Contemporary outcomes of aortic arch hypoplasia and coarctation repair in a tertiary paediatric cardiac surgery centre

Objectives: There are several studies reporting the outcomes of hypoplastic aortic arch and aortic coarctation repair with combination of techniques. However, only few studies reported of aortic arch and coarctation repair using a homograft patch through sternotomy and circulatory arrest with retrograde cerebral perfusion. We report our experience and outcomes of this cohort of neonates and infants. Methods: We performed retrospective data collection for all neonates and infants who underwent aortic arch reconstruction between 2015 and 2020 at our institute. Data are presented as median and inter-quartile range (IQR). Results: The cohort included 76 patients: 49 were males (64.5%). Median age at operation was 16 days (IQR 9–43.25 days). Median weight was 3.5 kg (IQR 3.10–4 kg). There was no 30 days mortality. Three patients died in hospital after 30 days (3.95%), neurological adverse events occurred in only one patient (1.32%) and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was noted in four patients (5.26%). Only three patients required the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with a median ECMO run of 4 days. Median follow-up was 35 months (IQR 18.9–46.4 months); 5 years survival was 93.42% (n = 71). The rate of re-intervention on the aortic arch was 9.21% (n = 7). Conclusion: Our experience shows excellent outcomes in repairing aortic arch hypoplasia with homograft patch under moderate to deep hypothermia with low in-hospital and 5 years mortality rates.

Kết quả trung hạn và yếu tố nguy cơ phẫu thuật chuyển gốc động mạch kèm theo sửa chữa quai động mạch chủ một thì

TÓM TẮT Mục tiêu: Nghiên cứu này nhằm đánh giá kết quả trung hạn và các yếu tố nguy cơ đối với phẫu thuật chuyển gốc kèm theo sửa chữa quai động mạch chủ một thì tại Bệnh viện Nhi Trung Ương. Đối tượng và phương pháp: Nghiên cứu liên tiếp 31 bệnh nhân từ tháng 2 năm 2010 đến tháng 12 năm 2016. Bao gồm 9 bệnh nhân chẩn đoán chuyển gốc động mạch, 22 bệnh nhân chẩn đoán bất thường Taussig-Bing, kết hợp với tổn thương thiểu sản quai, hẹp eo động mạch chủ hoặc gián đoạn quai động mạch chủ. Bệnh nhân được tiến hành sửa chữa toàn bộ một thì: tái tạo quai động mạch chủ sử dụng kĩ thuật tưới máu não trọn lọc trước khi tiến hành phẫu thuật chuyển gốc và sửa các thương tổn trong tim khác. Nhóm chuyển gốc động mạch, có 1 bệnh nhân chuyển gốc động mạch lành vách liên thất kèm theo hẹp eo động mạch chủ, 1 bệnh nhân chuyển gốc động mạch kèm theo thông liên thất hẹp eo và thiểu sản quai động mạch chủ, 6 bệnh nhân chuyển gốc động mạch kèm theo thông liên thất và hẹp eo động mạch chủ, 1 bệnh nhân chuyển gốc động mạch kèm theo thông liên thất và gián đoạn quai động mạch chủ. Nhóm bất thường Taussig-Bing, có 12 bệnh nhân kèm theo thiểu sản quai và hẹp eo động mạch chủ, 8 bệnh nhân kèm theo hẹp eo động mạch chủ, 2 bệnh nhân kèm theo gián đoạn quai động mạch chủ. Thời gian cặp động mạch chủ trung bình: 172,32 ± 31,36 phút, thời gian tưới máu não chọn lọc trung bình: 38,76 ± 12,30 phút Kết quả: Có 6 bệnh nhân (19,4%) tử vong tại viện, không có bệnh nhân tử vong muộn. Có 2 bệnh nhân (6,5%) phải mổ lại do hẹp đường ra thất phải, không có bệnh nhân nào phải can thiệp lại quai động mạch chủ. Nhiễm trùng bệnh viện là yếu tố nguy cơ chính duy nhất gây tử vong tại viện (p=0,036). Cấu trúc động mạch vành, hẹp eo động mạch chủ và những tổn thương giải phẫu khác không phải là yếu tố nguy cơ gây tử vong trong phân tích đa biến Kết luận: Kết quả trung hạn của phẫu thuật sửa chữa 1 thì đối với bệnh lý chuyển gốc động mạch, bất thường Taussig - Bing kèm theo bệnh lý quai động mạch chủ tại Bệnh viện Nhi Trung Ương là khả quan. Từ khóa: Chuyển gốc động mach, hẹp eo/thiểu sản quai động mạch chủ, thông liên thất, phẫu thuật một thì ABSTRACT MIDTERM OUTCOMES AND RISK FACTORS FOR SINGLE STAGE REPAIR OF ARTERIAL SWITCH OPERATION COMBINED WITH AORTIC ARCH RECONSTRUCTION Objectives: The mid-term outcome and risk factor of single stage repair for TGA or Taussig-Bing anomaly combined with arch artery anomaly was evaluated in this study in National Hospital of Pediatrics Methods: From February 2010 to December 2016, a consecutive 31 patients diagnosed with TGA (9 patients) or Taussig-Bing anomaly (22 patients) associated with aortic arch hypoplasia, coarctation of the aorta or interrupted aortic arch (IAA) underwent single stage repair. The aortic arch reconstruction was perform using autologous tissueand regional cerebral perfusion before arterial switch operation. In TGA group, there were 1 patient with intact ventricular septum (IVS) and CoA, 1 patient with ventricular septal defect (VSD) with CoA and AAH, 6 patients with VSD and CoA, and 1 patient with IAA. Taussig-Bing anomaly group showed 12 patients with CoA and AAH, 8 patients with discrete CoA, and two patients with IAA. Aortic cross clamp time was 172,32 ± 31,36 min and regional cerebral perfusion time was 38,76 ± 12,30 min. Results: There were 6 (19,4%) hospital deaths and no late deaths. Two patients (6,5%) required reoperation due to right ventricle outflow tract obstruction, and no patient required re-intervention for re-coarctation. Nosocomial infection is the only one significant risk factor for hospital mortality (p=0,036). Coronary artery pattern, CoA and others anatomic lesions is not a risk factor for death by multivariable analysis. Conclusions: The mid-term outcome of single stage repair for TGA or Taussig-Bing anomaly combined with aortic arch anomaly can be performed with good results Keywords: Transposition of the great arteries, coarctation/aortic arch hypoplasia, ventricular septal defect, single stage repair.

Gastrostomy Tube Placement in Neonates Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery: A Novel Assessment for Improving Utilization and Timing of Placement

Background: Neonates undergoing congenital heart defect repair require optimized nutritional support in the perioperative period. Utilization of a gastrostomy tube is not infrequent, yet optimal timing for placement is ill-defined. The objective of this study was to identify characteristics of patients whose postoperative course included gastrostomy tube placement to facilitate supplemental tube feeding following neonatal repair of congenital heart defects. Methods: A single-institution, retrospective chart review identified 64 consecutive neonates who underwent cardiac operations from 2012 to 2016. Perioperative variables were evaluated for significance in relation to gastrostomy tube placement. Results: A total of 27 (42%) underwent gastrostomy tube placement. Diagnosis of a genetic syndrome was associated with the likelihood of placement of gastrostomy tube ( P = .032), as were patients with single ventricle physiology ( P = .0013) compared to those felt to be amenable to eventual biventricular repair. Aortic arch reconstruction ( P = .029), as well as the need for delayed sternal closure ( P = .05), was associated with increased frequency of gastrostomy tube placement. Postoperative outcomes including the number of days intubated ( P = .0026) and the presence of significant dysphagia ( P = .0034) were associated with gastrostomy placement. Additionally, genetic syndrome ( P = .003), aortic arch reconstruction ( P = .01), and postoperative intubation duration ( P = .0024) correlated with increased length of stay, where increased length of stay was associated with gastrostomy tube placement ( P = .0004). Discussion: Patient characteristics that were associated with a high likelihood of eventual gastrostomy placement were identified in this study. Early recognition of such characteristics in future patients may allow for reduced time to gastrostomy tube placement, which in turn may improve perioperative growth and outcomes.

Reconstruction of the Aortic Arch in Neonates and Infants: The Importance of Patch Material

Objectives: Restenosis after aortic arch reconstruction is a known complication in neonates and infants. Homograft is the most commonly used patch material for aortic arch reconstructions in our center. Since 2014, tissue-engineered bovine pericardium (CardioCel) has been used as an alternative. The aim of our study was to determine whether the choice of material affected the development of restenosis in these patients. Methods: Data of all neonates and infants who underwent aortic arch reconstruction with the use of any patch material between 2005 and 2016 were analyzed. Restenosis was defined by the need for reintervention, either percutaneous or surgical. Results: Forty-one patients underwent aortic arch repair. Excluding the 30-day mortality, 36 patients represented the study population. At primary repair, the aortic arch was reconstructed with homograft (n = 26) or CardioCel (n = 10). Restenosis was documented during the first year of life in 13 patients: Six (23%) patients in the homograft group and seven (70%) patients in the CardioCel group ( P = .01). In the homograft group, the median time from operation to first intervention for restenosis was 22.0 (range: 14-32) weeks, as compared to 14.0 (range: 7-21) weeks in the CardioCel group ( P = .04). Conclusion: We conclude that choice of patch material is likely to be an important determinant for the risk of restenosis needing reintervention following reconstruction of the aortic arch in neonates and infants.

Assessment of children`s psychomotor development in the remote period after aortic arch reconstruction with antegrade cerebral perfusion

Objective. To evaluate the psychomotor development of children after aortic arch reconstruction in the conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. Materials and methods. The results of surgical treatment and psychomotor development of 48 children aged 1 to 3 years, who underwent reconstruction of the aortic arch in terms of artificial circulation and selective antegrade cerebral perfusion at the age of 1 year at the Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery and the Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in the period from 2014 to 2019 were analyzed. To study the cognitive sphere and motor development of children we used the 2nd edition of the method "Bayley Scales of Infant Development - II". In analyzing the results in children with psychomotor developmental delay, the values of the mental index and the index of psychomotor development were taken into account. Results. 2 (3.7%) patients died after surgery. Postoperative mortality was connected with neurological complications and technique of cerebral perfusion. In the remote period no patient died. According to neurosonography in the postoperative period, no pathological structural changes in the brain were detected. In 16 (33.3%) children at the age of 1 year there was a slight delay in mental and / or psychomotor development. Evaluation of the results of the survey in the dynamics showed that at the age of 3 years, 9 (18.7%) children had a slight development delay. The average values of the mental index in 1 year were 81.2 ± 8.6, and in 3 years - 96.4 ± 12.7 (p <0.05), and the index of psychomotor development - respectively 83.3 ± 11.4 and 94.5 ± 10.2 (p <0.05). The difference between the indicators of mental and psychomotor indices in children with congenital heart disease at 1 year and 3 years is statistically significant. Conclusions. A delay in psychomotor development at the age of 1 year was revealed in 33.3% of children after the aortic arch reconstruction in the conditions of selective antegrade cerebral perfusion. This indicates the need for further research and monitoring. A statistically significant difference between the indicators of mental and psychomotor development of children aged 1 and 3 years after aortic arch reconstruction indicates a positive dynamics and recovery of psychomotor development with age in most of children.

Low-body-perfusion via an arterial sheath reduces inflammation after aortic arch reconstruction surgery

Pediatric cardiac surgeries involving aortic arch reconstruction are complex and require long cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) times with deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA). Selective perfusion techniques have been developed to prevent the deleterious consequences of DHCA associated hypoperfusion. The effectivity of low body perfusion through cannulation of the femoral artery with an arterial sheath remains to be elucidated. We compared perfusion and inflammation in patients receiving selective antegrade cerebral perfusion (ACP) only to low body perfusion (LBP) in addition to ACP during DHCA for aortic arch reconstruction surgery. There was no difference in patient characteristics, cardiac pathologies, or performed procedures between ACP and LBP groups. Lactate levels increased after cardiac arrest in both groups. However, lactate levels were lower after 1 h reperfusion, at the end of extracorporeal circulation (ECC), and after surgery in LBP group compared to ACP only. Furthermore, creatinine was increased in ACP group on postoperative day 1 compared to LBP group but no acute kidney injury was observed in any group. IL-6 concentration increased in ACP group, while remained unchanged in LBP group compared to pre surgical values and were significantly lower compared to ACP group on postoperative days 1 and 2. LBP via an arterial sheath during cardiac arrest for aortic arch reconstruction surgery in addition to ACP, improves post ECC tissue perfusion as indicated by lower lactate levels and reduces creatinine levels suggesting milder kidney injury. LBP seems to prevent postoperative inflammation through a reduction in procedural duration or enhanced perfusion and thereby improves the outcome after aortic arch reconstruction surgery.