Multidetector computed tomography for patients with congenital heart disease: a multi-center registry from Africa and Middle East; patients’ characteristics and procedural safety

Background We aimed to establish a clinical registry for patients with congenital heart disease who referred to multidetector computed tomography in our country, to describe the pattern and clinical profile of such patients and document the safety and efficacy of the procedure in our daily practice. Results A total 2310 studies were analyzed after excluding studies with missed, and lost data. Half of our study population—1215 patients—52.5% were males. The median age of the patients was 12 months (IQR 37 months), and the youngest patient was 3 days old. The eldest patient was 50 years old. 68.27% of the patients were less than 2 years old, and two-third of the whole studied population 66.7% had cyanotic heart disease. Minor local access complications, complications related to anesthetic drugs, and allergic reactions were the most commonly encountered complications, with only single mortality mainly due to multiple associated multisystem congenital malformation. Conclusions Most of our patients with congenital heart disease referred for MDCT study were infants and young children. The majority of them had complex cyanotic heart disease. The study is safe, with excellent diagnostic yield and safe with very low incidence of complications.

Acute Kidney Injury Post-cardiac Surgery in Infants and Children: A Single-Center Experience in a Developing Country

Introduction: The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in pediatric patients following cardiac surgery varies between 15 and 64%, with a mortality rate of 10–89% among those requiring dialysis. This variation in the incidence and mortality of AKI across studies is probably due to the inconsistent definitions used for AKI. The purpose of this study is to present our experience with AKI post-cardiac surgery with emphasis on predisposing or aggravating factors.Patients and Methods: We evaluated the incidence of AKI using the KDIGO criteria in 150 infants and children undergoing cardiac surgeries between 2015 and 2017. Post-operatively, all patients were admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at a tertiary care center in a developing country. This is a retrospective chart review in which data collected included age, gender, type of heart disease, prior cardiac surgeries, RACHS-1 category, and pre- and post-operative creatinine levels. Neonates were not included in this study.Results: Six percent of the studied patients were below 1 year of age, 84% 1–10 years, and 10% 10–18 years. Fourteen patients (9.3%) developed AKI. Patients with cyanotic heart disease were more prone to develop AKI (78%) compared to those with non-cyanotic heart disease (44%). Children with AKI had a higher length of stay in PICU, 2.56 ± 1.44 vs. 4 ± 2.66 (p- 0.02). Serum lactic acid was higher in patients who developed AKI with a mean value of 6.8 ± 6.9 vs. 2.85 ± 1.55 mmol/l in the non-AKI group (p- 0.03). Lower hemoglobin levels and hyperlactic acidemia were significantly more prevalent in the AKI group. There were five deaths in this series (3.3%), and four of those (80%) were in the AKI group.Conclusion: Using the KDIGO criteria, the incidence of AKI in infants and children following cardiac surgery was 9.3%. This is slightly lower than in previously published studies where the range was between 15 and 64%. Children with cyanotic cardiac disease, hyperlactic acidemia, and anemia were more prone to developing AKI. Identifying patients at risk might help decrease the risk of post-operative AKI.

Intranasal dexmedetomidine: the ideal drug for sedation in the pediatric echo lab?

Background: Intranasal dexmedetomidine is an attractive option for procedural sedation in pediatrics due to ease of administration and its relatively short half-life. This study sought to compare the safety and efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine to a historical cohort of pediatric patients sedated using chloral hydrate in a pediatric echo lab. Methods: Chart review was performed to compare patients sedated between September, 2017 and October, 2019 using chloral hydrate and intranasal dexmedetomidine. Vital signs, time to sedation, duration of sedation, need for second dose of medication, rate of failed sedation, and impact on vital signs were compared between groups. Subgroup analysis was performed for those with complex and cyanotic heart disease. Results: Chloral hydrate was used in 356 patients and intranasal dexmedetomidine in 376. Patient age, complexity of heart disease, and duration of sedation were similar. Rates of failed sedation were very low and similar. Average heart rate and minimum heart rate were lower for those receiving intranasal dexmedetomidine than chloral hydrate. Impact on vital signs was similar for those with complex and cyanotic heart disease. No adverse events occurred in either group. Conclusions: Sedation with intranasal dexmedetomidine is comparable to chloral hydrate in regards to safety and efficacy for children requiring echocardiography. Consistent with the mechanism of action, patients receiving intranasal dexmedetomidine have a lower heart rate without morbidity.

Paraganglioma in an adolescent awaiting a cardiac transplant due to unrepaired congenital cyanotic heart disease and a univentricular heart: the first reported case

We report a case of a 16-year-old adolescent male born with univentricular congenital cyanotic heart disease (CCHD) who was diagnosed with an incidental paraganglioma while awaiting a cardiac transplant. The coexistence of paraganglioma and univentricular CCHD is very rare, with no previous cases described in the literature of a patient concurrently requiring a cardiac transplant. The complex physiology associated with a common atrium, common ventricle, aortopulmonary lung perfusion and a hypoplastic left lung rendered our patient extremely vulnerable to catecholamine-mediated effects of preload, contractility and afterload. The interactions and interdependence between these systems provided unique difficulties for perioperative management with serious implications for prospective cardiac transplant.

Assessment of bone mineral density in children with congenital cyanotic heart disease

Background: Cyanotic CHD is one of many disorders in paediatrics that influence the health of children in different clinical aspects. One of the fundamental aspects that may be affected is bone mineral density. Objectives: The aim of our study is to assess bone mineral density in children with congenital cyanotic heart disease of different anatomical diagnoses. Design/Methods: Cross-sectional, observational study included 39 patients (20 males) with congenital cyanotic heart disease of different anatomical diagnoses following with the cardiology clinic in Mansoura University children’s hospital. All patients were subjected to anthropometric measures, oxygen saturation assessment, and lumber bone mineral density using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Six patients (15.4%) out of the 39 included patients showed bone mineral density reduction, 13 patients (33.3%) showed bone mineral density with Z-score between −1 and −2, while 20 patients (51.3%) showed bone mineral density with Z-score more than −1. Conclusion: Low bone mineral density can be found in children with cyanotic CHD, making it important to consider bone mineral density assessment and early treatment if needed to avoid further complications.