Search

Objective To compare antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia administration in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMS) and open mitral valve surgery (OMS) for myocardial protection. Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Participants The study comprised 118 patients undergoing MIMS and 118 patients undergoing OMS. Interventions The data of patients admitted for MIMS from 2006 to 2010 were reviewed. Patients undergoing isolated elective OMS from 2004 to 2006 were used as a control group. Cardioplegia in the MIMS group was delivered via the distal port of the endoaortic clamp and an endovascular coronary sinus catheter positioned using echographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia were used in OMS. Data regarding myocardial infarction (MI) (creatine kinase [CK]-MB, troponin T, electrocardiography); myocardial function; and hemodynamic stability were collected. Measurements and Main Results There was no difference in the perioperative MI incidence between both groups (1 in each group, p = 0.96). No statistically significant difference was found for maximal CK-MB (35.9 µg/L [25.1-50.1] v 37.9 µg/L [28.6-50.9]; p = 0.31) or the number of patients with CK-MB levels >50 µg/L (29 v 33; p = 0.55) or CK-MB >100 µg/L (3 v 4; p = 0.70) between the OMS and MIMS groups. However, maximum troponin T levels in the MIMS group were significantly lower (0.47 µg/L [0.32-0.79] v 0.65 µg/L [0.45-0.94]; p = 0.0007). No difference in the incidence of difficult weaning from bypass and intra-aortic balloon pump use between the MIMS and OMS groups was found. Conclusions Antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia administration during MIMS and OMS provided comparable myocardial protection.

The incidence of postoperative nonischemic seizures associated with the use of tranexamic acid (TXA) and the possibility of prevention with a low-dose regimen of TXA were evaluated.Retrospective study.Tertiary care university hospital.A total of 12,195 patients who underwent cardiac surgical procedures under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were evaluated.The files of every clinical seizure case diagnosed in the surgical intensive care unit between April 2006 and April 2014 were reviewed. Patients who experienced a postoperative seizure underwent a cerebral computed tomography scan to exclude an ischemic lesion. Dosage and type of antifibrinolytic used and surgery characteristics were retrieved from perfusion files. Low-dose TXA was defined as 1,000-mg bolus, 400-mg/h infusion, and 500 mg in CPB priming. High-dose TXA was defined as 30-mg/kg bolus, 15 mg/kg/h, and 2 mg/kg in CPB priming.No seizure was observed in the 886 patients who did not receive antifibrinolytics. A total of 98 clinical seizures (0.8%) were recorded in the intensive care unit, and ischemic cause was excluded in the majority of them after computed tomography scan results were reviewed (91 patients [93%]). Low-dose TXA was associated with fewer seizures than was high-dose TXA (46 of 7,452 cases [0.70%] v 34 of 2,190 cases [1.55%], respectively; p0.0001). Open-chamber cardiac surgery also was linked to a higher incidence of seizures compared with revascularization (80 of 6,662 [1.20%] and 11 of 5,533 [0.20%], respectively; p0.0001).Lower doses of TXA were associated with a lower incidence of nonischemic seizures compared with higher doses of the drug.

The purpose of this study is to report our experience with del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) in the setting of minimally invasive aortic valve surgery. Forty-six consecutive patients underwent minimally invasive aortic valve replacement (AVR) through a “J” ministernotomy: twenty-five patients received the DNC (Group 1) and 21 patients received standard blood cardioplegia (SBC) (Group 2). The rate of ventricular fibrillation at unclamping was significantly lower in the DNC group (12% vs 52%, p=0.004), as well as postoperative creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB) values (11.4±5.2 vs 17.7±6.9 µg/L, p=0.004). There were no deaths, myocardial infarctions or major complications in either group. Less postoperative use of intravenous insulin (28% vs 81%, p

Objective To compare myocardial protection with retrograde cardioplegia alone with antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia in minimally invasive mitral valve surgery (MIMS). Design Retrospective study. Setting Tertiary care university hospital. Participants The authors studied 97 MIMS patients using retrograde cardioplegia alone and 118 MIMS patients using antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia. Interventions The data from patients admitted for MIMS using retrograde cardioplegia (MIMS retro) between 2009 to 2012 were compared with the data from patients undergoing MIMS with antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia (MIMS ante-retro) between 2006 and 2010 (control group). Cardioplegia in the MIMS retro group was delivered solely through an endovascular coronary sinus (CS) catheter positioned under echographic and fluoroscopic guidance. Antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia was used in the MIMS ante-retro group. Data regarding myocardial infarction (MI; creatine kinase Mb, troponin T, electrocardiogram), myocardial function, and hemodynamic stability were collected for comparison. Measurements and Main Results Adequate cardioplegia administration (CS pressure >30 mmHg and asystole) was attained in 74.2% of the patients with retrograde cardioplegia alone. In 23.7% of the patients, the addition of an antegrade cardioplegia was necessary. No difference was observed in the incidence of MI (0 MIMS retro v 1 for MIMS ante-retro, p = 0.3623), difficult separation from cardiopulmonary bypass, and postoperative malignant arrhythmia. No difference was found for maximal creatine kinase Mb (39.1 [28.0-49.1] v 37.9 [28.6-50.9]; p = 0.8299) and for maximal troponin T levels (0.39 [0.27-0.70] v 0.47 [0.32-0.79]; p = 0.1231) for MIMS retro and MIMS ante-retro, respectively. However, lactate levels in the MIMS retro group were significantly lower than in the MIMS ante-retro group (2.1 [1.4-3.05] v 2.4 [1.8-3.3], respectively; p = 0.0453). No difference was observed in duration of intensive care unit stay and death. MIMS retro patients had a shorter hospital stay (7.0 [6.0-8.0] v 8.0 [7.0-9.0] days; p = 0.0003). Conclusion Retrograde cardioplegia administration alone provided comparable myocardial protection to antegrade and retrograde cardioplegia during MIMS, but was not sufficient to achieve asystole in one-fifth of patients.

Objective The objective of this study was to evaluate the systemic and cerebral effects of different postoperative hematocrit management following cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Design Animal case study. Setting Laboratory. Subjects Four-week-old Yorkshire piglets. Interventions Twelve piglets were subjected to cardiopulmonary bypass (hematocrit = 25%) and 100 mins of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (15 degrees C). After weaning cardiopulmonary bypass, they were randomized to either group L or H, in which the postoperative hematocrit was maintained approximately 20% vs. approximately 30%, respectively, and survived for 6 hrs. Measurements and main results Changes in body weight, bioimpedance, and colloid oncotic pressure were assessed. Near-infrared spectroscopy and immunohistochemical assays for cerebral transforming growth factor-beta(1) and caspase-3 were performed. Postoperative weight gain (kg) and decreases in bioimpedance (ohms) were significantly less in group H (1.5 +/- 0.2 [H] vs. 2.4 +/- 0.6 [L], p = .01; 39.3 +/- 15.5 [H] vs. 89.1 +/- 29.6 [L], p = .01). Mean colloid oncotic pressure (mm Hg) was significantly higher in group H (10.8 +/- 1.6 [H] vs. 8.2 +/- 0.8 [L], p = .01) at 6 hrs postoperatively. Oxyhemoglobin, oxidized cytochrome aa(3) (muM x differential path-length factor), and tissue oxygenation index (%) were significantly better in group H (65.7 +/- 31.8 [H] vs. -104.7 +/- 55.2 [L], p = .0001; 0.52 +/- 4.1 [H] vs. -12.8 +/- 6.1 [L], p = .0001, and 55.7 +/- 4.6% [H] vs. 45.3 +/- 6.4% [L], p = .004, respectively). Cerebral transforming growth factor-beta(1) and caspase-3 scores were significantly better in group H (3.0 +/- 0.6 [H] vs. 1.9 +/- 0.9 [L], p = .04 and 1.8 +/- 0.5 [H] vs. 3.2 +/- 0.8 [L], p = .02, respectively). Mean arterial pressure (mm Hg) was consistently higher with group H (94.7 +/- 13.0 [H] vs. 78.3 +/- 11.5 [L], p = .003) despite comparable central venous pressure ( approximately 11 mm Hg). Conclusions Lower postoperative hematocrit was associated with increased fluid retention, lower perfusion pressure, and worse cerebrovascular injury following deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Postoperative hematocrit management may have profound systemic and cerebral effects after deep hypothermic circulatory arrest and merits further investigation.

Background . This study evaluates whether systemic steroid pretreatment enhances neuroprotection during deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) compared with steroid in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) prime. Methods . Four-week-old piglets randomly placed into two groups (n = 5 per group) were given methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) into the pump prime (group PP), or pretreated intravenously 4 hours before CPB (group PT). All animals underwent 100 minutes of DHCA (15°C), were weaned off CPB, and were sacrificed 6 hours later. Postoperative changes in body weight, bioimpedance, and colloid oncotic pressure (COP) were measured. Cerebral trypan blue content, immunohistochemical evaluation of transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β 1 ) expression, and caspase-3 activity were performed. Results . Percentage weight gain (group PP 25.0% ± 10.4% versus group PT 12.5% ± 4.0%; p = 0.036), and percentage decrease in bioimpedance (PP 37.2% ± 14.5% versus PT 15.6% ± 7.9%; p = 0.019) were significantly lower, whereas postoperative COP was significantly higher in group PT versus group PP (PT 15.3 ± 1.8 mm Hg versus PP 11.6 ± 0.8 mm Hg; p = 0.003). Cerebral trypan blue (ng/g dry tissue) was significantly lower in group PT (PT 5.6 × 10 -3 ± 1.1 × 10 -3 versus PP 9.1 × 10 -3 ± 5.7 × 10 -4 ; p = 0.001). Increased TGF-β 1 expression and decreased caspase-3 activity were shown in group PT. Conclusions . Systemic steroid pretreatment significantly reduced total body edema and cerebral vascular leak and was associated with better immunohistochemical indices of neuroprotection after DHCA.

Background . Aortic arch reconstruction in neonates routinely requires deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. We reviewed our experience with techniques of continuous low-flow cerebral perfusion (LFCP) avoiding direct arch vessel cannulation. Methods . Eighteen patients, with a median age of 11 days (range 1 to 85 days) and a mean weight of 3.2 ± 0.8 kg, underwent aortic arch reconstruction with LFCP. Seven had biventricular repairs with arch reconstruction, 9 underwent the Norwood operation and 2 had isolated arch repairs. In 1 Norwood and 7 biventricular repair patients, LFCP was maintained by advancing the cannula from the distal ascending aorta into the innominate artery. In 8 of 9 Norwood patients, LFCP was maintained by directing the arterial cannula into the pulmonary artery confluence and perfusing the innominate artery through the right modified Blalock–Taussig shunt fully constructed before cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass. In 2 patients requiring isolated arch reconstruction, the ascending aorta was cannulated and the cross-clamp was applied just distal to the innominate artery. Results . LFCP was maintained at 0.6 ± 0.2 L · min −1 · m −2 for 41.0 ± 13.9 minutes at 18.5°C ± 1.1°C. In 10 of the 18 patients, blood pressure during LFCP was 15 ± 8 mm Hg remote from the innominate artery (left radial, umbilical or femoral arteries). In 8 of the 18 patients, right radial pressure during LFCP was 24 ± 10 mm Hg. The mean mixed-venous saturation was 79.8% ± 10% during LFCP. Two patients had preoperative seizures, whereas none had seizures postoperatively. One patient died. Conclusions . Neonatal aortic arch reconstruction is possible without circulatory arrest or direct arch vessel cannulation. These techniques maintained adequate mixed-venous oxygen saturations with no associated adverse neurologic outcomes.

Circulatory arrest (CA) is associated with potential neurologic injury. We have developed a new surgical technique to eliminate CA during the Norwood operation. A modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (BTS) was fully constructed before cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass. The aortic cannula was inserted in the patent ductus arteriosus to allow systemic cold perfusion. When deep hypothermia was reached, the aortic cannula was redirected into the pulmonary artery (PA) confluence. Both cerebral and systemic perfusion were maintained through the right PA and BTS into the innominate artery.

Objectives To determine the safety and efficacy of a standardized approach to the use of an endovascular coronary sinus (CS) catheter during minimally invasive cardiac surgery. Design Case series. Setting University hospital. Participants Patients undergoing mitral and/or tricuspid valve surgery using a minimally invasive cardiac surgery approach. Interventions An endovascular CS catheter was placed to enable the administration of retrograde cardioplegia using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), fluoroscopy, and CS pressure measurements. Measurements and Main Results Data were collected from 96 patient records. A total of 95 (99.0%) endovascular coronary sinus catheters were positioned. The mean time to insert the catheter into the sinus ostium under TEE guidance was 6.3 ± 8.4 minutes. Confirmation of adequate positioning with fluoroscopy took an average of 9.1 ± 10.6 minutes for a mean total procedure time of 16.1 ± 14.1 minutes. Successful positioning, as defined by the ability to generate a perfusion pressure in the CS greater than 30 mmHg during surgery, was achieved in 87.5% of cases. During positioning, ventricularization of the CS pressure curve was observed in 86.0% of cases. The presence of ventricularization was associated with an increase in positioning success (odds ratio = 15.8; 95% confidence interval, 3.713-67.239). One patient developed extravasation of contrast agent after CS catheter placement, without evidence of CS rupture. Conclusions Endovascular CS catheter insertion can be performed with a high rate of success for positioning and a low complication rate. During positioning, obtaining ventricularization is associated with an increased success rate.

We report the implantation of a Berlin Heart ventricular assist device (VAD) in a 4-year-old boy with hypoplastic left heart syndrome previously palliated with Norwood and Glenn operations, who presented with progressive ventricular failure and hypoxemia. Insertion of a 30-mL pneumatic pediatric pump with cannulation of the systemic right ventricle and aorta had a salutary effect on cardiac output, improving oxygen saturations. While awaiting heart transplantation, multiple thromboembolic complications developed and he died, despite therapeutic heparinization and aspirin therapy. Important lessons learned about VAD support in Glenn physiology, anticoagulation, and complications of the Berlin Heart are discussed.

a m t f he First Joint Meeting of the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society (CHSS) and the European Congenital Heart Sureons Association (ECHSA) was held in Montreal, Canada, n October 2–4, 2004. This meeting was organized by hristo I. Tchervenkov during the Centennial celebrations of he Montreal Children’s Hospital and was dedicated to the emory of John W. Kirklin, a remarkable pioneer of cardiac urgery who passed away earlier in 2004. During this 3-day vent, two genuine Canadian pioneers of cardiac surgery ere also honored, namely Anthony R.C. Dobell from Monreal and George A. Trusler from Toronto, both long-time riends of John W. Kirklin. Dr Dobell gave an outstanding resentation entitled “From the Holmes Heart and Maude bbott to The Montreal Children’s Hospital.” Following his resentation, the audience had the privilege to observe the xceptionally well-preserved Holmes Heart, dating from 823. The Holmes Heart, named after the first Dean of Medcine of McGill University, is a rare type of functionally unientricular heart (Single ventricle, DILV, {SDN}, [Holmes eart])1 and is the oldest preserved heart specimen in North

There is a very limited published material about experience with long-term pediatric mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to heart transplant. We report on a 2-year-old, 12 kg boy admitted with 2-week history of low-grade fever, ear pain, pulmonary edema, and congestive heart failure. Trans-thoracic echocardiography confirmed severe myocardial dysfunction with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.20 and percentage shortening of 13. After 2 days of ventilatory and inotropic support, the patient continued to deteriorate and subsequently required femoro-femoral extracorporeal life support (ECLS). This was later complicated by a progressive coagulopathy and massive bleeding. On day 17, a pulsatile pediatric paracorporeal biventricular assist device (VAD) (Berlin Heart) was implanted. The patient's condition improved significantly with all coagulopathies corrected, and the patient was extubated 21 days later. After 109 days of bi-VAD support, the patient was successfully transplanted and discharged home 45 days post transplant. Our early experience with initial ECLS bridge to VAD and subsequently to transplant was encouraging. It allowed for additional time to select the ideal organ donor and optimize the recipient's comorbid condition and multiorgan failure. VAD provides an additional armamentarium of circulatory support in pediatric patients with severe heart failure.

Objectives: The contact of cardiopulmonary bypass surface and patient’s blood activates systemic inflammatory response which aggravates ischemia-reperfusion injury. This study evaluates the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) on cerebral protection using different steroid administration protocols. Methods: Eighteen (n ¼ 6/group) 4 week-old piglets were divided in three groups. Methylprednisolone (30 mg/kg) was administered intravenously 4 h prior to CPB in Group I, or added in pump prime in group II. Group III received no steroid. All animals were cooled to 158C followed by 100 min of DHCA, then rewarmed over 40 min and sacrificed 6 h after CPB. Post-operative weight gain, bioelectrical impedance, colloid oncotic pressure (COP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were evaluated. Determination of cerebral trypan blue and immunohistochemical assays of transforming growth factor (TGF)-b1 and caspase-3 activities were performed. Results: Post-operative % weight gain (13.0 ^ 3.8 (I) versus 26.4 ^ 9.9 (II) versus 22.6 ^ 6.4 (III), P ¼ 0:02); % bioimpedance reduction (14.5 ^ 8.0 (I) versus 38.3 ^ 13.3 (II) versus 30.5 ^ 8.0 (III), P ¼ 0:003); mean COP (mmHg) (14.9 ^ 1.8 (I) versus 10.9 ^ 2.0 (II) versus 6.5 ^ 1.8 (III), P ¼ 0:0001) and systemic IL-6 levels (pg/ml) (208.2 ^ 353.0 (I) versus 1562.1 ^ 1111.4 (II) versus 1712.3 ^ 533.2 (III), P ¼ 0:01) were significantly different between the groups. Spectrophotometric analysis of cerebral trypan blue (ng/g dry weight) was significantly different between the groups (0.0053 ^ 0.0010 (I) versus 0.0096 ^ 0.0026 (II) versus 0.0090 ^ 0.0019 (III), P ¼ 0:004). TGF-b1 scores were 3.3 ^ 0.8 (I) versus 1.5 ^ 0.8 (II) versus 1.5 ^ 0.5 (III), P , 0:05, groups I versus II and I versus III. Remarkable perivascular caspase-3 activity was observed in groups II and III. Conclusion: Different timing of steroid administration results in different inflammatory mediator response. Steroid in CPB prime is not significantly better than no steroid treatment, while systemic steroid pre-treatment significantly decreases systemic manifestation of inflammatory response and brain damage. q 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.