Objective To compare the clinical results of different thoracic incision approaches for congenital heart disease in children. Methods Retrospective analyses of the clinical results of different thoracic incision approaches for 1 669 children with congenital heart disease was performed. All patients were divided into median sternotomy group(Med group), right thoracotomy group (Rat group),and lower partial median sternotomy group (Pt group) according to different thoracic incision. Two hundred and forty five children underwent atrial septal defect(ASD) repair, 1 005 children underwent ventricular septal defect(VSD) repair and 419 children underwent tetralogy of Fallot(TOF) correct repair from Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2001. Results In ASD repair the incidence of pulmonary complications after operation in the Rat group was significantly higher than that in Med group and Pt group ( P lt;0 05). The percentage of pulmonary hypertension before operation in Med group was significantly greater than th...更多at in the Rat group and Pt group ( P lt;0 05), but the incidence of pulmonary complications in Rat group was significantly higher than that in the Med group and Pt group in children with VSD( P lt;0 05). The concentration of hemoglobin , the oxygen saturation and the percentage of transannular patch in Med group were significantly higher, lower and greater respectively than those in the Pt group and in Rat group in children with TOF( P lt;0 05). Conclusion The approaches to be selected should guarantee to correct the cardiac anomaly satisfactorily, reduce the postoperative complications maximally and ensure success of their operations.
Objective To investigate diagnostic and treatment strategies of patients with congenital heart diseases and right aortic arch. Methods Clinical data of 27 children who underwent surgical correction for congenital heartdiseases and right aortic arch in Children’s Heart Center of Beijing Children’s Hospital from January 1，2012 to April 1，2013 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 male and 7 female patients with their age of 10.96±12.08 months and body weight of 7.70±3.13 kg. All the patients had right aortic arch，including 14 children with tetralogy of Fallot，9 childrenwith ventricular septal defect，1 child with patent ductus arteriosus，1 child with pulmonary artery sling and 2 children with isolated double aortic arch. Thirteen children were found to have a vascular ring including aberrant left subclavian artery and double aortic arch. All the patients received surgical correction for their intracardiac anomalies and concomitant transposition of the left subclavian artery for aberrant left subclavian artery or division of the nondominal arch for double aortic arch. Results Three children died perioperatively including 1 child who was unable to be weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass，1 child without vascular ring who died 7 days postoperatively，and 1 child with double aortic arch who died of acuterespiratory distress syndrome. There was another child who gave up further postoperative treatment. Twenty-three children were followed up for 3-17 months after discharge. Echocardiography showed satisfactory correction of their intracardiac anomalies. All the patients alive recovered well with good pulses in arteries of both arms. Conclusion Careful strategiesare needed for surgical correction of patients with congenital heart diseases and concomitant right aortic arch. Comprehensivepreoperative evaluation including contrast-enhanced CT and magnetic resonance imaging is helpful for clinical decision making in diagnosis and treatment. Clinical outcomes of 1-stage surgical correction of vascular ring and other concomitant intracardiac anomalies are satisfactory with good short-term results.
ObjectiveTo explore the possibility that GREM1, a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist, is a mechanical explanation for BMP signal suppression in congenital heart disease associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (CHD/PAH) patients.MethodsSystemic-to-pulmonary shunt induced PAH was surgically established in rats. At the postoperative 12th week, right heart catheterization and echocardiography evaluation were performed to evaluate hemodynamic indexes and morphology of right heart system. Right heart hypotrophy index and pulmonary vascular remodeling were evaluated. Changes of BMP signal pathway related proteins and GREM1 in lungs and plasma GREM1 concentration were detected. The effect of GREM1 on the proliferation and apoptosis of pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAECs) was also explored.ResultsThe hypertensive status was successfully reproduced in rats with systemic-to-pulmonary shunt model. BMP signal pathway was suppressed but GREM1 was up-regulated with no change in hypoxia inducible factor-1 in lungs exposed to systemic-to-pulmonary shunt, while this trend was reversed by systemic-to-pulmonary shunt correction (P<0.05). Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated enhanced staining of GREM1 in remodeled pulmonary arteries. In vitro experiments found that BMP signal was down-regulated but GREM1 expression and secretion were up-regulated in proliferative PAECs (P<0.05). Furthermore, BMP2 significantly inhibited PAECs proliferation and promoted PAECs apoptosis (P<0.05), which could be antagonized by GREM1. In addition, plasma level of GREM1 in rats with systemic-to-pulmonary shunt was also increased and positively correlated with pulmonary hemodynamic indexes.ConclusionSystemic-to-pulmonary shunt induces the up-regulation of GREM1 in lungs, which promotes pulmonary vascular remodeling via antagonizing BMP cascade. These results present a new mechanical explanation for BMP pathway suppression in lungs of CHD/PAH patients.
Objective To therapy the atrial septal defect(ASD) much more better, comparative study of clinical outcomes in surgical treatment of ASD to other three minimally invasive procedures was performed. Methods From June 2007 to March2008, 652 ASD patients had undergone surgery（n=301）, transcatheter closure (n=274), openchest Hybrid closure(n=50) and without tracheal intubation Hybrid closure (n=27) of ASD. Patients were and divided into four groups according to the different procedures. Retrospectively we compared the data of patient’s age, hospital stay, trauma, cost of hospitalization, blood transfusion, anesthesia, tracheal intubation and postoperative fellowup. Results Median age and weight of openchest Hybrid and without tracheal intubation Hybrid groups were significantly less than those of the other two groups (Plt;0.01). The achievement ratio of four groups were 100.0％,97.2％,92.6％,100.0％. There was statistically difference in the achievement ratio of four groups (Plt;0.01). [CM(158.5mm]Median hospital stay and cost of blood transfusion of transcatheter closure and without tracheal intubation Hybrid groups were significantly less than other two groups (Plt;0.01). The mean cost of hospitalization in four groups were 24 802.90±360.96￥，25 095.07±437.13￥，24 856.77±445.87￥，24 853.56±673.99￥ respectively. There was no statistically difference in the cost of hospitalization(Pgt;0.05). All patients were recovered and discharged without eventuality. The mean followup time were 4.64±0.32 month，4.57±0.31 month，4.49±0.28 month，4.62±0.31 month. There was no statistically difference in the followup time (Pgt;0.05). The complication rate of postoperative incision were 3.32％，0.47％，6.00％，0.00％. The transcatheter closure and without tracheal intubation Hybrid groups were significantly less than other two groups (Plt;0.01). Conclusions The mean cost of hospitalization in four procedure were almost the same. The ability to close any ASD regardless of its size, location or patient’s age remains an important advantage of surgery. Transcatheter closure of ASD has the advantage of less complications. But there are limitationsto lowerweight and infant patients. OpenChest Hybrid closure offers a valuable and complementary operative approach for any age patients. Without extracorporeal circulation, it reduces trauma significantly but it always has few surgery injury. Without tracheal intubation Hybrid closure without tracheal intubation can be used for patients of any age. The cost of hospitalization is not higher than surgical treatment and transcatheter closure. The success of procedure is high and the incidence of postoperative complications is lower. It is an ideal treatment to infant ASD patients especially to lowerweight and younger infant patients.
ObjectiveTo evaluate clinical results of left ventricular retraining followed by double switch operation (DSO) for patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (CCTGA) and a deconditioned morphologically left ventricle (mLV).
MethodsClinical data of 14 patients with CCTGA and a deconditioned mLV who underwent surgical therapy in Fu Wai Hospital from May 2005 to May 2011 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 8 male and 6 female patients with their age of 2.5-72.0 (34.4±24.0) months and body weight of 5.1-23.0 (12.7±4.9) kg. Preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by echocardiography, angiography or cardiac catheterization. Major concomitant anomalies included tricuspid regurgitation (TR) in 13 patients, restrictive ventricular septal defect in 10 patients, atrial septal defect or patent foramen ovale in 7 patients, mild pulmonary valve stenosis in 4 patients, patent ductus arteriosus in 4 patients, and third-degree atrioventricular block in 1 patient. All the patients underwent first-stage morphologic left ventricular retraining under general anesthesia followed by second-stage atrial switch and arterial switch operations (DSO) under cardiopulmonary bypass with the interval of 0.67-34.0(10.23±9.47)months.
ResultsAfter the first-stage morphologic left ventricular retraining, there was no postoperative complication or death. During follow-up, mLV end-diastolic diameter (mLVEDd) and posterior wall thickness of mLV were significantly larger than preoperative parameters (P < 0.05). The interventricular septum moved partially towards morphologically right ventricle (mRV). TR degree was significantly decreased, the pressure gradient across the pulmonary artery band was significantly increased (P < 0.05), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was not statistically different from preoperative LVEF. And mLV/mRV pressure ratio was significantly increased (P < 0.05). After the second-stage DSO, 2 patients died with the in-hospital mortality of 14.3% (2/14). The causes of death included serious arrhythmia, circulatory collapse and sudden death. Early postoperative complications included pulmonary infection in 6 patients, atrial arrhythmias in 2 patients, pleural effusion in 2 patients, pneumothorax in 1 patient, diaphragmatic paralysis cured by diaphragm placation in 1 patient, respiratory tract hemorrhage in 1 patient, mild aortic insufficiency in 1 patient, peritoneal dialysis for 1 patient, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for 1 patient, and tracheal intubation for a second time for 1 patient. All the 12 patients who were discharged alive were followed up for 2 to 8 years. One patient died during follow-up with the late mortality of 8.33% (1/12), and the cause of death was serious arrhythmia and circulatory collapse. Eight patients were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) classⅠ, and 3 patients were in NYHA class Ⅱ. Major late complications included left ventricular dysfunction in 3 patients, moderate aortic valve regurgitation in 3 patients, and moderate mitral valve regurgitation in 1 patient.
ConclusionShort-term clinical results of left ventricular retraining followed by DSO for patients with CCTGA and a deconditioned mLV are satisfactory, and its middleand long-term results need further follow-up. But postoperative left ventricular dysfunction and new-onset aortic valve regurgitation deserve more attention.
ObjectiveTo investigate the efficacy and safety of hybrid perventricular device closure (PVDC) for the treatment of muscular ventricular septal defect (MVSD) in pediatric patients.
MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 35 pediatric patients with MVSD who received hybrid PVDC in West China Hospital between 2009 and 2012. There were 16 males and 19 females with their median age of 3.9 years (range, 1 month to 7 years). There were 10 patients with single MVSD, 12 patients with multiple MVSD, 6 patients with other congenital heart defects, and 7 patients with post-surgical residual MVSD.
ResultsAmong the 35 patients, immediate complete closure was achieved in 28 (80.0%) patients. Residual shunt was noted in 7 (20.0%) patients. Median device size was 5 mm. Cardiopulmonary bypass was avoided in 19 patients. Two (5.7%) patients died postoperatively due to postoperative heart failure resulted from complex congenital heart defect. All survival patients were followed up for a mean duration of 6 months, and there was no late death. Thirty-one (93.9%) patients had good positioning of the closure devices but no residual shunt. Small residual shunt at the apex was noted in 2 (6.1%) patients.
ConclusionHybrid PVDC is an effective treatment for MVSD with relatively high successful rate but low mortality and morbidity, and its short-term results are satisfactory.
ObjectiveTo explore the method and feasibility of establishing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) model in Bama miniature pig by using autologous jugular vein, and to provide a large animal model for the development of PDA occluder and the study of pulmonary hypertension associated with congenital heart disease. MethodsFive male Bama miniature pigs weighing about 45 kg were selected to gain the PDA model of the autogenous jugular vein, which was fixed by glutaraldehyde and anastomosed between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery. The patency of PDA was confirmed by echocardiography and angiocardiography immediately and one week after the operation. Two animals were selected to undergo transcatheter closure of PDA via femoral vein 1 week after the operation, and the rest were euthanized to obtain PDA and lung tissue for pathological examination. ResultsThe PDA model was successfully established in all five animals with a success rate of 100.0%. Immediately and 1 week after the operation, echocardiography and angiography showed that PDA blood flow was unobstructed, and hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that PDA endothelialization was good. One week after the operation, two animals were successfully treated with transcatheter femoral vein occlusion. The pathological examination of lung tissue showed thickening of the intima and muscular layer of pulmonary arterioles, thickening of pulmonary interstitium and infiltration of neutrophils. ConclusionIt is safe and feasible to establish a large animal model of PDA by using autogenous jugular vein anastomosis between the ascending aorta and the main pulmonary artery. The model can be used for the development of PDA interventional occlusive devices and the pathophysiological study of congenital heart disease-related pulmonary hypertension.
Objective To explore the efficacy of humidified high flow nasal cannula ( HHFNC) for respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease. Methods FromJanuary 2010 to August 2010, 33 newborns and infants [ ( 7. 8 ±8. 4) months, range 3 days to 36 months; weight ( 6. 6 ±3. 6) kg, range 2. 2 to 19. 6 kg] were treated with HHFNC ( 22 cases) and routine oxygen therapy ( 11 cases) for respiratory failure following ventilator weaning after operation of congenital heart disease. Symptoms, blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) , partial pressure of oxygen( PaO2 ) , partial pressure of carbondioxide ( PaCO2 ) , incidence rate of re-intubation, duration of ICU, and hospital stay were assessed and compared between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group.Results There were no statistical significance in the duration of ICU, hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or infection rate between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group ( P gt; 0. 05) . But the incidence rate of re-intubation was lower in the HHFNC group than that in the routine oxygen therapy group. Meanwhile SpO2 and PaO2 increased and PaCO2 decreased significantly in the HHFNC group ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion HHFNC shows a clinical improvement rapidly and efficiently in preventing respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease.
ObjectiveTo explore the natural changes of procalcitonin (PCT) in the early period after pediatric cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).MethodsA prospective and observational study was done on patients below 3 years of age, who underwent cardiac surgery involving CPB, with the risk adjustment of congenital heart surgery (RACHS) score of 2 to 5 and free from active preoperative infection or inflammatory disease. Blood samples for measurement of PCT, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cell (WBC) were taken before surgery and daily for 7 days in postoperative period. Infections and complications within 7 days after operation were investigated. According to the presence or absence of infection and complications within 7 days after operation, the enrolled children were divided into an infection+complications group, a simple infection group, a simple complication group, and a normal group.Results Finally, 429 children with PICU stay≥ 4 days were enrolled, including 268 males and 161 females, with a median age of 8.0 (0.7, 26.0) months. There were 145 children in the simple infection group, 38 children in the simple complication group, 230 children in the normal group and 16 children in the infection+complications group. The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC were significantly higher after CPB. CRP and WBC peaked on the second postoperative day (POD) and remained higher than normal until POD7. PCT peaked on POD1 and would generally decrease to normal on POD5 if without infection and complications. Age, body weight, RACHS scores, the duration of CPB and aortic cross-clamping time were correlated with PCT level. There was a statistical difference in PCT concentration between the simple infection group and the normal group on POD 3-7 (P<0.01) and a statistical difference between the simple complication group and the normal group on POD 1-7 (P<0.01). A statistical difference was found between the simple infection group and the simple complication group in PCT on POD 1-5 (P<0.05).ConclusionWBC, CRP and PCT significantly increase after CPB in pediatric cardiac surgery patients. The factors influencing PCT concentration include age, weight, RACHS scores, CPB and aortic cross-clamping time, infection and complications.
ObjectiveTo survey and analyze the trend of congenital heart disease (CHD) of regions distribution and medical payment model in Children's Hospital of Gansu Province over the past 11 years, and to provide evidence for diagnosis and treatment strategies for CHD children.
MethodsMedical records of the CHD children hospitalized in the Children's Hospital of Gansu Province from 2001 to 2011 were completely collected. Regional distribution, year and other basic information of them were extracted. Data was then analyzed using the SPSS 16.0 software.
ResultsA total of 591 CHD children were included. Most of them came from Middle-Long, accounting for 68.87%; while the number of CHD children in the region of East-Long and He-xi had a tendency of growth by year, with average growth speed of 189.42% and 27.62%, respectively. Most of them came from the region which is economic class Ⅲ, accounting for 35.64% (highest) with average growth speed (203.45%). Most of the treatment costs were self-supported before 2005, and health insurance and other social aids were consistently increasing after 2005. Most of the institutions for initial visit were town-level hospitals, accounting for 55.50%, and with average growth speed of 170.18%.
ConclusionThe medical demand of CHD children in less-developed regions in Gansu province increases year by year. Government-guided healthcare system should be established and improved so as to basically guarantee the prevention and treatment of CHD in less-developed regions.
