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Background: As family members affect patient outcomes following open‐heart surgery, the objective was to provide updated knowledge on family involvement in to guide future interventions facilitating family involvement. Aim: The aim was to explore and describe the experiences and actions of important situations of family involvement asexpressed by patients who underwent elective open‐heart surgery in Sweden. Methodological Design and Justification: The critical incident technique (CIT) was used, which is a qualitative research method suitable for clinical problems when a phenomenon is known but the experiences and consequences of it are not. Ethical Issues and Approval: Considerations for patient integrity were made during the recruitment phase by ensuring that voluntary informed consent was obtained in two steps. Research Methods: Individual interviews were conducted with 35 patients who underwent open‐heart surgery in Sweden in 2023. Important situations were analysed according to the CIT method. Results: Two main areas emerged: Patients described important situations of family involvement as experiences of mutual dependency while also being independent individuals. These experiences led to balancing healing and risk‐taking activities as a family. The positive consequences of family involvement described by patients included improved recovery through practical help at home and emotional support. Conclusions: As complements to preserving the existing positive aspects of family involvement, social support screening, the establishment of individualised visitation policies and the provision of professional and peer support earlier can improve patient recovery following open‐heart surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Open-Heart Surgery at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital commenced in 2004. Early years were based on a Cardiac Mission Model, but since 2017 the focus was on the transition to a Local Team Model with autonomous Open-Heart Surgery. The aim of this study is to describe our progress in making this transition, highlight lessons learned, and detail the outstanding challenges to be overcome. This study is a retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital cardiothoracic database and Nigeria Open-Heart Surgery Registry between November 2004 and December 2021. Data extracted included patient demographics, EuroSCORE II, operative procedure, operative category, lead surgeon, complications, and outcomes. Over the study period, 100 operations were done over 2 time periods, 51 operations between 2004 and 2011 (Cardiac Mission Period) and 49 operations between 2017 and 2021 (Transition Period). In the Cardiac Mission Period, 21.6% of the operations were done by the Local Team and in the Transition Period this increased to 85.7% of the operations completed. Overall mortality was 14%, dropping from 17.6% in the Cardiac Mission Period to 10.2% in the Transition Period. The Local Team is now gradually taking on more diverse cases while striving to maintain good outcomes. Our institution has successfully made the transition from Cardiac Missions to Autonomous Open-Heart Surgery without an increase in mortality and a gradual increase in surgical volumes. Lessons learned included a strategy to focus on adult surgery, avoidance of high-risk cases, and moving from free surgery toward an appropriate cost structure for program sustainability. Contributory factors to the successful transition include the active support of the hospital management (provision of appropriate infrastructure and equipment, investment in training of the Local Team), continued humanitarian international collaborations focused on skill transfer, and maintenance of Local Team skills by collaborations with other active cardiac centers in Nigeria. Remaining challenges include financing to bridge equipment gaps, maintenance and replacement of equipment as well as the evolution of a national health insurance schema that would ideally support Open-Heart Surgery for Nigerian patients. Until that time, patients and programs must rely on supplemental funding of surgery to increase surgical volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both anxiety and depression are comorbid mortality risks in middle-aged and older patients with heart diseases. Open-heart surgery (OHS), a life-altering procedure, can induce psychological distress that impedes postoperative recovery. Extensive research has shown the health benefit of optimism, an indicator of hope—a Character Strength in positive psychology. It predicts low mortality in cardiovascular disease—the number one killer of all Americans. Few studies, however, have explored whether that optimism mitigates the negative impact of preoperative depression and anxiety on postoperative general psychological distress. This interdisciplinary clinical study evaluated a hypothetical model of these relationships prior to and 1 month following OHS in 311 U.S. patients using a three-wave survey. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed to predict post-OHS general psychological distress. Optimism was indicated by two subscales in the Life Orientation Test (LOT). Based on the definition, general psychological distress was indicated by low symptom levels of somatization, depression, and anxiety as measured by the SCL-90 subscales. The final solution demonstrated a good fit. Optimism alleviates the negative effects of preoperative depression and anxiety, as indicators of poor mental health, on postoperative distress. Both older age and female gender were positively and directly associated with higher levels of post-OHS symptoms. The finding supports the beneficial role of optimism in mitigating the damage of poor mental health in the postoperative outcome of cardiac patients. The desirable function of character strength hope suggests that health providers should be attentive to and enhance inner strength for reducing the distress of cardiac patients in the postoperative recovery month. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Aim Study Design Results Conclusions Relevance to Clinical Practice Open‐heart surgery patients face many problems because of post‐sternotomy pain. Care protocols can eliminate pain and pain‐related problems by providing holistic care.The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an open‐heart surgery patient care protocol developed in the study on post‐sternotomy pain, anxiety and quality of care.The study was carried out as a double‐blind randomized controlled trial. The sample size was calculated. Considering some attrition, the sample size was increased by 10% for each group, and a total of 68 participants, including 34 in each group, were included in the sample. Data were collected using a ‘Patient Information Form’, a ‘Post‐Sternotomy Pain Follow‐up Form’, the ‘Numeric Rating Scale’, the ‘State Anxiety Inventory’ and the ‘Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management Questionnaire’. The patients in the experimental group were given care in accordance with the protocol, which was developed in the study, on postoperative days 0, 1 and 2.The statistical evaluation showed a significant difference between the mean scores of the experimental (F = 7.28; p < .001) and control groups (F = 2.42; p < .05) on the pain assessment scale. It was determined that the number of analgesics used in the experimental group was statistically significantly lower than in the control group. Intra‐group comparisons showed that there was a difference between the mean pre‐test and post‐test state anxiety scale scores of the groups (p < .001). The experimental group had higher mean scores on the Strategic and Clinical Quality Indicators in Postoperative Pain Management Questionnaire than that of the control group (p < .001).The protocol developed in the study was found to be effective in reducing pain, the use of NSAIDs and opioids, and anxiety levels and increasing the level of quality of care.The protocol was original and feasible in that it included independent nursing interventions to improve the quality of care by reducing pain and anxiety. Particularly, the use of protocols in intensive care units was nurses' strongest resource in patient care management. Thus, the protocol, which was prepared for intensive care patients who most frequently experience pain and anxiety, was promising for nurses in improving the quality of care by reducing pain and anxiety. However, it is necessary to conduct further studies involving longitudinal follow‐up in samples and institutions with similar conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to examine the value of preoperative recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) administration to adults undergoing elective cardiac surgery. Databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing rhEPO plus standard treatment versus standard treatment only. Primary outcomes were the need for and volume of homologous blood transfusion (HBT). Secondary outcomes were the lengths of intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital stay and the incidence of major adverse events. There was very low certainty that rhEPO is associated with a reduction in the need for HBT, with a number needed to treat of 5.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.9-12.5), and low certainty that it is associated with a moderate reduction in HBT volume (Hedges g = -0.55; 95% CI, -0.79 to -0.32). Meta-regression revealed that studies with a higher proportion of females or older patients demonstrated less benefit of rhEPO in terms of reduced consumption of HBT. Trial sequential analysis showed that rhEPO was superior to standard treatment only for reducing the need for and volume of HBT. Regarding secondary outcomes, there was moderate certainty that rhEPO is associated with a limited reduction in the length of ICU (Hedges g = -0.10; 95% CI, -0.19 to -0.01) and hospital stay (Hedges g = -0.13; 95% CI = -0.25 to -0.02), and low certainty for increased risk of myocardial infarction, with a number needed to harm of 36.1 (95% CI, 17.9-127.4). More well-designed, adequately powered RCTs are needed to draw conclusions regarding the value of rhEPO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who undergo open-heart surgery are at risk of developmental impairment, including motor delay, which contributes to parental concerns. Additionally, parents experience prolonged stress associated with their child’s disease. There is a lack of early motor interventions in infants with CHD accounting for parental burdens. We developed a family-tailored early motor intervention (EMI-Heart), aiming to promote motor development in infants with CHD and family well-being. The primary aim was to evaluate the feasibility of the study design and the intervention. The secondary aim was to evaluate differences between the intervention and the control group in motor outcomes and family well-being at baseline (3–5 months), post-treatment (6–8 months), and at follow-up (12 months). Method In this single-centre feasibility randomized control trial (RCT), infants with CHD after open-heart surgery without genetic or major neurological comorbidities were randomly allocated to EMI-Heart or the control group (standard of care). EMI-Heart’s key elements promote postural functional activities and encourage parental sensitivity to infants’ motor and behaviour cues. Infants assigned to EMI-Heart received nine sessions of early motor intervention at home, in the hospital, and online for a duration of 3 months by a paediatric physiotherapist. We performed descriptive statistics for feasibility and secondary outcomes. Results The recruitment rate was 59% (10/17), all participating families completed the study (10/10), and the intervention duration was 3.9 months (± 0.54), including nine intervention sessions per family. Median acceptability to parents was 3.9 (1 = not agree–4 = totally agree, Likert scale). The paediatric physiotherapist considered the intervention as feasible. The comparison of motor outcomes did not show differences between groups. However, we detected improved reliable change scores in family well-being outcomes for families of the intervention group compared to the controls. Conclusions Our research indicates that EMI-Heart is a feasible intervention for infants with CHD after open-heart surgery. The intervention was highly acceptable both to parents and to the paediatric physiotherapist. Online treatment sessions offer a valuable alternative to home and hospital visits. This feasibility RCT provides a foundation for a future full trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCTT04666857. Registered 23.11.2020.

Background: The perioperative impact of calcium and vitamin D on left ventricular (LV) performance during major cardiac surgery remains unexplored. We aimed to assess the relation of calcium and vitamin D measured at different time points with the LV ejection fraction (EF), and to investigate whether changes in EF correlate with postoperative outcomes. Methods: We enrolled 83 patients, in whom ionized calcium was measured before, during, and after surgery (until discharge), vitamin D preoperatively, and EF pre- and postoperatively at 24 h. The postoperative outcomes were cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, aortic cross-clamp time, mechanical ventilation time, vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) (intraoperative, day 0, day 1), and ICU stay time. Results: The mean age was 64.9 ± 8.5 years, with 21 of the patients (25%) having an EF < 50%. The median change from preoperative to postoperative EF was −2.0 (−10.0–0.0) % (p < 0.001). At the baseline, the EF < 50% group had significantly lower preoperative vitamin D levels than the EF ≥ 50% group (p = 0.048). The calcium trend did not differ across the groups. Preoperative EF was significantly associated with CPB time (r = 0.22, p = 0.044) and aortic cross-clamp time (r = 0.24, p = 0.031). Postoperative EF was significantly and inversely associated with intraoperative VIS (r = −0.28, p = 0.009), VIS day 0 (r = −0.25, p = 0.020), VIS day 1 (r = −0.23, p = 0.036), and ICU length of stay (r = −0.22, p = 0.047). Finally, the change in ejection fraction was significantly and inversely associated with CPB time (r = −0.23, p = 0.037), aortic cross-clamp time (r = −0.22, p = 0.044), intraoperative VIS (r = −0.42, p < 0.001), VIS day 0 (r = −0.25, p = 0.024), mechanical ventilation time (r = −0.22, p = 0.047), and ICU length of stay (r = −0.23, p = 0.039). Conclusions: The fluctuations in perioperative ionized calcium levels were not associated with the evolution of LVEF, although preoperative vitamin D levels may affect those with low EF. Correspondingly, a reduced EF significantly impacted all the studied postoperative outcomes. Further investigation into biomarkers affecting cardiac inotropic function is warranted to better understand their significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who undergo open-heart surgery are at risk of developmental impairment, including motor delay, which contributes to parental concerns. Additionally, parents experience prolonged stress associated with their child's disease. There is a lack of early motor interventions in infants with CHD accounting for parental burdens. We developed a family-tailored early motor intervention (EMI-Heart), aiming to promote motor development in infants with CHD and family well-being. The primary aim was to evaluate the feasibility of the study design and the intervention. The secondary aim was to evaluate differences between the intervention and the control group in motor outcomes and family well-being at baseline (3–5 months), post-treatment (6–8 months), and at follow-up (12 months). Method: In this single-centre feasibility randomized control trial (RCT), infants with CHD after open-heart surgery without genetic or major neurological comorbidities were randomly allocated to EMI-Heart or the control group (standard of care). EMI-Heart's key elements promote postural functional activities and encourage parental sensitivity to infants' motor and behaviour cues. Infants assigned to EMI-Heart received nine sessions of early motor intervention at home, in the hospital, and online for a duration of 3 months by a paediatric physiotherapist. We performed descriptive statistics for feasibility and secondary outcomes. Results: The recruitment rate was 59% (10/17), all participating families completed the study (10/10), and the intervention duration was 3.9 months (± 0.54), including nine intervention sessions per family. Median acceptability to parents was 3.9 (1 = not agree–4 = totally agree, Likert scale). The paediatric physiotherapist considered the intervention as feasible. The comparison of motor outcomes did not show differences between groups. However, we detected improved reliable change scores in family well-being outcomes for families of the intervention group compared to the controls. Conclusions: Our research indicates that EMI-Heart is a feasible intervention for infants with CHD after open-heart surgery. The intervention was highly acceptable both to parents and to the paediatric physiotherapist. Online treatment sessions offer a valuable alternative to home and hospital visits. This feasibility RCT provides a foundation for a future full trial. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCTT04666857. Registered 23.11.2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Cardiac myxomas present a diagnostic challenge due to their ability to mimic various cardiovascular and systemic conditions. Timely identification is crucial for implementing surgical intervention and averting life-threatening complications. Case presentation We reported the case of a 49-year-old male patient who presented sudden legs weakness and slurred speech and was admitted 10 h later in emergency department. Physical examination was significant for paraparesis and paraphasia. Cardiac and carotid auscultation was normal. CT brain revealed multiple acute ischemic strokes and MRA was suggestive of cerebral vasculitis. As pre-therapy assessment, the EKG revealed no electrical abnormalities and the chest X-ray showed signs of left atrial enlargement. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a left atrial mass attached to the interatrial septum, measuring 9*5*4 cm and extending into the left ventricular cavity during diastole, which suggested the diagnosis of left atrial myxoma. The patient was referred for open-heart surgery and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. The patient weaned off from cardiopulmonary bypass and the postoperative period was uneventful. Conclusion We reported an interesting case with an unusual and misleading neurological presentation of a cardiac myxoma. The unpredictability of serious complications occurrence must awaken our medical flair, for an early diagnosis among a long list of differentials.

Abstract Background Surgical left atrial appendage (LAA) closure concomitant to open-heart surgery prevents thromboembolism in high-risk patients. Nevertheless, high-level evidence does not exist for LAA closure performed in patients with any CHA2DS2-VASc score and preoperative atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF) status—the current trial attempts to provide such evidence. Methods The study is designed as a randomized, open-label, blinded outcome assessor, multicenter trial of adult patients undergoing first-time elective open-heart surgery. Patients with and without AF and any CHA2DS2-VASc score will be enrolled. The primary exclusion criteria are planned LAA closure, planned AF ablation, or ongoing endocarditis. Before randomization, a three-step stratification process will sort patients by site, surgery type, and preoperative or expected oral anticoagulation treatment. Patients will undergo balanced randomization (1:1) to LAA closure on top of the planned cardiac surgery or standard care. Block sizes vary from 8 to 16. Neurologists blinded to randomization will adjudicate the primary outcome of stroke, including transient ischemic attack (TIA). The secondary outcomes include a composite outcome of stroke, including TIA, and silent cerebral infarcts, an outcome of ischemic stroke, including TIA, and a composite outcome of stroke and all-cause mortality. LAA closure is expected to provide a 60% relative risk reduction. In total, 1500 patients will be randomized and followed for 2 years. Discussion The trial is expected to help form future guidelines within surgical LAA closure. This statistical analysis plan ensures transparency of analyses and limits potential reporting biases. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03724318. Registered 26 October 2018, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03724318 . Protocol version https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ahj.2023.06.003 .

Myocardial injury in open-heart surgery is related to several factors including ischemia–reperfusion injury, generation of reactive oxygen species, increased production of inflammatory mediators, and enhancement of apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. The aim of this study was to study the effect of L-carnitine on myocardial injury in children undergoing open-heart surgery. This clinical trial was performed on 60 children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent open-heart surgery. They were randomized into two groups: L-carnitine group who received L-carnitine 50 mg\kg\day once daily for 1 month before cardiac surgery and control group who received placebo for 1 month before cardiac surgery. Left ventricular cardiac function was assessed by conventional echocardiography to measure left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and two-dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) to determine left ventricular global longitudinal strain (2D-LV GLS). Blood samples were obtained pre-operatively at baseline before the administration of L-carnitine or placebo and 12 h post-operatively to measure the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), fas, caspase-3, creatinine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and troponin I. L-carnitine group had significantly lower post-operative level of oxidative stress marker (MDA), apoptosis markers (fas and caspase-3), and myocardial injury markers (CK-MB and troponin I), but they had significantly higher SOD post-operative level compared to the control group. In addition, post-operative LVEF and 2D-LVGLS were significantly lower in the control group compared to L-carnitine group. Conclusion: L-carnitine can reduce myocardial injury, improve post-operative left ventricular cardiac function, and may provide myocardium protection in children with CHD who underwent open-heart surgery. Trial registration: The clinical trial was registered at www.pactr.org with registration number PACTR202010570607420 at 29/10/2020 before recruiting the patients. What is Known: • Myocardial injury in open-heart surgery is related to several factors including ischemia–reperfusion injury, generation of reactive oxygen species, increased production of inflammatory mediators, and enhancement of apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. • L-carnitine was reported to have myocardial protective effects in rheumatic valvular surgery and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in adults; however, there is no evidence on its effectiveness in children undergoing open-heart surgery. What is New: • L-carnitine significantly lowered the post-operative level of oxidative stress marker (MDA), apoptosis markers (fas and caspase-3), and myocardial injury markers (CK-MB and troponin I) in the treatment group. • L-carnitine can reduce myocardial injury, improve post-operative left ventricular cardiac function, and may provide myocardium protection in children with CHD who underwent open-heart surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cardiac myxomas present a diagnostic challenge due to their ability to mimic various cardiovascular and systemic conditions. Timely identification is crucial for implementing surgical intervention and averting life-threatening complications. Case presentation: We reported the case of a 49-year-old male patient who presented sudden legs weakness and slurred speech and was admitted 10 h later in emergency department. Physical examination was significant for paraparesis and paraphasia. Cardiac and carotid auscultation was normal. CT brain revealed multiple acute ischemic strokes and MRA was suggestive of cerebral vasculitis. As pre-therapy assessment, the EKG revealed no electrical abnormalities and the chest X-ray showed signs of left atrial enlargement. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a left atrial mass attached to the interatrial septum, measuring 9*5*4 cm and extending into the left ventricular cavity during diastole, which suggested the diagnosis of left atrial myxoma. The patient was referred for open-heart surgery and histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. The patient weaned off from cardiopulmonary bypass and the postoperative period was uneventful. Conclusion: We reported an interesting case with an unusual and misleading neurological presentation of a cardiac myxoma. The unpredictability of serious complications occurrence must awaken our medical flair, for an early diagnosis among a long list of differentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is emerging but conflicting evidence regarding the association between calcium biomarkers, more specifically ionized calcium and the prognosis of intensive care unit (ICU) postoperative cardiac patients. Methods: Our study investigated the relationship between ionized calcium, vitamin D, and periprocedural clinical events such as cardiac, neurologic and renal complications, major bleeding, vasoactive–inotropic score (VIS), and length of ICU and hospitalization. Results: Our study included 83 consecutive subjects undergoing elective major cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass. The mean age of the participants was 64.9 ± 8.5 years. The majority of procedures comprised isolated CABG (N = 26, 31.3%), aortic valve procedures (N = 26, 31.3%), and mitral valve procedures (N = 12, 14.5%). A difference in calcium levels across all time points (p < 0.001) was observed, with preoperative calcium being directly associated with intraoperative VIS (r = 0.26, p = 0.016). On day 1, calcium levels were inversely associated with the duration of mechanical ventilation (r = −0.30, p = 0.007) and the length of hospital stay (r = −0.22, p = 0.049). At discharge, calcium was inversely associated with length of hospital stay (r = −0.22, p = 0.044). All calcium levels tended to be lower in those who died during the 1-year follow-up (p = 0.054). Preoperative vitamin D levels were significantly higher in those who experienced AKI during hospitalization (median 17.5, IQR 14.5–17.7, versus median 15.3, IQR 15.6–20.5, p = 0.048) Conclusion: Fluctuations in calcium levels and vitamin D may be associated with the clinical course of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In our study, hypocalcemic patients exhibited a greater severity of illness, as evidenced by elevated VIS scores, and experienced prolonged mechanical ventilation time and hospital stays. Additional larger-scale studies are required to gain a deeper understanding of their impact on cardiac performance and the process of weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, as well as to distinguish between causal and associative relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study aimed to identify the incidence and causes of excessive bleeding during the early postoperative phase of open-heart surgery. Methods: The files of patients who underwent elective open-heart surgery between January 2019 and January 2021 were reviewed. Excessive bleeding was defined according to the amount of hemorrhage during the first 24 h. The patients were divided into the bleeding group (with excessive bleeding, Group B) and control group (no excessive bleeding, Group C). Patients’ demographic data, clamping and pumping times, intraoperative interventions, and clinical data, such as the need for blood and blood product replacement in the intensive care unit, were obtained. Measurements were performed using Student’s t-test, Mann–Whitney U test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and correlation test. Results: The incidence of bleeding was 9.7%, and the rate of re-exploration was 33%. The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was significantly higher in Group B (p=0.006). The preoperative use of antiaggregants was significantly higher in Group B than in Group C (p=0.001). No significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of bleeding and coagulation laboratory values as well as the need for intraoperative replacement of blood and blood products. However, the need for postoperative replacement of blood and blood products was significantly higher in Group B (p<0.001). Female sex was found to be negatively correlated with bleeding (p=0.032). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, presence of CRF, use of anticoagulant, EuroSCORE, ECD duration, cross-clamping (CC) duration, and bleeding. The incidence of anemia among the patients was 41%. Conclusion: The incidence of excessive bleeding in the early postoperative period was 9.7%. Of the patients, 33% required surgical reopening. The presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, preoperative antiaggregant use, high EuroSCORE, and long CC and CPB durations may lead to excessive bleeding and may be helpful parameters in the prediction of bleeding. To reduce the risk of postoperative bleeding, We believe that it is crucial to maintain patients' optimal health conditions in terms of comorbidities before surgery. This also includes discontinuing any medications that increase the risk of bleeding for appropriate periods before surgery. Additionally, the use of tranexamic acid and reducing the duration of surgery are other preventive measures that can be taken to minimize risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Purpose: Pulmonary dysfunction and inspiratory muscle weakness are frequently observed after cardiac surgery. Understanding the load on and capacity of respiratory muscles can provide valuable insights into the overall respiratory mechanics and neural regulation of breathing. This study aimed to assess the extent of neural respiratory drive (NRD) and determine whether admission‐to‐discharge differences in NRD were associated with inspiratory muscle strength changes among patients undergoing open‐heart surgery. Methods: This cross‐sectional study was conducted on 45 patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft or heart valve surgery. NRD was measured using a surface parasternal intercostal electromyogram during resting breathing (sEMGpara tidal) and maximal inspiratory effort (sEMGpara max). Maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) was used to determine inspiratory muscle strength. Evaluations were performed on the day of admission and discharge. Results: There was a significant increase in sEMGpara tidal (6.9 ± 3.6 μV, p < 0.001), sEMGpara %max (13.7 ± 11.2%, p = 0.008), and neural respiratory drive index (NRDI, the product of EMGpara %max and respiratory rate) (337.7 ± 286.8%.breaths/min, p < 0.001), while sEMGpara max (−43.6 ± 20.4 μV, p < 0.01) and MIP (−24.4 ± 10.7, p < 0.001) significantly decreased during the discharge period. Differences in sEMGpara tidal (r = −0.369, p = 0.045), sEMGpara %max (r = −0.646, p = 0.001), and NRDI (r = −0.639, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with a reduction in MIP. Discussion: The findings indicate that NRD increases after open‐heart surgery, which corresponds to a decrease in inspiratory muscle strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Motor development delay is the first neurodevelopmental impairment that becomes apparent in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). Early interventions have addressed high-risk groups like infants born preterm, but little is known about interventions to improve motor outcome in CHD infants at risk of motor delay. The purpose of this review was to systematically review the literature on type and effect of motor intervention applied during the first year of life in infants with CHD following open-heart surgery. Methods Scoping searches were performed in May 2020 and April 2023 via MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PEDro, and Scopus. The review included studies published in English from 2015 to 2022. Primary outcome was infants’ motor development measured by standardized and non-standardized motor assessments, and if available, infants’ language and cognitive development, and any parental quality-of-life assessments as secondary outcomes. The studies’ quality was evaluated with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results Four papers with low to high methodological quality met inclusion criteria. All studies investigated the influence of early physiotherapy. Four studies involved parents, and three studies used standardized tools to assess motor outcomes. No conclusion can be drawn about any positive effect of early motor interventions. Conclusions Early motor intervention in CHD infants may improve motor development; however, the few existing studies do not provide clear evidence. Thus, more prospective early intervention studies are needed. Trial registration PROSPERO CRD42020200981.

Background & objectives: Postoperative delirium is a prevalent complication, particularly following cardiac surgery, and has detrimental effects on patient outcomes, including increased morbidity and mortality and prolonged stays in the intensive care unit. This study aims to estimate the incidence and identify the risk factors for delirium. Methodology: This prospective observational study was conducted on adult patients undergoing open-heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass at the Cardiovascular Surgery Unit at Bachmai Hospital, Vietnam. The Confusion Assessment Method for the ICU (CAM-ICU) was utilized to assess delirium twice daily during the initial four days post-surgery. Perioperative variables were analyzed by univariable and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among the 285 patients included in this study, 56 were diagnosed with delirium using the CAM-ICU, representing a prevalence rate of 19.6%. Multivariate regression analysis revealed several independent risk factors for delirium, including advanced age (odd ratio - OR; 95% confidence interval-CI) (1.07; 1.03-1.10), a history of cerebrovascular accident (3.95; 1.31-11.84), prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass duration (1.02; 1.00-1.03), postoperative atrial fibrillation (2.47; 1.15-5.28), and opioid use time (13.65; 5.69-32.75). Conclusion: The incidence of delirium after open heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass was 19.6%. Advanced age and a history of cerebrovascular accidents were identified as non-modifiable risk factors for postoperative delirium. Meanwhile, there were three modifiable risk factors, including cardiopulmonary bypass duration, atrial fibrillation, and the time of opioid administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to detect changes in QoL after coronary artery bypass grafting surgeries (CABG) in one year, and to identify the possible predictive factors associated with the change. Design: A single-center prospective study of 501 patients was conducted between 2013 and 2018 using the EQ-5D VAS questionnaire for estimating the QoL. The patients filled in a questionnaire preoperatively, at 6 and at 12 months postoperatively. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to find out if certain pre-selected factors or EQ5D dimensions had independent effects on the observed EQ VAS scores. Results: QoL improved in all EQ-5D dimensions and in EQ VAS scores at 6 and at 12 months: the greatest changes in the number of reported problems were in the dimensions "mobility" (–34.2%, p<.001), "self-care" (–36.7%, p=.001) and "pain or discomfort" (–31.0%, p<.001). With the multivariable regression model, we could show that normal left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) and improvement in mobility and pain/discomfort dimensions were in association with improvement of EQ VAS score at 6 months. At 12 months this association was no longer detectable. Conclusions: CABG procedure can improve patient's QoL when judged with EQ5D dimensions and related overall self-rated health (VAS). This improvement was seen both at 6 and at 12 months postoperatively. Except for LVEF, the other patient-specific risk factors we examined did not seem to affect QoL in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the sources of anxiety and fear among patients undergoing open-heart surgery is the possibility of experiencing pain, such as sternotomy-related chest pain. Giving them the chance to express their feelings about the potential pain may be effective in reducing their anxiety and may support their coping strategies. To examine pain-related fear among patients undergoing open-heart surgery and to understand the underlying reasons of their fears. A qualitative interview based on Heidegger's interpretative phenomenological approach was conducted adhering to the COREQ guidelines. Sixteen patients who were undergoing open-heart surgery in the following day were interviewed at the cardiovascular surgery ward of a university hospital. The organization and mapping of the qualitative data was done by using ATLAS.ti 8.0. The patients who were afraid of experiencing pain after surgery seemed to be more concerned about open-heart surgery itself (such as pain from sternotomy and chest tubes) and the possibility of prolongation of postoperative pain. To cope with these fears, the patients employed a variety of social and self-coping strategies. Trusting the healthcare team, having a high pain tolerance, and having personal thoughts that take precedence over pain-related fear were the key factors explaining not being afraid of experiencing pain. This study provides a deeper understanding of the underlying reasons and the needs of patients in controlling their pain-related fears before open-heart surgery. Trusting the healthcare professionals is one of the main factors for patients to control their pain-related fears. To develop a supportive sense of trust and to help patients in controlling their pain-related fears, surgical nurses must dedicate enough time for understanding patients' concerns while planning their nursing care plans. Future studies may focus on exploring the role of nursing interventions and multidisciplinary team approaches on the management of preoperative pain-related fear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following open-heart surgery, atrial fibrillation and stroke occur frequently. Left atrial appendage closure added to elective open-heart surgery could reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. We aim to examine if routine closure of the left atrial appendage in patients undergoing open-heart surgery provides long-term protection against cerebrovascular events independently of atrial fibrillation history, stroke risk, and oral anticoagulation use. Long-term follow-up of patients enrolled in the prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded evaluation trial entitled left atrial appendage closure by surgery (NCT02378116). Patients were stratified by oral anticoagulation status and randomized (1:1) to left atrial appendage closure in addition to elective open-heart surgery vs standard care. The primary composite endpoint was ischemic stroke events, transient ischemic attacks, and imaging findings of silent cerebral ischemic lesions. Two neurologists blinded for treatment assignment adjudicated cerebrovascular events. In total, 186 patients (82% males) were reviewed. At baseline, mean (standard deviation (SD)) age was68 (9) years and 13.4% (n = 25/186) had been diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc was 3 [2,4] and 25.9% (n = 48/186) were receiving oral anticoagulants. Mean follow-up was 6.2 (2.5) years. The left atrial appendage closure group experienced fewer cerebrovascular events; intention-to-treat 11 vs 19 (P = 0.033, n = 186) and per-protocol 9 vs 17 (P = 0.186, n = 141). Left atrial appendage closure as an add-on open-heart surgery, regardless of pre-surgery atrial fibrillation and oral anticoagulation status, seems safe and may reduce cerebrovascular events in long-term follow-up. More extensive randomized clinical trials investigating left atrial appendage closure in patients without atrial fibrillation and high stroke risk are warranted. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been 50 years since the pulmonary artery catheter was introduced, but the actual use of pulmonary artery catheters in recent years is unknown. Some randomized controlled trials have reported no causality with mortality, but some observational studies have been published showing an association with mortality for patients with cardiogenic shock, and the association with a pulmonary artery catheter and mortality is unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the utilization of pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to examine their association with mortality, taking into account differences between hospitals. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis using the Japanese Intensive care PAtient Database, a multicenter, prospective, observational registry in Japanese ICUs. We included patients aged 16 years or older who were admitted to the ICU for reasons other than procedures. We excluded patients who were discharged within 24 h or had missing values. We compared the prognosis of patients with and without PAC. The primary outcome was hospital mortality. We performed propensity score analysis to adjust for baseline characteristics and hospital characteristics. Results: Among 184,705 patients in this registry from April 2015 to December 2020, 59,922 patients were included in the analysis. Most patients (94.0%) with a PAC in place had cardiovascular disease. There was a wide variation in the frequency of PAC use between hospitals, from 0 to 60.3% (median 14.4%, interquartile range 2.2–28.6%). Hospital mortality was not significantly different between the PAC use group and the non-PAC use group in patients after adjustment for propensity score analysis (3.9% vs 4.3%; difference, − 0.4%; 95% CI − 1.1 to 0.3; p = 0.32). Among patients with cardiac disease, those with post-open-heart surgery and those in shock, hospital mortality was also not significantly different between the two groups (3.4% vs 3.7%, p = 0.45, 1.7% vs 1.7%, p = 0.93, 4.8% vs 4.9%, p = 0.87). Conclusions: The frequency of PAC use varied among hospitals. PAC use for ICU patients was not associated with lower hospital mortality after adjusting for differences between hospitals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized surgery is not just a new trend but rather a patient-specific approach to therapy that makes it possible to adopt a targeted approach for a specific patient and closely mirrors the approach of personalized medicine. However, the application of tailored surgery in the context of cardiovascular replacement surgery has not been systematically reviewed. The ability to customize a device is highly dependent on the collection of radiological image data for precise prosthesis modeling. These facts are essential to "tailor-made" device design for precise prosthesis implantation. According to this study, computed tomography (CT) was the most prominent imaging modality; however, transesophageal echocardiography and echocardiography were also found to be helpful. Additionally, a dynamic finite element simulation was also found to be an attractive alternative to the finite element analysis for an in-silico experiment. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of relevant publications and only sporadic evidence. More clinical studies have been warranted, notwithstanding that the derived data and results from this insight into the use of therapeutic interventions may be evidence of multiple directives in clinical practices and beyond. This study may help the integration of personalized devices for better comprehension of predicted clinical outcomes, thus leading towards enhanced performance gains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:This study aims to investigate the expression of Nesfatin-1, Galectin-3, Ghrelin, and Leptin in mediastinal adipose tissue and their relationship with postoperative complications in patients with and without metabolic syndrome who underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery.Method:Fifty patients who underwent CABG surgery and who were in sinus rhythm were included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to whether they had metabolic syndrome or not. All patients’ age, gender, weight, height, postoperative intensive care unit length of stay, total hospital stay, and post-operative complications (Low cardiac output synd. Inotropy-IABP requirement, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, arrhythmia, kidney failure, respiratory failure) were recorded. In the histopathological evaluation, the expression density of Nesfatin-1, Galectin-3, Ghrelin, and Leptin in the the adipose tissue samples were mainly examined.Results:There was no statistically significant difference between the expression of Galectin-3, Ghrelin, and Leptin with post-operative complications, length of stay in the intensive care unit, and body mass index in patients with and without metabolic syndrome. However, there is a significant difference between Nesfatin-1 expression and the risk of postoperative complications, length of stay in intensive care unit and metabolic syndrome (respectively p=0.026, p=0.030, p=0.047).Conclusion:Nesfatin-1 plays a role in glucose homeostasis as a negative regulator of glucose levels. In this study, it is thought that patients with low body mass index and high Nefsatin-1 expression may have a better postoperative clinical course.

Aim: The release of procalcitonin (PCT) has been suggested to be related to the type of surgery and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We aimed to investigate the associations of PCT with hemodynamic stability, type of cardiac surgery, and complications. Methods: Our study was conducted in 2015 on 76 adult patients divided into three groups according to types of surgery: group I consisted of coronary artery bypass grafting with CPB, group II consisted of cardiac valve replacement, and group III included left ventricle assist device implantation. The patients’ serum PCT values were measured preoperatively before induction, 24 and 48 hours postoperatively, and when a complication occurred. Results: Preoperative PCT levels of the groups were similar. The PCT level in group I was lowest preoperatively, highest in postoperative 24 hours, and showed a decline postoperatively from 24 hours to 48 hours. In group II, the PCT level was increased in postoperative 24 and 48 hours compared to the preoperative level, and there was no difference between postoperative 24- and 48-hour values. In group III, the PCT level was lowest preoperatively and highest in postoperative 24 hours, while the postoperative 48-hour value was lower than the 24-hour value. Intensive care unit (ICU) stay with a higher P1PCTlevel correlated with longer ICU stay. There were no differences between patients with PCT levels ≥ 0.5 and

A failing heart can be supported in several ways, including cardiopulmonary bypass pumps (CPB), extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMOs), and other types of auxiliary heart pumps. The intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP) is one technique of internal counter-pulsation that supports maintaining the circulatory system It continues to be used as a vascular support device to critically unwell cardiac patients. Many recent studies have focused on the problems of the (IABP) in open-heart surgery, while other researchers concentrated on the positioning and size of the balloon, some of them studied the timing of the balloon's inflation and deflation. this paper has reviewed a brief Introduction, the basic principles of the balloon, how to trigger the balloon pump as well as the use of IABP in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), balloon mistiming of inflation and deflation, balloon timing usage within open-heart surgery and finally a balloon position and sizing.

Background: Motor development delay is the first neurodevelopmental impairment that becomes apparent in infants with congenital heart disease (CHD). Early interventions have addressed high-risk groups like infants born preterm, but little is known about interventions to improve motor outcome in CHD infants at risk of motor delay. The purpose of this review was to systematically review the literature on type and effect of motor intervention applied during the first year of life in infants with CHD following open-heart surgery. Methods: Scoping searches were performed in May 2020 and April 2023 via MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Cochrane, PsycINFO, PEDro, and Scopus. The review included studies published in English from 2015 to 2022. Primary outcome was infants' motor development measured by standardized and non-standardized motor assessments, and if available, infants' language and cognitive development, and any parental quality-of-life assessments as secondary outcomes. The studies' quality was evaluated with a modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale. Results: Four papers with low to high methodological quality met inclusion criteria. All studies investigated the influence of early physiotherapy. Four studies involved parents, and three studies used standardized tools to assess motor outcomes. No conclusion can be drawn about any positive effect of early motor interventions. Conclusions: Early motor intervention in CHD infants may improve motor development; however, the few existing studies do not provide clear evidence. Thus, more prospective early intervention studies are needed. Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD42020200981. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: For many years, median sternotomy has been the gold standard for doing any kind of open-heart surgery. The standard full sternotomy method to mitral valve surgery has been shown to be unnecessary, and minimally invasive surgery has been shown to be a viable option with reduced perioperative morbidity as well as short-term mortality. Objective: Review of literature about Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Options. Methods: We searched PubMed, Google Scholar, and Science Direct for relevant articles on Mitral Valve Replacement Surgery Options. Only the most recent or thorough study was taken into account between October 2011 and February 2023. Documents written in languages other than English have been ignored due to lack of translation funds. Unpublished works, oral presentations, conference abstracts, and dissertations were generally agreed upon not to qualify as scientific research. Conclusion: By minimizing the need for large incisions and the associated risks of blood loss, pain, and infection, minimally invasive surgery has gained popularity and has been shown to be effective in a large number of patients undergoing mitral valve surgery. This method provides superior cosmetic outcomes, lowers the risk of sternal infection, minimises pain, necessitates fewer blood transfusions, speeds healing, and shortens the length of hospital staying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A failing heart can be supported in several ways, including cardiopulmonary bypass pumps (CPB), extracorporeal membrane oxygenators (ECMOs), and other types of auxiliary heart pumps. The intra-aortic-balloon-pump (IABP) is one technique of internal counter-pulsation that supports maintaining the circulatory system It continues to be used as a vascular support device to critically unwell cardiac patients. Many recent studies have focused on the problems of the (IABP) in open-heart surgery, while other researchers concentrated on the positioning and size of the balloon, some of them studied the timing of the balloon's inflation and deflation. this paper has reviewed a brief Introduction, the basic principles of the balloon, how to trigger the balloon pump as well as the use of IABP in Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), balloon mistiming of inflation and deflation, balloon timing usage within open-heart surgery and finally a balloon position and sizing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are concerns regarding safe conduct of open-heart surgery in a patient with hematological malignancy, both in intraoperative and postoperative management of the patient. There is a paucity of literature regarding this problem and limited data have been published regarding the conduct of coronary artery bypass surgery on pump in a patient with hematological malignancies. We describe our experience in a patient with rheumatic heart disease with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma requiring mitral valve replacement.

Abstract Background Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing open-heart surgery are at risk for developmental impairments with motor delay manifesting first and contributing to parental concerns. Only a few interventional studies aim to improve neuromotor development in infants with CHD with inconclusive results. We thus developed a family-tailored early motor intervention (EMI-Heart), which aims to promote motor development and family well-being in the first year of life after open-heart surgery. The primary aim described in this protocol is to evaluate feasibility of EMI-Heart. The secondary aim is to describe the difference between the intervention and control group in motor outcomes and family well-being at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Methods This prospective, parallel single-center feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare EMI-Heart with standard of care in infants with complex CHD. Sixteen infants and their families, randomly allocated to EMI-Heart or the control group, will participate within the first 5 months of life. Infants assigned to EMI-Heart will receive early motor intervention for 3 months. The intervention’s key is to promote infants’ postural control to enhance motor development and partnering with parents to encourage family well-being. Feasibility outcomes will be (a) clinical recruitment rate and percentage of families completing EMI-Heart, (b) average duration and number of sessions, and (c) acceptability of EMI-Heart using a parental questionnaire post-treatment, and descriptive acceptability of EMI-Heart to the pediatric physiotherapist. Secondary outcomes of the intervention and control group will be infants’ motor outcomes and questionnaires assessing family well-being at 3–5 months (baseline), at 6–8 months (post-treatment), and at 12 months of age (follow-up). We will evaluate feasibility using descriptive statistics. Non-parametric statistical analysis of secondary outcomes will assess differences between the groups at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Discussion This feasibility RCT will provide information about a newly developed family-tailored early motor intervention in infants with complex CHD. The RCT design will provide a foundation for a future large-scale interventional trial for infants with CHD after open-heart surgery. Trial registration This study protocol (version 1.3, 01.02.2022) was approved by the Cantonal Ethics Commission Zurich (BASEC-Nr. 2019–01,787) and is registered by Clinicaltrials.gov (NCTT04666857).

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Background: Thrombocytopenia (platelet count below 150 x 103/μL) is a common finding after open-heart surgery and can lead to various complications, including patient death. This study aimed to determine the extent of non–heparin-induced thrombocytopenia in open-heart surgery and to highlight the associated factors. Materials and Methods: In this cohort study, 842 patients who underwent valve and/or coronary bypass surgery over a 5-year period were retrospectively analyzed. After open-heart surgery, patients whose platelet count was less than 150 x 103/μL on a complete blood count 12 and 24 h after surgery were classified as thrombocytopenic. Three hundred twenty patients without thrombocytopenia and 21 patients with a high probability of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia were excluded from the study. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of independent variables in moderate-severe thrombocytopenia: Age groups, sex, underlying disease, symptoms, type of surgery, pump time, pulsatile or non-pulsatile duration, degree of hypothermia, hemodilution, oxygenator type, use of an intra-aortic balloon, and erythrocyte transfusion counts were included in the analysis. Results: A total of 501 patients were diagnosed as having non–heparin-induced thrombocytopenia, and 64.3% were male. Three hundred seventy-seven (75.2%) patients had mild thrombocytopenia and 124 (24.7%) had moderate-severe thrombocytopenia. The postoperative platelet count was significantly lower than the preoperative platelet count (213 x 103 vs.117 x 103/μL; p < 0.001). Moderate-severe thrombocytopenia was associated with age ≥80 years odds (OR = 9.026, 95% CI: [1.757–46.363]; p = 0.008), isolated valve surgery (OR = 3.090, 95% CI: [1.867–5.114]; p < 0.001), and valve surgery with coronary bypass (OR = 4.938, 95% CI: [1.638–14.889]; p = 0.005) compared to isolated coronary bypass, type of oxygenator (Nipro vital compared with Affinity OR = 11.097, 95% CI: [1.923–64.023]; p = 0.007), erythrocyte transfusion count (OR = 1.219, 95%CI: [1.046–1.420]; p = 0.011). Conclusion: Age 80 years or older, surgical procedures including heart-valve surgery, and the number of red blood cell transfusions are associated with the risk of moderate-to-severe thrombocytopenia. This study provides a guide in terms of risk factors that may lead to moderate-to-severe thrombocytopenia after open-heart surgery. However, future multicentre prospective randomized studies may provide more detailed information on this subject. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To conduct a comprehensive multivariate analysis of variables associated with deep sternal wound infection, after open-heart surgery via median sternotomy. Method: A retrospective cohort of all adult patients, who underwent open-heart surgery at Odense University Hospital between 01‐01-2000 and 31-12-2020 was extracted from the West Danish Heart Registry. Data were analyzed using maximum likelihood logistic regression. Results: A total of 15,424 patients underwent open-heart surgery and 244 developed a deep sternal wound infection, equivalent to 1,58 %. After data review 11,182 entries were included in the final analysis, of which 189 developed DSWI, equivalent to 1,69 %. Multivariate analysis found the following variables to be associated with the development of deep sternal wound infection (odds ratios and 95%confidens intervals in parentheses): Known arrhythmia (1.70; 1.16–2.44), Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction (1.66; 1.02–2.58), Body Mass Index 25–30 (1.66; 1.12–2.52), Body Mass Index 30–35 (2.35; 1.50–3.71), Body Mass Index 35–40 (3.61; 2.01–6.33), Body Mass Index 40+ (3.70; 1.03–10.20), Age 60–69 (1.64; 1.04–2.67), Age 70–79 (1.95; 1.23–3.19), Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (1.77; 1.21–2.54), Reoperation (1.63; 1.06–2.45), Blood transfusion in surgery (1.09; 1.01–1.17), Blood transfusion in intensive care unit (1.03; 1.01–1.06), Known peripheral atherosclerosis (1.82; 1.25–2.61), Current smoking (1.69; 1.20–2.35), Duration of intubation (1.33; 1.12–1.57). Conclusion: Increased risk of deep sternal wound infection after open-heart surgery is a multifactorial problem, while some variables are unchangeable others are not. Focus should be on optimizing the condition of the patient prior to surgery e.g. weight loss and smoking. But also factors surrounding the patient e.g. preventing blood loss and minimizing intubation time.

The aim. To analyze the results of the use of endovascular treatments for pulmonary artery atresia (PAA). Materials and methods. Treatment of this heart defect at the National Amosov Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery of the NAMS of Ukraine with application of endovascular methods began in 2006. Since then, 138 patients were operated, 57 of them female (41.3%) and 81 (58.6%) were male. Endovascular methods were used in 23 patients, and 115 patients underwent open-heart surgery. The mean length of hospital stay was 25±16.3 days. Of 115 patients who underwent open-heart surgery, 62 (54%) were male and 53 (46%) were female. On the day of surgery, the mean age of these patients was 607.8±1023.7 days, mean weight was 8.8±8.1 kg. The average length of hospital stay was 26±18.6 (maximum 215, minimum 5). Of 23 patients who underwent endovascular surgery, 18 (77%) were male and 5 (23%) were female. The mean age on the day of surgery was 220.5±650.2 days, mean weight was 5.0±4.4 kg. The mean length of hospital stay was 22±5.7 days (maximum 34, minimum 4). In the treatment of PAA, a stepwise procedure is used, correcting part of the defect at each stage and thereby reducing the traumaticity of the operation. In our case, correction of the defect was performed on the open heart and using endovascular methods of treatment. After endovascular interventions, no fatal effects were observed. Open-heart surgery was performed in case if endovascular interventions could not be performed. The condition of such patients was usually more severe. It should also be noted that the open-heart surgery itself is a serious trauma to the body. Due to the above, postoperative period in this group of patients more often proceeded with complications. Due to more severe preoperative condition of the patients and surgical trauma, in some cases of open-heart interventions, some patients did not recover after surgery. As a result, the total mortality in the group of patients who underwent open-heart surgery was 13.0%. In addition, in 7 cases, such surgery was supplemented by the Rashkind procedure. In case of recurrent surgery after 6 months, stenting of patent ductus arteriosus was performed. Repeated surgical interventions were accompanied by the improvement of the condition and the patients were discharged from the clinic in satisfactory condition. Conclusions. PAA is one of the most complex congenital pathologies of the heart and main vessels, and therefore preservation of such a newborn depends on the preservation of patent ductus arteriosus. Endovascular surgery for PAA is the operation of choice that allows to prepare the patient for the next stage of treatment, including open-heart surgery. Endovascular interventions in PAA are minimally invasive, which increases the chances of patients with complicated anatomy to survive despite their serious condition on admission to the hospital.

There are concerns regarding safe conduct of open-heart surgery in a patient with hematological malignancy, both in intraoperative and postoperative management of the patient. There is a paucity of literature regarding this problem and limited data have been published regarding the conduct of coronary artery bypass surgery on pump in a patient with hematological malignancies. We describe our experience in a patient with rheumatic heart disease with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma requiring mitral valve replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The incidence of complications after heart surgery is a critical factor in disability, deaths, lengthening hospital stays, and increasing treatment costs. The metabolic balance of certain hormones and electrolytes is necessary for proper cardiac function. In children, various biochemical conditions may cause calcium depletion during heart surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of calcium gluconate administration during cardiopulmonary bypass on hemodynamic variables and clinical outcomes in infants undergoing open-heart surgery. This study was conducted at Rajaie Cardiovascular Medical and Research Center in 2021 using a controlled randomized clinical trial. A total of 60 patients with open-heart surgery weighing up to 10 kg were included in the study. The first group received an intravenous injection of calcium gluconate 20 min after opening the aortic clamp, and the second group was monitored as a control group. Data collection tools included checklists containing demographics, surgical information, and intensive care unit measures. Results The Chi-square test or Fisher's exact test showed that the frequency distribution of gender, blood group, Rhesus factor (RH), and clinical diagnosis in the two groups of intervention and control was not statistically significant (p

Background: In developing countries, despite its demand is high, heart surgery is not always accessible to the neediest patients. We aimed to describe the early outcomes of heart surgeries that were performed by a local cardiac surgical team in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: Data were collected through chart abstraction of patients who underwent heart surgery from the period of June 2017 to July 2021 by the same local cardiac surgical team at 3 centers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences for Windows version 20.0. Results: A total of 290 patients who underwent heart surgery during the specified period were included in the study. Of the total, 192 patients underwent valve surgery (177 were patients with rheumatic valvular disease and 15 were valve surgeries with other causes) with a 30-day mortality rate of 9 (4.7%), 33 patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft with a 30-day mortality rate of 3 (9.1%), 58 patients underwent repair for congenital heart diseases with no 30-day mortality. Specifically, button Bentall was done for 1 patient; maze procedure was done for 2 patients along with mitral valve surgery, and a total of 7 out of 290 (2.4%) underwent redo heart surgery. The overall procedure-related mortality was 4.1%. Conclusions: In addition to operating on a large number of cardiac patients, the local cardiac surgical team was able to do complex surgical procedures such as button Bentall, left maze procedure, redo valve surgeries, and coronary artery bypass graft surgery in a resource-limited setup. The overall patient outcome was comparable to reports from other centers.

Background Percutaneous vertebroplasty (PVP) is a minimally invasive surgical technique in which polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is injected into the weakened vertebral body to strengthen it. However, this procedure is associated with various complications, the most common being cement leakage. Cardiac perforation caused by cement escape into the venous system is another complication, which is rare but potentially life‐threatening even if not treated promptly. Case Presentation Here, we report two elderly patients who developed cardiac perforation caused by cement escape into veins following PVP. Both patients had a history of severe osteoporosis. On admission, they presented with lower back pain and limited movement. MRI revealed vertebral bodies compression fracture in both patients. Considering the advanced age of the patients, PVP was performed to avoid the risk of potential complications associated with nonoperative therapy. Unfortunately, the rare and fatal postoperative complication, cardiac perforation caused by cement escape into veins, occurred in both patients. Emergency open‐heart surgery was performed to remove cement material and repair the heart, both patients recovered well and were discharged. Conclusions Although PVP is a safe and minimally invasive surgical technique, it is associated with various serious complications as seen in the present cases. We therefore recommend that surgeons should be aware of such complications. Appropriate timing of surgical operation, meticulous surgical procedures, early intraoperative and postoperative monitoring of cement leakage may improve outcomes of patients with such complications.

Objectives: Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most common congenital heart disease (CHD) (40%). Traditionally, VSDs have been repaired surgically; however, recently VSD closure by device has been developed. This study aimed to compare these two methods in terms of effectiveness, outcomes, and complications. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on VSD patients who were treated by either surgery or trans catheter technique in Madani Heart Center from March 2011 to March 2017. The required data regarding effectiveness, outcomes, and complications were recorded based on the patient’s documents. The extracted data were analyzed by SPSS version 18.0. Results: A total of 93 patients were enrolled (43 patients in transcatheter [A] and 50 patients in open-heart surgery [B] group) in this study. The gender distribution was approximately the same. The mean age of group A was 10.55 years while it was 8.8 years for group B. The duration of ICU and hospital stay, total hospitalization cost, and frequency of blood products transfusion were significantly lower in group A than in group B. However, postoperative pacemaker insertion, arrhythmias, thromboembolism, and mortality rates did not show any significant difference between the two groups. The success rates in group A and B were 97.7% and 96%, respectively. Conclusions: The results of our study demonstrated that open-heart surgery, due to its nature, required longer hospital and ICU stay, higher cost, and higher blood transfusion rate than transcatheter therapy, but it was associated with similar complications and success rates. Therefore, device closure in appropriately selected patients is recommended as an alternative to the surgical approach.

Background: Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing open-heart surgery are at risk for developmental impairments with motor delay manifesting first and contributing to parental concerns. Only a few interventional studies aim to improve neuromotor development in infants with CHD with inconclusive results. We thus developed a family-tailored early motor intervention (EMI-Heart), which aims to promote motor development and family well-being in the first year of life after open-heart surgery. The primary aim described in this protocol is to evaluate feasibility of EMI-Heart. The secondary aim is to describe the difference between the intervention and control group in motor outcomes and family well-being at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Methods: This prospective, parallel single-center feasibility randomized controlled trial (RCT) will compare EMI-Heart with standard of care in infants with complex CHD. Sixteen infants and their families, randomly allocated to EMI-Heart or the control group, will participate within the first 5 months of life. Infants assigned to EMI-Heart will receive early motor intervention for 3 months. The intervention's key is to promote infants' postural control to enhance motor development and partnering with parents to encourage family well-being. Feasibility outcomes will be (a) clinical recruitment rate and percentage of families completing EMI-Heart, (b) average duration and number of sessions, and (c) acceptability of EMI-Heart using a parental questionnaire post-treatment, and descriptive acceptability of EMI-Heart to the pediatric physiotherapist. Secondary outcomes of the intervention and control group will be infants' motor outcomes and questionnaires assessing family well-being at 3–5 months (baseline), at 6–8 months (post-treatment), and at 12 months of age (follow-up). We will evaluate feasibility using descriptive statistics. Non-parametric statistical analysis of secondary outcomes will assess differences between the groups at baseline, post-treatment, and follow-up. Discussion: This feasibility RCT will provide information about a newly developed family-tailored early motor intervention in infants with complex CHD. The RCT design will provide a foundation for a future large-scale interventional trial for infants with CHD after open-heart surgery. Trial registration: This study protocol (version 1.3, 01.02.2022) was approved by the Cantonal Ethics Commission Zurich (BASEC-Nr. 2019–01,787) and is registered by Clinicaltrials.gov (NCTT04666857). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fear and anxiety in open-heart surgery patients can adversely affect their physiological well-being and recovery. Although virtual reality glasses (VR-G) have been advanced for preoperative anxiety management, their effectiveness specifically for open-heart surgery patients remains under-researched. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of watching a video through VR-G on surgical fear and anxiety levels of patients undergoing open-heart surgery., Design: A randomized controlled and double-blind study., Methods: In total, 90 patients were randomly assigned to the VR-G intervention group or control group. On the surgery morning, intervention group patients watched a 360-degree video with nature sounds through VR-G before being transferred to the operating theater. The surgical fear and anxiety levels of the patients were evaluated at three stages using the Surgical Fear Questionnaire and Visual Analog Scale-Anxiety: initial evaluation in the morning, second evaluation before being transferred, and third evaluation in the waiting room of the operating theater., Findings: The surgical fear level of the intervention group at the third evaluation was significantly lower than the control group (P < .000). There was no significant difference between the anxiety levels of the study groups (P > .05)., Conclusions: Watching a 360-degree video with nature sounds through VR-G is an effective intervention in reducing surgical fear levels of patients before undergoing open-heart surgery. Use of VR-G interventions may be a practical and fast-resulting nursing strategy to manage patients' surgical fear in the preoperative period., Registration: NCT06165861., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None to report., (Copyright © 2024 The American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Scar severity and scar viewing are known to affect body image. The literature is lacking on the relationship between body image and surgical scar assessment. The aims of this study were to compare patients from 3 different surgical departments in terms of body image and scar assessment at discharge, in comparison with nurses' scar assessment, and 3 months post‐surgery. In addition, the research examined age and gender in relation to the main variables. Methods: A longitudinal, comparative, correlational study was conducted using an instrument which included a health history, a nurses scar assessment tool and a patient scar assessment tool at hospital discharge, as well as a body image tool used both at discharge and at 3 months' post‐surgery. The 10‐item body image scale was comprised of affective items, behavioural items and cognitive items. The STROCSS 2019 checklist is used. Results: 75 patients were studied who were mostly male (68.0%) with a mean age of 59 and married (77.3%). The sample distribution of departments included 30.7% cardiothoracic, 29.3% neurosurgery and 40% urology. Cardiothoracic patients displayed a significant negative body image pre‐surgery compared to post‐surgery. Neurosurgical patients' scar assessments were significantly higher than nurses' assessments with no differences found in the other departments. Conclusions: The healthcare team needs to consider engaging patients in post‐surgery discussions concerning scarring and body image. The results of this study revealed that expectations in both clinician and patient participants need to be assessed and evaluated for congruency in order to offer a greater patient‐focused peri‐operative experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pericardial effusion occurs frequently after surgical atrial septal defect closure. This complication carries the risk of development of cardiac tamponade and death. It is also the responsibility of the hospital for readmissions. Any measure in preventing the development of pericardial effusion is of paramount importance. In this report, our objective was to demonstrate the protective effect of creating a pleuropericardial window against the development of postsurgical pericardial effusion. Methods: Hospital records of all patients who underwent surgical atrial septal defect closure between January 2015 and December 2020 were reviewed. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the creation of right/left pleuropericardial window during surgical ASD closure. There were 45 patients in group I in which a right pleuropericardial window was done, and 85 patients constituted group II in which pericardium was left intact. Results: None of the 45 patients in group I developed pericardial effusion, while 15 of 85 patients in group II developed pericardial effusion (P = .001). Ten patients developed more than mild pericardial effusion which required medical treatment, while 5 patients had to be re-hospitalized because of massive pericardial effusion and effusions were managed by percutaneous drainage. Conclusions: The creation of a right pleuropericardial window resulted in a safe postoperative recovery after surgical atrial septal defect closure in all patients with the development of no pericardial effusion. No adverse effect of the creation of a pleural communication was noted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There is no evidence in current literature that demonstrates the prevalence of ascending thoracic aortic variation in relation to the sternum in the general, or diseased population. This measurement has become an important factor in decision-making for Trans- Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) and Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery (MICS). Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in Cape Town, South Africa. We evaluated the Thoracic CT scans of pre-selected TAVI patients (n=25) and compared these to Thoracic CT scans from the same general population (n=100). Three parameters of ascending thoracic aorta variations were measured. Results: Mean aorta distance from sternum was 28.01mm (95% CI: 24.56 - 31.48) in cases and 27.34mm (95% CI: 25.49 - 29.20) in controls (p60 years revealed no difference between groups (p=0.314). An overall linear relationship of aortoventricular angle, compared to age, was demonstrated. Conclusion: Statistical analysis of ascending thoracic aorta position indicates that patients presenting for aortic valve surgery, especially older patients (>70 years), have favourable anatomy for MICS through a right thoracotomy. The aortic distance from the sternum was larger in the exposed group >60 years. Aortic valve disease does not cause variation in aorto-ventricular angle. The aorto-ventricular angle increases linearly with age, in both groups.

Open-heart surgery (OHS) is a stressful event for patients, all of whom experience varying levels of worry and fear, leading to fear of disease progression (FoP). An in-depth understanding of the experiences and needs of FoP in patients after OHS is beneficial for healthcare providers to make optimal decisions, but this has not been reported. We aimed to explore the experiences and needs of FoP in patients after OHS by adopting a qualitative interview method. A qualitative study was performed to recruit 18 qualified patients through purposive sampling and then conduct face-to-face, semi-structured interviews. The research setting was the cardiovascular surgery ward of a tertiary hospital in Guangdong, China, in 2024. The data were analyzed and extracted using conventional content analysis. In the study, four themes emerged: a) sources of FoP; b) effects of FoP; c) attitudes towards FoP; d) supportive service needs. The desire to obtain meaningful assistance and the profound experiences of FoP in patients after OHS gave rise to these themes. FoP following OHS is a subjective feeling characterized by fear and discomfort. Care workers must completely grasp the patients' fear and provide personalized interventions to support them through the difficult recovery phase, which will also be the focus of future efforts in this area. • Illness uncertainty and ruminative thinking both induced fear of disease progression. • Fear of disease progression caused changes in roles and behaviors. • Knowledge and emotional outlets were needed to overcome fear of disease progression. • Full use of social and family support could ease the fear of disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alagille syndrome (ALGS) is a complex multisystem genetic disorder. Patients with ALGS usually require liver transplantation (LT). Congenital heart diseases are also common in ALGS patients. ALGS patients may become ineligible for LT procedure due to cardiac abnormalities whereas any corrective cardiac surgeries are precluded due to the Child C cirrhosis of the liver in these patients. We report a unique case of a 4-year- and 10-month-old girl who underwent open-heart surgery and living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). She had significant hepatic and cardiopulmonary involvement, and Child C cirrhosis with portal hypertension and complex cardiac defects, and was ineligible for up-front LT. An open-cardiac surgery was performed and after 12 h she received LDLT using a left lateral hepatic graft. This is the first report of a case of successful combined open-heart surgery and LDLT in a child with ALGS with cardiac defects and Child C liver cirrhosis.