Impact of stent of ductus arteriosus and modified Blalock-Taussig shunt on pulmonary arteries growth and second-stage surgery in infants with ductus-dependent pulmonary circulation.

Introduction: Ducts-dependent pulmonary circulation is spectrum of congenital heart diseases that need urgent intervention to augment pulmonary blood. Systemic to pulmonary shunt is the classical surgical management. Stenting of ductus arteriosus emerged in the last 2 decades as an alternative plausible intervention.

Infective endocarditis in children with normal heart: Indication for surgical intervention.

Although infective endocarditis is an uncommon condition, it can be fatal if not treated. The new era of infective endocarditis in children with structurally normal heart has become apparent entity. Duke criteria has been established for a long time and gives clear guidelines for diagnosis; however, surgical indication in pediatric population needs to be tailored to individual patients.

Incidence and causes of prolonged mechanical ventilation in children with Down syndrome undergoing cardiac surgery.

Introduction: Trisomy 21 is the most common syndrome in children with a 30-50% association with congenital heart disease (CHD). Cardiac surgeries are required in the majority of Down syndrome (DS) with CHD cases. Because of the distinctive abnormalities in their respiratory system, children with DS may require longer positive pressure ventilation after cardiac surgery.

Can acute-phase response biomarkers differentiate infection from inflammation postpediatric cardiac surgery?

Background: Infection is a common serious complication postpediatric cardiac surgery. Diagnosis of infection after cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is difficult in the presence of surgical stress, hemodynamic instability, and inflammatory reaction.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to investigate the value of available inflammatory biomarkers and its validity to differentiate infection from inflammation postpediatric cardiac surgery and to find the trend and the change in the level of these biomarkers shortly after cardiac surgery.

Predictors of cardio pulmonary resuscitation outcome in postoperative cardiac children.

Background: Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in children with congenital heart disease have improved and many children have survived after an in-hospital cardiac arrest.

Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine predictors of poor outcome after CPR in critical children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review and data analysis of all CPR records and charts of all postoperative cardiac children who had a cardiac arrest and required resuscitation from 2011 until 2015.

Late-presenting complete heart block after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Late presenting complete heart block after pediatric cardiac surgery is a rare complication and its management is well defined once the initial diagnosis in made timely and appropriately. In this report we described a child who underwent atrioventricular septal defect repair with a normal sinus rhythm during the postoperative period, as well as during the first 2 years of follow up. She subsequently developed complete heart block with bradycardia that required insertion of a pacemaker.

Horner's syndrome after paediatric cardiac surgery: case report and review of the literature.

Iatrogenic Horner's syndrome is a rare complication that can occur after trauma, cervical central line insertion, chest tube insertion, and rarely following adult thoracic and neck surgery, especially in high risk patients with hypertension and diabetes. The majority of cases reported in the literature describe non-iatrogenic Horner's syndrome in adults as an unusual presentation for cervical tumours or apical lung carcinoma. In children, there are some reports describing acquired Horner's syndrome following trauma or invasive intervention near the cervical-thoracic area.