Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:Medically refractory chylous pleural effusion after congenital heart surgery is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, especially in infants. We reviewed our experience with diaphragmatic fenestration procedure in this group of patients. METHODS:A retrospective chart review of all patients who had diaphragmatic fenestrations for chylous effusion at our institution over a 2-year period was performed. RESULTS:A total of 9 diaphragmatic fenestration procedures were performed in 8 patients who had failed medical management of chylous pleural effusions. All procedures except 1 were performed on the right side. The median age at time of procedure was 4.6 months (range, 3 weeks to 14 months). The average time between primary congenital cardiac surgery and fenestration was 26 days (range, 4-53 days). Three patients had single ventricle repair. Average time of chest tube removal after procedure was 4 days. Average time to extubation was 3 days. All patients but 1 were able to advance to full feedings without reaccumulation of chylous effusion within 12 days. No complications developed in the patients. Recurrent effusion over a median follow-up period of 19 months did not develop in the patients. CONCLUSIONS:Diaphragmatic fenestration is an effective and safe strategy for management of persistent chylous effusions after congenital cardiac surgery.

Studies in adult HT have demonstrated improved cardiac function in the recipient following administration of T3 to the donor. The purpose of this experiment was to assess the effects of T3 on the function of the immature donor heart following HT in a piglet model. A total of 32 piglets were divided into 16 donors and 16 recipients. Following creation of brain death, half of the donor piglets were randomized to receive three doses of T3 (0.2 μg/kg) along with hydrocortisone (1 mg/kg). The donor hearts were then transplanted into the recipient piglets on CPB. Duration of survival off CPB, inotrope score, and EF of heart following CPB were evaluated. There were no differences between the two groups in age, weight, pre-brain death EF, T3 levels, and CPB times. Post-CPB survival times were inversely related to the ischemic times in both groups (Pearson r=-0.80, P<.001), and this relationship was not influenced by T3. There was no difference in inotrope score, EF, or biochemical assessment between the two groups. Administration of T3 in combination with hydrocortisone to the brain-dead donor confers no beneficial effect on myocardial function or survival following HT in a piglet model.

A 9-year-old child presented with syncope during exercise. He received a diagnosis of congenital atresia of the left main coronary artery by angiography. He underwent successful coronary artery bypass grafting. On the third postoperative day, he experienced acute, precordial chest pain. An urgent computed tomographic scan showed an unrecognized anomalous origin of the right coronary artery (RCA) with a 1.5-cm intramural course. He was taken back to the operating room to undergo unroofing of the RCA. This case highlights the difficulty involved in making two rare diagnoses that can cause the same exact symptoms in a patient and the surgical challenges associated with it.

BACKGROUND:The polytetrafluoroethylene tube used as right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit in the stage 1 Norwood operation is associated with risks of suboptimal branch pulmonary artery growth, thrombosis, free insufficiency, and long-term right ventricular dysfunction. Our experience with use of valved femoral vein homograft as right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit is described. METHODS:Between June 2012 and December 2015, 15 neonates with hypoplastic left heart syndrome or complex single ventricle underwent stage 1 Norwood operation with valved segment of femoral vein homograft as right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit. The median age at surgery was 3 days and the mean weight was 3 kg. The size of the femoral vein homograft was 5 mm in 8 patients and 6 mm in 7 patients. RESULTS:). No patient had thrombosis of conduit. Most femoral vein conduits remained competent in the first month after stage 1 Norwood operation, although most became incompetent by 3 months. Catheter intervention on the conduit was necessary in 7 patients. Right ventricular function was preserved in most patients at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS:The use of femoral vein homograft as right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit in the Norwood operation is safe and associated with good pulmonary artery growth and preserved ventricular function. Balloon dilation of the conduit may be necessary during the interstage period.

OBJECTIVES/OBJECTIVE:The primary objective of this study was to demonstrate that pulmonary artery (PA) debanding via cardiac catheterization using balloon angioplasty is feasible and safe in swine. The secondary objectives were to determine the acute and long-term effects of this therapy. DESIGN/METHODS:This is a chronic survival experimental study in newborn swine. BACKGROUND:PA bands are used in infants for transient palliation of congenital heart defects with excessive pulmonary blood flow. Although rare, if these defects should close spontaneously or become hemodynamically insignificant, a sternotomy and occasionally cardiopulmonary bypass may still be required for band removal. Alternatively, debanding could be accomplished through less invasive methods. INTERVENTIONS/METHODS:The main pulmonary artery was banded in three piglets, and the left pulmonary artery in five piglets via mini-thoracotomy at a mean weight of 2.5 kg. Following a threefold increase in weight, the piglets underwent PA debanding via balloon angioplasty. Four piglets were sacrificed to evaluate the acute effects. The remainder were followed to evaluate long-term effects. Histopathology was performed on all piglets. OUTCOME MEASURES/METHODS:Reintervention rates. Histopathologic consequences of high pressure balloon angioplasty used for PA debanding acutely and after reinterventions. RESULTS:Debanding was performed at a mean weight of 8.1 ± 2.23 kg. The median preintervention gradient across the band was 18 mm Hg. Debanding was successful in all piglets. The median postintervention gradient was 3.5 mm Hg. All piglets in the long-term model required re-interventions for recurrent stenosis at mean weights of 26 ± 1.6 and 61 ± 3.2 kg. Histopathology demonstrated vessel wall injury in only one piglet. CONCLUSIONS:Endovascular PA debanding can be safely achieved in a swine model. Angioplasty following debanding may be necessary for recurrent stenosis. This catheter-based therapy may provide a less-invasive alternative to surgery.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was instituted as an aid to in-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR) nearly 23 years ago, this led to remarkable improvement in survival considering the mortality rate associated with conventional cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Given this success, one begins to wonder whether the time has come for expanding the use of E-CPR to outside hospital cardiac arrests especially in the light of development of newer extracorporeal life support devices that are small, mobile, and easy to assemble. This editorial will review recent studies on this subject and address some key guidelines and limitations of this evolving and promising technology.

Neonatal arterial switch operation for simple dextro-transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) has almost eliminated the occurrence of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease compared to patients who underwent Mustard or Senning procedure at an older age. We report a case of a neonate with d-TGA and intact ventricular septum who underwent arterial switch operation and yet developed severe pulmonary vascular obstructive disease within two months.

OBJECTIVES:The transthoracic intracardiac line placed in the right atrium provides a convenient access to the central venous system following cardiac surgery. However, it is associated with risks such as migration and bleeding. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether position of transthoracic line with respect to site of exit from the chest makes a difference in the rate of complications. METHODS:All infants receiving a transthoracic intracardiac line in the right atrium following cardiac surgery between June 2012 and December 2015 were part of the study. A 3.5-Fr double-lumen umbilical venous catheter was placed directly into the right atrium. The lines exited the thorax either above in the suprasternal notch (upper transthoracic line) or below the diaphragm across the abdominal wall (lower transthoracic line). Patients were analysed for complications such as catheter migration, bleeding upon removal, atrial thrombus, line occlusion, premature removal and failed removal. RESULTS:A total of 131 patients received a transthoracic intracardiac line during the study period. Of the total patients, 88 patients received the upper transthoracic line and 43 patients received the lower transthoracic line. The upper transthoracic line was associated with significantly lower incidence of catheter migration (1% vs 14%) and this held by multivariable logistic regression, adjusting for age and duration of the line (P = 0.003). There was no difference in the rate of other complications including bleeding. CONCLUSIONS:The upper transthoracic line is associated with significantly lower incidence of catheter migration and offers a more optimum position for central access following cardiac surgery.

Left thoracic sympathectomy has been shown to be an effective treatment for adults with long QT syndrome who are refractory to medical therapy. We report the successful use of left thoracic sympathectomy for the management of a 10-week-old premature baby with long QT syndrome and heart failure from a large ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus.