ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pulmonary ultrasound on pulmonary complications in ultra-fast-track anesthesia for congenital heart disease surgery.MethodsIn 2019, 60 patients with congenital heart diseases underwent ultra-fast-track anesthesia in Shenzhen Children's Hospital, including 34 males and 26 females with the age ranging from 1 month to 6 years. They were randomly divided into a normal group (group N, n=30) and a lung ultrasound optimization group (group L, n=30). Both groups were used the same anesthesia method and anesthetic compatibility. The group N was anesthetized by ultra-fast-track, the tracheal tube was removed after operation and then the patients were sent to the cardiac intensive care unit (CCU). After operation in the group L, according to the contrast of pre- and post-operational lung ultrasonic examination results, for the patients with fusion of B line, atelectasis and pulmonary bronchus inflating sign which caused the increase of lung ultrasound score (LUS), targeted optimization treatment was performed, including sputum suction in the tracheal tube, bronchoscopy alveolar lavage, manual lung inflation suction, ultrasound-guided lung recruitment and other optimization treatments, and then the patients were extubated after lung ultrasound assessment and sent to CCU. The occurrence of pulmonary complications, LUS, oxygenation index (OI), extubation time, etc were compared between the two groups.ResultsCompared with the induction of anesthesia and 1 hour after extubation of the two groups, the incidence of pulmonary complications in the group L (18 patients, 60.0%) was lower than that in the group N (26 patients, 86.7%, χ2= 4.17, P=0.040) and the rate of patients with LUS score reduction was higher in the group L (15 patients, 50.0%) than that in the group N (7 patients, 23.3%, χ2=4.59, P=0.032). The correlation analysis between the LUS and OI value of all patients at each time point showed a good negative correlation (P<0.05). Extubation time in the group L was longer than that in the group N (18.70±5.42 min vs. 13.47±4.73 min, P=0.001).ConclusionUltra-fast-track anesthesia for congenital heart disease can be optimized by pulmonary ultrasound examination before extubation, which can significantly reduce postoperative pulmonary complications, improve postoperative lung imaging performance, and help patients recover after surgery, and has clinical application value.
Fontan operation is still a main procedure for treatment of complex congenital heart disease, such as univentricular heart. Fontan procedure has undergone many revisions since its introduction in 1968. The earlyapplied atriumpulmonary connection has been replaced by total cavopulmonary connection. The midterm and late results of both the intraatrial lateral tunnel and extracardiac total cavopulmonary connections were compared and analyzed in this article. Extracardiac conduit is better. The Fontan circulation failure would appear at last because of nopump function of the right ventricle. Once Fontan circulation failure occurred and could not recover by medicine, heart transplantation is mandatory, but the source of donor heart is lacking. The study of mechanical cavopulmonary assist device, to “biventricularize” the univentricular Fontan circulation, has been developed, which is quite promising. Following the development of diagnostic and treatment techniques for fetal heart disease, the treatment procedure of complex congenital heart disease has been broadened in recent years, such as to prevent the severe aortic stenosis from developing into hypoplastic left heart syndrome with fetal cardiac intervention so as to increase the chance of biventricular repair, and to terminate gestation to decrease its birth rate of complex heart abnormalities, which could not be completely repaired to date.
Bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis(BCPA)is a palliative method used in the single ventricular repair. It mainly includes bidirectional Glenn shunt and hemi-Fontan operation. The indications of BCPA are those as an intermediate option of total cavopulmonary anastomosis, partial biventricular or 1 1/2 ventricle repair and a practical approach to complex congenital heart surgery. The choise of age,influence on pulmonary artery maturation,remain of additional pulmonary flow,formation of collaters and time to Fontan are demand of study.
Objective To study the impact of chronic hypoxia on white matter (WM) injury and brain development delay using a neonatal rat model, and to explore its value in simulating chronic hypoxic brain damage in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods Three-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly distributed to an experiment group (n=36, FiO2 10.5%±1.0%) and a control group (n=36, FiO2 21.0%±0.0%) and were raised for 12 days. (1) Body weight of SD rats was recorded every day and fresh brain weight was measured on P14. (2) H&E staining was performed on sections of brain tissue to observe pathological changes and ventricular size. (3) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to reveal alterations of oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPC), preoligodendrocytes (PreOL) and myelin basic protein (MBP) in brain WM area. (4) Protein was extracted from 50 mg of brain tissue in WM area and expression of MBP was determined using Western blotting. (5) Motor function and coordination of rats (P30) were assessed via rotation experiment. Results (1) Body weight and brain weight were significantly less in the experiment group compared with the control group on P14 (body weight 14.92±1.26 gvs. 30.26±1.81 g, t=7.51, P<0.01; brain weight 0.68± 0.05 gvs.0.97±0.04 g, t=13.26, P<0.01); (2) HE staining: Sections of brain tissue from the experiment group showed ventricular size enlargement with a statistical difference (P<0.01), disordered cell organization, local neuronal death and leukomalacia. (3) The number of OPC and PreOL in the experiment group were significantly less than those in the control group (64.8±6.3vs. 126.2±8.4, t=11.19, P<0.01; 19.1±7.6vs. 46.7±9.5, t=7.28, P<0.01, respectively). MBP distribution was sparse and disorganized in the experiment group. (4) Western blotting: Expression of MBP was less in the experiment group (P<0.01). (5) Behavioral test: Time on rotarod was less in the experiment group with a statistical difference (P<0.01). Conclusion Chronic hypoxia can result in WM injury and brain development delay in neonatal rats, with features comparable to those seen in infants with cyanotic CHD.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value and significance of pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) in perioperative treatment of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). MethodsBetween June 2014 and June 2015, 100 adult patients (44 females and 56 males) underwent congenital heart disease operation. Patients were randomly divided into a PiCCO group and an experience treatment (control) group. According to the data of PiCCO detection, the PiCCO group was treated with vasoactive drugs and liquid balance management, the control group was treated by routine monitoring data. The clinical effectiveness of the two groups was compared. ResultsThe ventilator time, ICU time and length of stay in the PiCCO group were significantly shorter than those in the control group with statistical differences (P=0.02, 0.03, 0.04). The drug dosage (dopamine, milrinone) during ICU were higher in the PiCCO group than those in the control group (P<0.01, P=0.04). There was no mortality in both groups. No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe application of PiCCO in the perioperative treatment of adult congenital heart disease can promote the early recovery of ACHD patients, and has a certain safety and effectiveness. Actively vasoactive drugs application to maintain circulation early in ICU has positive effect on the patient's recovery.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt on the treatment of cyanotic congenital heart diseases in neonates.MethodsThe clinical data of 33 neonates undergoing modified Blalock-Taussig shunt between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017 were reviewed, including 28 males and 5 females with the age of 3.0-28.0 (18.0±6.1) d and weight of 1.9-3.7 (2.9±0.5) kg.ResultsThere were 3 (9.1%) in-hospital deaths. Ten (30.3%) patients required early unplanned reoperations after surgery. Five (15.2%) patients were lost to follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative acidosis, emergency operation and postoperative bedside thoracotomy were independent risk factors of early death. During the follow-up of 18.0-93.0 (40.2±22.5) months, there was no death and 9 (36.0%) survival patients underwent corrective surgery and stage-two palliative surgery. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative hyperhemoglobinemia was an independent risk factor of nonadministration of the corrective surgery and stage-two palliative surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that preoperative hyperhemoglobinemia was significant in determining whether secondary surgery was possible.ConclusionThe modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is effective in promoting development of pulmonary arteries and preparing for the secondary surgery. The rate of mortality and postoperative complications after the neonatal modified Blalock-Taussig shunt remains high. The rate of secondary surgery is still low during follow-up.
Artificial intelligence belongs to the field of computer science. In the past few decades, artificial intelligence has shown broad application prospects in the medical field. With the development of computer technology in recent years, doctors and computer scientists have just begun to discover its potential for clinical application, especially in the field of congenital heart disease. Artificial intelligence now has been successfully applied to the prediction, intelligent diagnosis, medical image segmentation and recognition, clinical decision support of congenital heart disease. This article reviews the application of artificial intelligence in congenital cardiology.
At present, the operative results of complex congenital heart disease are suboptimal which is closely correlated to the understanding of the anatomy and function of complex congenital heart disease, and operative techniques. With the further understanding to pathology and physiology of congenital heart disease, strategies and techniques in well-known operations and complex procedures have developed in recent years. Currently, designing and applying individual operative method in terms of patient’s characteristics of anatomy and physiology is very important trend. This article reviewed the advances of knowledgement and techniques in some representive complex congenital heart disease including complete atrioventricular septal defect, unifocalization for major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, transopsition of the great artery and Fontan type operation.
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.
Objective To introduce a modified technique of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction using a handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve crafted from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and to summarize the early single-center experience. Methods Patients with complex congenital heart diseases (CHD) who underwent RVOT reconstruction with a handmade ePTFE bicuspid pulmonary valve due to pulmonary regurgitation at Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital from April 2021 to February 2022 were selected. Postoperative artificial valve function and right heart function indicators were evaluated. Results A total of 17 patients were included, comprising 10 males and 7 females, with a mean age of (18.18±12.14) years and a mean body weight of (40.94±19.45) kg. Sixteen patients underwent reconstruction with a handmade valved conduit, with conduit sizes ranging from 18 to 24 mm. No patients required mechanical circulatory support, and no in-hospital deaths occurred. During a mean follow-up period of 12.89 months, only one patient developed valve dysfunction, and no related complications or adverse events were observed. The degree of pulmonary regurgitation was significantly improved post-RVOT reconstruction and during follow-up compared to preoperative levels (P<0.001). Postoperative right atrial diameter, right ventricular diameter, and tricuspid regurgitation area were all significantly reduced compared to preoperative values (P<0.05). Conclusion The use of a 0.1 mm ePTFE handmade bicuspid pulmonary valve for RVOT reconstruction in complex CHD is a feasible, effective, and safe technique.