, with an average age of 67.0±12.2 years. Discriminatory power was determined by comparing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for each scoring system individually using the method of DeLong. An X-tile analysis was used to determine the optimal cut-off point for each scoring system, and the patients were grouped by the cut-off point, and Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank test were applied to analyze their long-term survival.ResultsCompared with the sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score, acute physiology score-Ⅲ (APS-Ⅲ, P<0.001), the simplified acute physiology score-Ⅱ (SAPS-Ⅱ, P<0.001) and logistic organ dysfunction score (LODS, P<0.001) were more accurate in distinguishing sepsis. Compared with the non-septic group, the 10-year overall survival rate of the septic group was lower (P<0.001). Except for the systemic inflammation response score (SIRS) system, the 10-year overall survival rates of patients in the high risk layers of SOFA (HR=2.50, 95%CI 2.23-2.80, P<0.001), SAPS (HR=2.93, 95%CI 2.64-3.26, P<0.001), SAPS-Ⅱ (HR=2.77, 95%CI 2.51-3.04, P<0.001), APS-Ⅲ (HR=2.90, 95%CI 2.63-3.20, P<0.001), LODS (HR=2.17, 95%CI 1.97-2.38, P<0.001), modified logistic organ dysfunction score (MLODS, HR=2.04, 95%CI 1.86-2.25, P<0.001) and the Oxford acute severity of illness score (OASIS, HR=2.37, 95%CI 2.16-2.60, P<0.001) systems were lower than those in the low risk layers.ConclusionCompared with SOFA score, APS-Ⅲ score may have higher value in the diagnosis of sepsis in patients who undergo isolated CABG, a valve procedure or a combination of both. Except for SIRS scoring system, SOFA, APS-Ⅲ, SAPS, SAPS-Ⅱ, LODS, MLODS and OASIS scoring systems can be applied to predict the long-term outcome of patients after cardiac surgery.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the correlation of activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), activated clotting time (ACT) and the activity of anti-factor Ⅹa activity with the concentration of unfractionated heparin (UFH) during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) in children after cardiac surgery.MethodsThe clinical data of children (aged 6 months to 6 years) who received ECMO support after cardiac surgery in Fuwai Hospital from January 2010 to October 2020 were retrospectively collected. And the aPTT value, ACT value, anti-Ⅹa activity and the corresponding UFH dose measured simultaneously during ECMO were recorded. According to the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization anticoagulation guideline, the bleeding events of children during ECMO support were defined, and the children were divided into a bleeding group and a non-bleeding group according to whether bleeding events occurred. Pearson correlation was used to evaluate the correlation between ACT, aPTT or anti-Ⅹa activity and UFH in the same patient.ResultsA total of 58 children, including 33 males and 25 females, aged 27.31±34.17 months, were enrolled and divided into the bleeding group (n=39) and the non-bleeding group (n=19). Univariate analysis showed that compared with children in the non-bleeding group, children in the bleeding group had lower red blood cell counts (P=0.049), hemoglobin concentration (P=0.010), and hematocrit (P=0.046) on the day of ECMO installation. In addition, the transfusion volume of fresh frozen plasma (P=0.034) and fibrinogen (P=0.033) in the bleeding group was relatively more, and the proportion of exploratory thoracotomy for hemostasis was high (P=0.000); there was a moderate degree of correlation between anti-Ⅹa and UFH (r=0.418, P=0.013) but there was no correlation between ACT or aPTT and UFH.ConclusionThe aPTT value and ACT value are poorly correlated with the concentration of UFH transfused during ECMO in children after cardiac surgery, while the anti-Ⅹa activity is moderately correlated with it.
Objective To explore the effects of intravenous treprostinil in different doses on the hemodynamics and postoperative outcomes after high-risk total cavo-pulmonary connection (TCPC). MethodsFrom 2018 to 2021, among 189 patients who underwent TCPC in the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery of Fuwai Hospital, 26 high-risk patients who received the intravenous treprostinil therapy were retrospectively analyzed. There were 12 males and 14 females, with an age of 4 (3, 6) years and a weight of 17.6±6.2 kg. The patients were divided into two groups: a high-dose group [15 patients, maintaining dose>10 ng/(kg·min)] and a low-dose group [11 patients, maintaining dose≤10 ng/(kg·min)]. The hemodynamics before treprostinil using and during the first 24 hours after reaching the maintaining dose of treprostinil, and postoperative outcomes of the two groups were investigated. ResultsThe incidence of heterotaxia was higher in the high-dose group (66.7% vs. 18.2%, P=0.021). During the observation period, the mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 11.9±3.6 mm Hg to 11.0±3.3 mm Hg in the low-dose group (P=0.013), and from 12.9±4.7 mm Hg to 10.2±3.4 mm Hg in the high-dose group (P=0.001). The decreasing effect in the high-dose group was better than that in the low-dose group (P=0.010). There was no statistical difference in the postoperative outcomes between the two groups (P>0.05). In terms of side effects, patients needed temporarily increased dosage of vasoactive drugs to maintain stable blood pressure during 6-12 h after treprostinil therapy in the high-dose group. ConclusionIn patients after high-risk TCPC, intravenous high-dose treprostinil has a better therapeutic effect on reducing pulmonary artery pressure. However, it should be noted that increased dosage of vasoactive agents may be required to maintain blood pressure stability in patients with high-dose treprostinil.
ObjectiveTo identify the risk factors of postoperative blood loss among pediatric patients following corrective operation of tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and to develop nomogram predicting the risk of postoperative blood loss.MethodsA retrospective case-control study was conducted in pediatric TOF patients who underwent corrective operation in our hospital from November 2018 to June 2019. And the clinical data from each enrolled patient were gathered and analyzed. Clinically significant postoperative blood loss was defined as drainage volume from chest tube ≥16 mL/kg during the first 24 h after surgery, which corresponded to the 75th percentile of the blood loss in our population. The primary outcome was to determine the independent predictors of postoperative blood loss by the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis. On the basis of the independent predictors of postoperative bleeding, nomogram was developed and its discrimination and calibration were estimated.ResultsA total of 105 children were selected (67 males and 38 females aged 3-72 months). The drainage volume from chest tube in the bleeding group was significantly higher than that in the non-bleeding group during the first 24 h (P<0.0001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that low body weight (OR=0.538, 95%CI 0.369-0.787, P=0.001), high preoperative hemoglobin concentration (OR=1.036, 95%CI 1.008-1.066, P=0.013) and prolonged intraoperative aortic cross clamp time (OR=1.022, 95%CI 1.000-1.044, P=0.048) were independent risk factors for postoperative blood loss. In the internal validation, the model displayed good discrimination with a C-index of 0.835 (95%CI 0.745-0.926) and high quality of calibration plots in nomogram models was noticed.ConclusionThe nomogram demonstrated good discrimination and calibration in estimating the risk of postoperative blood loss among pediatric patients following corrective operation of TOF.
ObjectiveTo analyze the early outcomes of anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction after surgical repair, and to explore the predictors for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support for these patients.MethodsThe clinical data of ALCAPA patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction<40%) who underwent coronary artery reimplantation in the pediatric center of our hospital from 2013 to 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into an ECMO group and a non-ECMO group. Clinical data of the two groups were compared and analyzed.ResultsA total of 64 ALCAPA patients were included. There were 7 patients in the ECMO group, including 4 males and 3 females aged 6.58±1.84 months. There were 57 pateints in the non-ECMO group, including 30 males and 27 females aged 4.34±2.56 months. The mortality of the patients was 6.25% (4/64), including 2 patients in the ECMO group, and 2 in the non-ECMO group. The postoperative complications rate was significantly higher in the ECMO group than that in the non-ECMO group (P=0.041). There were statistical differences in the cardiopulmonary bypass time [254 (153, 417) min vs. 106 (51, 192) min, P=0.013], aortic cross-clamping (ACC) time (89.57±13.66 min vs. 61.58±19.57 min, P=0.039), and preoperative left ventricular end-diastolic diameter/body surface area (132.32±14.71 mm/m2 vs. 108.00±29.64 mm/m2, P=0.040) between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that ACC time was an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support (P=0.005). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve was 0.757, the sensitivity was 85.70%, specificity was 66.70%, with the cut-off value of 66 min.ConclusionACC time is an independent risk factor for postoperative ECMO support. Patients with an ACC time>66 min have a significantly higher risk for ECMO support after the surgery.
ObjectiveTo summarize the early clinical features and perioperative management strategies for patients with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) after one-stage arterial switch operation (ASO), and investigate the risk factors for prolonged recovery in ICU, with a focus on the age structure and deformity complexity.MethodsThe clinical data of 231 consecutive TGA patients who underwent one-stage ASO were retrospectively analyzed. There were 165 males and 66 females, aged from 3 d to 10 years. The patients were sequenced by the length of ICU stay. The time at the 75th percentile was defined as the critical value for grouping. Patients with an ICU stay time over this point were allocated to a prolonged recovery group (n=54), while the rest were allocated to a normal recovery group (n=177). The perioperative clinical data were compared between the two groups, and the risk factors for prolonged recovery were evaluated.ResultsAbout half (49.6%) of the patients received late operation. The mean ICU stay time was 23.9±15.6 d in the prolonged recovery group, and 4.9±2.3 d in the normal recovery group. Complication of aortic arch lesion, delayed chest closure and postoperative pulmonary infection were independent risk factors for prolonged recovery after ASO in ICU. However, late operation had no significant effect on the overall recovery.ConclusionWith strict surgery indications and excellent postoperative management, most patients can have satisfactory early-stage outcomes, but are confronted with increased complications, which is associated with prolonged recovery. Complication of aortic arch lesion, delayed chest closure and postoperative pulmonary infection are independent factors for delayed recovery of ASO.
Objective To recognize the risk factors of unplanned re-interventions within 30 days after pediatric cardiac surgery and evaluate the outcome of re-interventions. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 202 children in Fuwai Hospital between January 1, 2015 and August 31, 2017. There were 115 males and 87 females at average age of 32.4 months with range of 3 days to 14 years. Results There were 202 children who underwent unplanned re-intervention during 30 days post-operation, including 54 re-adjustments of pulmonary blood flow, 34 re-corrections for residual cardiac abnormalities, 28 cardiopulmonary resuscitations, 38 for coagulation problems, 19 pericardial drainages, 11 palliative re-operations to deliver heart load and 6 diaphragmatic folds and 12 others. The mortality rate among children who underwent unplanned re-inventions after cardiac surgery was 10.9% (22/202). It was much higher than those free from re-interventions (0.7%). Time of mechanical ventilation was 284.3 (11–2 339) h, and mean ICU stay was 17.7 (1–154) d, significantly longer than those free from re-interventions at the same period. Conclusion Unplanned re-interventions after pediatric cardiac surgery is associated with higher mortality rate and longer recovery time. Early identifying risk factors and re-intervention can reduce the complications and improve the prognosis.