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Purpose: This study investigated whether an activated clotting time (ACT) between 200 and 300 sec could be achieved with a100 IU/kg unfractionated heparin (UHF) loading dose in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) during pediatric cardiac catheterization. Materials and Methods: We included 264 patients aged 0-18 years with CHD undergoing cardiac catheterization between January 2022-March 2023. Data on patient characteristics, UHF doses, and ACT values were retrospectively obtained. The patients were intravenously administered 100 IU/kg UFH after sheath placement. We aimed to obtain a value between 200 and 300 sec according to the ACT measured at the 5th minute. If the measured ACT value at the 5th min was < 200 sec, additional heparin doses between 20 and 50 IU/kg were administered such that the total heparin loading dose did not exceed 150 IU/kg. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether the ACT value was below or above 200 sec. Results: Median age, weight, and ACT value at procedure were 6.41(IQR:2.01–32.21) months, 6.13(IQR:3.79-11.9) kg, and 212(IQR:190-240) sec, respectively. The ACT value of 170(64.4%) of the 264 patients was between 200-300 sec, which was considered the target value. The ACT value of 86(32.6%) of the 264 patients was below the target value and that of eight (3%) patients was above the target value. Hematoma occurred at the access site in four patients (1.5%). We did not detect retroperitoneal hematoma, other bleedings at location, or thromboembolism in any of the patients. No significant differences were observed in comparisons between age subgroups and ACT distribution, or between age subgroups and ACT subgroups (p>0.05) Conclusion: This study revealed that a 100 IU/kg UFH loading dose produced the target ACT value in 64.4% of the patients and that the UFH loading dose should be individualized according to the ACT value in the remaining patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report our experience with the use of recombinant activated factor VII (rFVIIa) during cardiac surgery in a 4.5-year-old boy with severe congenital FXI deficiency and a congenital heart disease. After weaning the patient from cardiopulmonary bypass, the first intravenous dose of rFVIIa (90 μg/kg) was administered. This same dosage was repeated eight more times, at 2- to 4-hour intervals postoperatively. There was no bleeding during and after surgery. rFVIIa treatment may be used successfully in children with severe FXI deficiency in major operations such as open heart surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To compare the effect of umbilical cord milking and early cord clamping on thymic size, and neonatal mortality and morbidity in preterm infants., Methods: This single-center, prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled study was conducted at Baskent University, Konya Education and Research Centre, Konya, Turkey, between October 2015 and April 2016. Pregnant women who delivered before 32 weeks of gestation were randomised to receive umbilical cord milking (group 1) or early cord clamping (group 2). Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed in each newborn by an experienced radiologist within the first 24 hours of life. Thymic si ze was estimated in l ine with literatu re. SPSS 15 was u sed for a ll data analyses., Results: There were 38 subjects in group 1 and 37 in group 2. There were as many infants in the two groups (p>0.05) The haemoglobin levels was higher in group 1, but not significantly (p=0.213). The absolute neutrophil count in group 1 was significantly lower (p= 0.017) than group 2. In terms of neonatal mortaility and morbidity, there were no significant differences between the groups (p>0.05)., Conclusions: Umbilical cord milking was not associated with thymic size during the the first 24h of life.