Reduced arterial elasticity due to surgical skeletonization is ameliorated by abluminal PEG hydrogel.

Arteries for bypass grafting are harvested either with neighboring tissue attached or as skeletonized vessels that are free of surrounding tissue. There are significant benefits to skeletonization, but reports suggest that skeletonized vessels may develop structural defects and are at risk for atherosclerosis. We investigated the specific short-term effects of skeletonization on carotid artery biomechanics and microanatomy in a rabbit model.

Left-Sided Reoperations After Arterial Switch Operation: A European Multicenter Study.

Background: We sought to report the frequency, types, and outcomes of left-sided reoperations (LSRs) after an arterial switch operation (ASO) for patients with D-transposition of the great arteries (D-TGA) and double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) TGA-type.

Methods: Seventeen centers belonging to the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association (ECHSA) contributed to data collection. We included 111 patients who underwent LSRs after 7,951 ASOs (1.

Improving early outcomes following hybrid procedure for patients with single ventricle and systemic outflow obstruction: defining risk factors†.

Objectives: The hybrid procedure has become an accepted management strategy for patients with single ventricle and systemic outflow obstruction (SVSOO), particularly those considered at high risk for mortality following Stage I Norwood. We sought to refine patient selection by identifying clinical variables associated with early mortality.

Methods: Single-centre review of all patients with SVSOO undergoing a hybrid procedure between January 2003 and December 2012.

Hybrid palliation for critical systemic outflow obstruction: neither rapid stage 1 Norwood nor comprehensive stage 2 mitigate consequences of early risk factors.

Objective: Hybrid palliation with branch pulmonary artery banding (bPAB) has become increasingly common in the early management of patients with critical left ventricular outflow obstruction. Optimal subsequent surgical palliation remains undefined.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients undergoing initial bPAB for single ventricle physiology with systemic outflow obstruction (2001-2013, n = 37).

Neurodevelopmental outcomes after infant cardiac surgery with circulatory arrest and intermittent perfusion.

Background: Optimal perfusion strategies for neuroprotection during infant cardiac surgery remain undefined. Despite encouraging experimental data, neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes after cardiac surgery in neonates and infants using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) with a period of intermittent perfusion have not been reported, and it is not known whether DHCA can be extended while preserving ND outcomes.

Methods: Cross-sectional ND evaluation with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition was conducted at 24 months of age.

Predictive value of perioperative near-infrared spectroscopy for neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in infancy.

Objective: The study objective was to expand on prior research examining intraoperative regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) by evaluating the predictive value of perioperative NIRS monitoring for neurodevelopmental outcomes after infant cardiac surgery.

Methods: Cross-sectional neurodevelopmental evaluation at 24 months of age with the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition was performed for patients who underwent cardiac surgery with perioperative NIRS monitoring between 2007 and 2010. Retrospective clinical data were extracted from the electronic medical record.

Inflammation effects on the electrical properties of atrial tissue and inducibility of postoperative atrial fibrillation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common complication after cardiac surgery. Postoperative atrial fibrillation (PAF) has been shown to increase length of stay, morbidity, and mortality. Because the clinical behavior of PAF parallels that of inflammation following surgery, we investigated the effect of the inflammatory mediator arachidonic acid on the electrical behavior of normal atrial tissue in vitro and assessed the efficacy of the topical application of anti-inflammatory drugs at suppressing PAF in an animal model.