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OBJECTIVE: Patients receiving mechanical ventilation through an endotracheal tube are at increased risk for pneumonia. Because microaspiration of contaminated supraglottic secretions past the endotracheal tube cuff is considered to be central in the pathogenesis of ventilator-associated and postoperative pneumonia, better sealing of the upper trachea by the endotracheal tube cuff could possibly reduce this risk. We therefore postulated that use of a polyurethane cuffed tube would prevent early postoperative pneumonia through this mechanism in a population of cardiac surgical patients. METHODS: In a prospective, single-blind, randomized study, patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were allocated to intubation with a polyurethane cuffed endotracheal tube or the routinely used polyvinyl chloride cuffed endotracheal tube. Patients were scheduled for routine or emergency cardiac surgery and admitted to an 8-bed cardiac surgical intensive care unit of a tertiary care hospital. RESULTS: A total of 134 patients were available for analysis (67 in each group). Whereas mortality was not different between the groups, the incidence of early postoperative pneumonia and empirical prescription of antibiotic therapy were significantly lower in the polyurethane group than in the polyvinyl chloride group (23% vs 42%, P < .03). Intensive care unit and hospital stays were not significantly different between the two study subsets (3 +/- 5 days vs 3 +/- 4 days and 16 +/- 9 vs 17+/-11 days, respectively). In a multivariate regression analysis, preoperative serum creatinine levels (odds ratio 1.85, confidence interval 1.02-3.37, P = .04) and perioperative transfusion (odds ratio 1.50, confidence interval 1.08-3.37, P = .015) were independently associated with increased risk of early postoperative pneumonia, whereas use of a polyurethane endotracheal tube was protective (odds ratio 0.31, confidence interval 0.13-0.77, P = .01). CONCLUSION: Polyurethane cuffed endotracheal tubes can reduce the frequency of early postoperative pneumoniain cardiac surgical patients.

Objective The evidence for cardiac rehabilitation after valve surgery remains sparse. Current recommendations are therefore based on patients with ischaemic heart disease. The aim of this randomised clinical trial was to assess the effects of cardiac rehabilitation versus usual care after heart valve surgery. Methods The trial was an investigator-initiated, randomised superiority trial (The CopenHeart VR trial, VR; valve replacement or repair). We randomised 147 patients after heart valve surgery 1:1 to 12 weeks of cardiac rehabilitation consisting of physical exercise and monthly psycho-educational consultations (intervention) versus usual care without structured physical exercise or psycho-educational consultations (control). Primary outcome was physical capacity measured by VO 2 peak and secondary outcome was self-reported mental health measured by Short Form-36. Results 76% were men, mean age 62 years, with aortic (62%), mitral (36%) or tricuspid/pulmonary valve surgery (2%). Cardiac rehabilitation compared with control had a beneficial effect on VO 2 peak at 4 months (24.8 mL/kg/min vs 22.5 mL/kg/min, p=0.045) but did not affect Short Form-36 Mental Component Scale at 6 months (53.7 vs 55.2 points, p=0.40) or the exploratory physical and mental outcomes. Cardiac rehabilitation increased the occurrence of self-reported non-serious adverse events (11/72 vs 3/75, p=0.02). Conclusions Cardiac rehabilitation after heart valve surgery significantly improves VO 2 peak at 4 months but has no effect on mental health and other measures of exercise capacity and self-reported outcomes. Further research is needed to justify cardiac rehabilitation in this patient group. Trial registration number NCT01558765, Results.

Resumo: Introdução e objetivos: Caracterizar, no nosso centro, a epidemiologia, fatores de risco e impacto prognóstico da insuficiência renal aguda no pós‐operatório cardíaco. Desenvolver um modelo de regressão logística para estimativa do risco de insuficiência renal aguda na população em estudo. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo e monocêntrico em que foram incluídos doentes pediátricos consecutivos com cardiopatia congénita, submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca entre janeiro de 2010 e dezembro de 2012. Foram excluídos aqueles com doença renal prévia, história de diálise ou transplantação renal. Resultados: Foram incluídos 325 doentes, idade mediana = 3 anos (um dia; 18 anos). Quarenta (12,3%) doentes desenvolveram insuficiência renal aguda no primeiro dia após a cirurgia. Nove (69%) dos 13 doentes falecidos no pós‐operatório integravam o grupo com insuficiência renal. A ocorrência de insuficiência renal aguda condicionou um aumento do tempo de internamento na unidade de cuidados intensivos, da duração da ventilação mecânica invasiva e da mortalidade intra‐hospitalar (p

The most painful activities during the days following cardiac surgery are coughing and deep breathing exercises. Cold therapy is an effective nonpharmacological method that decreases the pain during coughing and mobilization. In this study, the effects of cold therapy on pain and breathing exercises among patients with median sternotomy following cardiac surgery were investigated in a randomized crossover clinical trial. Data were collected from patients with median sternotomy (N = 34) in the first two postoperative days. Because of the crossover design of the study, each patient was taken as a simultaneous control. Gel pack application was used as the cold therapy. Patients underwent four episodes of deep breathing and coughing exercises using an incentive spirometer (volumetric). Patients were evaluated according to the visual analogue scale for pain intensity before and after deep breathing and coughing exercise sessions. The pain score was 3.44 ± 2.45 at baseline for deep breathing and coughing exercises on the first day. The reported postoperative pain in the gel-pack group was not significantly different before and after the deep breathing and coughing exercises, but it significantly increased in the no-gel-pack group (p < .001). Although the interaction between the treatment and time was significant (partial eta-squared: .09), the gel-pack group had a lower change in average pain levels. This interaction was not significant in terms of spirometric values. In conclusion, cold therapy had a positive effect on pain management in the early period of post-cardiac surgery but was not effective for the pain associated with breathing exercises.

INTRODUCTION: Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a major cause of cardiac death during the first week of life. The hybrid approach is a reliable, reproducible treatment option for patients with HLHS. Herein we report our results using this approach, focusing on its efficacy, safety and late outcome. METHODS: We reviewed prospectively collected data on patients treated for HLHS using a hybrid approach between July 2007 and September 2014. RESULTS: Nine patients had a stage 1 hybrid procedure, with seven undergoing a comprehensive stage 2 procedure. One patient completed the Fontan procedure. Five patients underwent balloon atrial septostomy after the hybrid procedure; in three patients, a stent was placed across the atrial septum. There were three deaths: two early after the hybrid procedure and one early after stage two palliation. Overall survival was 66%. CONCLUSIONS: In our single-center series, the hybrid approach for HLHS yields intermediate results comparable to those of the Norwood strategy. The existence of dedicated teams for the diagnosis and management of these patients, preferably in high-volume centers, is of major importance in this condition.

To determine the incidence and etiology of chylothorax and to assess our therapeutic management approach.We reviewed 51 patients diagnosed with chylothorax over a 12-year period. Cause, interval between operation and diagnosis, duration of chylothorax, and total volume loss per weight were recorded.Chylothorax was diagnosed in 46 children after cardiothoracic surgery, giving an incidence of 2.5% (46/1842); in 1 child chylothorax occurred after chest trauma, and in 4 the chylothorax was congenital or a manifestation of lymph angiomatosis. Three etiologic groups were identified: group 1, direct injury to the thoracic duct (33/51 = 65%); group 2, thrombosis and/or high venous pressure in the superior vena cava (14/51 = 27%); and group 3, congenital (4/51 = 8%). Conservative treatment was the only treatment in 80% of the patients. Surgical procedures consisted of 4 ligations of the thoracic duct, placement of 7 pleurodesis shunts, and placement of 2 pleuroperitoneal shunts. Patients in groups 2 and 3 were at higher risk for failure of conservative treatment (P. 005). Longer duration of chylothorax and higher volume of drainage were present in group 2 compared with group 1 (P.01).Conservative treatment was successful in 80% of the patients with our management approach. Prevention, early recognition, and treatment of potential complications, such as superior vena cava thrombosis or obstruction, may further improve success of conservative treatment. Congenital chylothorax seems different and may require a specific approach.

Pseudoaneurysms of the ascending aorta are a rare complication of cardiac surgery. However, the poor prognosis associated with this condition if untreated makes early diagnosis and treatment important.We present the case of a 66-year-old woman who had undergone mitral valvuloplasty 12 days previously, who was admitted with a diagnosis of new-onset atrial fibrillation.The transthoracic echocardiogram showed a thrombus in the right atrium and anticoagulation was initiated, followed by antibiotic therapy.After further investigation, the patient was diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm of the ascending aorta and underwent surgical repair, followed by six weeks of antibiotic therapy.She was readmitted six months later for an abscess of the lower sternum and mediastinum. After a conservative approach with antibiotics and local drainage failed, recurrence of a large pseudoaneurysm compressing the superior vena cava was documented. A third operation was performed to debride the infected tissue and to place an aortic allograft. There were no postoperative complications. Resumo: O pseudoaneunisma da aorta ascendente é uma complicação rara da cirurgia cardíaca. A sua elevada mortalidade torna importante o seu diagnóstico atempado e intervenção precoce.Os autores apresentam o caso de uma doente do sexo feminino, submetida a valvuloplastia mitral 12 dias antes, internada com o diagnóstico de fibrilhação auricular com resposta ventricular rápida.O ecocardiograma transtorácico inicial mostrou imagem sugestiva de trombo na aurícula direita, iniciou-se anticoagulação, seguida de terapêutica antibiótica.Investigação adicional com recurso a TC de tórax com contraste endovenoso permitiu concluir que se tratava de um pseudoaneurisma da aorta ascendente, pelo que a doente foi submetida a correção cirúrgica do mesmo, seguida de seis semanas de terapêutica antibiótica dirigida.A doente foi reinternada seis meses depois por abcesso na porção inferior do externo e mediastino. Após falha da terapêutica conservadora, com antibiótico e drenagem local, com agravamento clínico da doente, documentou-se reaparecimento de pseudoaneurisma de grandes dimensões com compressão da veia cava superior. Foi então submetida a terceira intervenção cirúrgica com desbridamento do tecido infetado e implantação de homoenxerto aórtico. O pós-operatório decorreu sem intercorrências. Keywords: Ascending aorta pseudoaneurysm, Mitral valvuloplasty, Cardiac surgery complication, Palavras-chave: Pseudoaneurisma da aorta ascendente, Valvuloplastia mitral, Complicação pós-cirurgia cardíaca

The decision whether to repair congenital heart defects in patients with raised pulmonary vascular resistance to alleviate pulmonary hypertension is a complex one. The degree of pulmonary vascular disease is of paramount importance. Operating on patients with pulmonary vascular resistance above a certain threshold runs the risk of postoperative persistent pulmonary hypertension and a worse long-term prognosis. This review focuses on patients deemed borderline inoperable or inoperable due to pulmonary vascular disease and asks whether they can be converted to an operable status with pulmonary arterial hypertension-specific drugs that potentially modify the pulmonary vascular lesions and resistan

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the occurrence of surgical site infection (SSI) in patients undergoing cardiac surgery in the period between July 2005, and July 2010. METHODS: A quantitative, historical cohort study that evaluated 384 patients in a public teaching hospital. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software was used for data analysis and for descriptive analysis, measures of association in contigency tables and logistic regression were used. RESULTS: It was found that 36 (9.4%) patients developed a SSI and that mortality occurred in 14 (38.9%). Staphylococcus aureus was the prevalent microorganism (12, 27.3%) In the multivariate analysis, the risk factors identified as predictors of SSI were male gender, intubation for more than 24 hours, and reintubation. CONCLUSION: The risk factors predictive of the occurence of SSI (p

Background . Previously, neurologic dysfunction was estimated to complicate 25% or less of pediatric open-heart operations. We sought to determine the current incidence and spectrum of early postoperative neurologic complications. Methods . We undertook a retrospective review of all patients undergoing open heart operations in 1 year at our institution with the goal to identify all neurologic complications occurring in the early postoperative period. Results . Open-heart operations were performed in 706 children. Sixteen children (2.3%) had neurologic complications develop, including 9 (1.3%) with definite clinical seizures, 1 with suspected seizures and bilateral subdural hemorrhage, 2 with coma after cardiac arrest, 2 with transient mild choreoathetosis, 1 with facial palsy, and 1 with persistent irritability. Causes of seizure were cyclosporin A toxicity posttransplant (4), cerebral ischemia post cardiac arrest (3), and unknown (2). In infants less than 1 year of age, the incidence of seizures was 1.2%. Conclusions . This review suggests a decrease in acute neurologic morbidity after pediatric open heart operation. Clinical seizures remain the most common complication. Posttransplant, cyclosporin-associated seizures have emerged as an important etiologic category, coincident with an increase in cardiac transplantation in children.

OBJECTIVES: Acceptable coaptation cannot always be obtained using standard repair techniques. We assessed the safety and mid-term results using a novel technique to address leaflet retraction or tethering in children with type III mitral or tricuspid regurgitation as an addition to standard valve repair techniques. METHODS: Forty children were included, 36 for the mitral valve and 4 for the tricuspid valve, with a mean age of 11.3 +/- 3.9 years. A polypropylene suture was placed on the free edge of the retracted or tethered leaflet segment and anchored to the atrial side of the opposite annulus. This avoided valve replacement in all patients. An additional 40 children were matched for age, etiology, leaflet retraction or tethering, and surgery in which the suspension stitch was not used and constituted the control group. RESULTS: The mean aortic crossclamp and cardiopulmonary bypass time was 36 +/- 9 and 57 +/- 9 minutes, respectively. No early or late deaths occurred. At discharge, no patient had more than mild regurgitation with a gradient of 4.4 +/- 2.4 mm Hg in the mitral position and 2 +/- 1.75 mm Hg in the tricuspid position. The results were not significantly different than those of the control group. During a follow-up of 37.7 +/- 18.4 months, 3 patients required reoperation for mitral valve replacement in the suspension stitch group and 2 within the control group. At echocardiography of the remaining patients, the repair remained stable, with no suspension suture breakage. CONCLUSIONS: This suspension technique improved coaptation and resulted in avoidance or delay of valve replacement in patients with type III regurgitation, with an acceptable transvalvular gradient in most patients that did not significantly increase with growth.