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To describe maternal and fetal outcomes and N Terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) trends in pregnancy with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). The medical records of all pregnant women with PAH referred to Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. We identified 35 pregnancies in 22 women (mean age 27.9 ± 4.7 years, mean weight 50.6 ± 8.1 kg). The diagnoses were Eisenmenger syndrome (16, 72.7%), postoperative residual PAH (3, 13.6%), idiopathic PAH (2, 9.1%), and one (4.5%) had systemic lupus erythematosus. About 23 babies (65.7%) were born alive, gestational age of 35.1 ± 2.9 weeks, 47.8% at term, with a birth weight of 2.1 ± 0.8 kg. There was an elevation of NT-proBNP in the initial 72 h postdelivery (median 138 pg/ml, IQR 112-561). Those with a persistent rise beyond 72 h (median 686 pg/ml, IQR 370-3691) had prolonged recovery postpartum (median postdelivery hospital stay 18 days, IQR 12–22) reflecting continued right ventricular stress and maladaptation. There was single maternal mortality (4.5%). Maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancy associated with PAH are better with strict surveillance and multidisciplinary team effort. Postpartum period remains the most vulnerable time. NT-proBNP trends during this period may be a promising objective monitoring tool in identifying at-risk subsets thus improving outcomes.

Introduction: Bacillus cereus is a gram positive bacilli found commonly in the soil and environment. It is a bacteria rarely associated with endocarditis. Case History: Intravenous drug abuse, presence of valvular defects, pacemakers, immunodeficiency are some of the known risk factors for B.cereus endocarditis. We present here a case series of two patients with B.cereus endocarditis along with a review of the literature. Conclusion: This is the first report of B.cereus endocarditis from India to the best of our knowledge.

Context: Two-thirds of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery report moderate to severe pain, particularly with ambulatory or respiratory effort. Aims: The aim of this study is to compare the analgesic effect of perioperative thoracic epidural fentanyl with bupivacaine and intravenous fentanyl in patients undergoing CABG surgery. Settings and Design: The study was a prospective, randomized, nonblinded comparative study. Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients coming under the American Society of Anesthesiologists Class III who were posted for CABG surgery were recruited in this study. The patients were randomized into one of two groups, higher thoracic epidural analgesia (HTEA) group receiving general anesthesia with thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA) in the postoperative period, and intravenous fentanyl analgesia group receiving general anesthesia with fentanyl infusion in the postoperative period. The pain was assessed at 4 h after extubation when the patient was fully awake, then at 8, 12, 18, and 24 h. Both groups received intravenous tramadol 100 mg as rescue analgesia whenever visual analog scale score was 5 and above. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure (MAP), sedation scores, and physiotherapy cooperation were also assessed. Statistical Analysis Used: The numerical data were analyzed using an independent t -test, repeated-measures ANOVA, and Mann–Whitney U-test. Results: Pain at rest and on cough was significantly lower in HTEA patients as compared to control group. Patients HTEA group got less frequent rescue analgesia than the control group. Physiotherapy cooperation was significantly better in HTEA patients at 4, 12, and 24 h postextubation. They also had significantly lower heart rate, MAP, and sedation scores. Conclusion: Perioperative TEA using fentanyl with bupivacaine provided optimal postoperative analgesia at rest and during coughing in patients following CABG surgery as compared to postoperative analgesia with intravenous fentanyl. It also resulted in optimal postoperative hemodynamic status, good cooperation to chest physiotherapy with less sedation.

Background— Postoperative infections contribute substantially to morbidity and mortality after congenital heart disease surgery and are often preventable. We sought to identify risk factors for postoperative infection and the impact on outcomes after congenital heart surgery, using data from the International Quality Improvement Collaborative for Congenital Heart Surgery in Developing World Countries. Methods and Results— Pediatric cardiac surgical cases performed between 2010 and 2012 at 27 participating sites in 16 developing countries were included. Key variables were audited during site visits. Demographics, preoperative, procedural, surgical complexity, and outcome data were analyzed. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify risk factors for infection, including bacterial sepsis and surgical site infection, and other clinical outcomes. Standardized infection ratios were computed to track progress over time. Of 14 545 cases, 793 (5.5%) had bacterial sepsis and 306 (2.1%) had surgical site infection. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among cases with infection than among those without infection (16.7% versus 5.3%; P P P Conclusions— Postoperative infections contribute to mortality and morbidity after congenital heart surgery. Younger, more complex patients are at particular risk. Quality improvement targeted at infection risk may reduce morbidity and mortality in the developing world.

A true presubclavian coarctation of the aorta with arch hypoplasia without major intracardiac anomaly can result in a surgical dilemma. Theoretically, one can avoid repair through median sternotomy using selective cerebral perfusion and its sequelae since no major intracardiac repair is needed. Repair through thoracotomy is technically challenging if arch reconstruction is required and precise surgical planning is required to avoid spinal hypoperfusion and to maintain cerebral perfusion. Moreover, inadequate repair often has resulted in hypoplastic aortic arch or residual coarctation on follow-up requiring future intervention. We have employed a modified surgical repair through thoracotomy avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass to address presubclavian coarctation of the aorta with diffuse arch hypoplasia with theoretically less chance for future stenosis.

Background: The International Quality Improvement Collaborative (IQIC) for Congenital Heart Surgery in Developing Countries was initiated to decrease mortality and major complications after congenital heart surgery in the developing world. Objective: We sought to assess the impact of IQIC on postoperative outcomes after congenital heart surgery at our institution. Methods: The key components of the IQIC program included creation of a robust worldwide database on key outcome measures and nurse education on quality driven best practices using telemedicine platforms. We evaluated 1702 consecutive patients ≤18 years undergoing congenital heart surgery in our institute from January 2010-December 2012 using the IQIC database. Preoperative variables included age, gender, weight at surgery and surgical complexity as per the RACHS-1 model. The outcome variables included, in- hospital mortality, duration of ventilation, intensive care unit (ICU) stay, bacterial sepsis and surgical site infection. Results: The 1702 patients included 771(45.3%) females. The median age was 8 months (0.03-216) and the median weight was 6.1Kg (1-100). The overall in-hospital mortality was 3.1%, Over the three years there was a significant decline in bacterial sepsis (from 15.1%, to 9.6%, P < 0.001), surgical site infection (11.1% to 2.4%, P < 0.001) and duration of ICU stay from 114(8-999) hours to 72 (18-999) hours (P < 0.001) The decline in mortality from (4.3% to 2.2%) did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: The inclusion of our institution in the IQIC program was associated with improvement in key outcome measures following congenital heart surgery over a three year period.