Prospective evaluation of acute neurological events after paediatric cardiac surgery.

Objectives: Children with CHD are at heightened risk of neurodevelopmental problems; however, the contribution of acute neurological events specifically linked to the perioperative period is unclear.

Aims: This secondary analysis aimed to quantify the incidence of acute neurological events in a UK paediatric cardiac surgery population, identify risk factors, and assess how acute neurological events impacted the early post-operative pathway.

Methods: Post-operative data were collected prospectively on 3090 consecutive cardiac surgeries between October 2015 and June 2017 in 5 centres.

Long-term milrinone therapy in children with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of long-term milrinone therapy in children with acute decompensated heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

Methods: A single-centre retrospective study of all children ≤18 years with acute decompensated heart failure and DCM who received continuous long-term (≥7 consecutive days) intravenous milrinone between January 2008 and January 2022.

Results: The 47 patients had a median age of 3.

Factors associated with unplanned reinterventions and their relation to early mortality after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Objective: Unplanned reintervention (uRE) is used as an indicator of patient morbidity and quality of care in pediatric cardiac surgery. We investigated associated factors and early mortality after uREs.

Methods: Morbidity data were prospectively collected in 5 UK centers between 2015 and 2017; uRE included surgical cardiac, interventional transcatheter cardiac, permanent pacemaker, and diaphragm plication procedures.

What are the important morbidities associated with paediatric cardiac surgery? A mixed methods study.

Objectives: Given the current excellent early mortality rates for paediatric cardiac surgery, stakeholders believe that this important safety outcome should be supplemented by a wider range of measures. Our objectives were to prospectively measure the incidence of morbidities following paediatric cardiac surgery and to evaluate their clinical and health-economic impact over 6 months.

Design: The design was a prospective, multicentre, multidisciplinary mixed methods study.

Incidence and risk factors for important early morbidities associated with pediatric cardiac surgery in a UK population.

Objective: Given excellent 30-day survival for pediatric cardiac surgery, other outcome measures are important. We aimed to study important early postoperative morbidities selected by stakeholders following a rigorous and evidenced-based process, with a view to identifying potential risk factors.

Methods: The incidence of selected morbidities was prospectively measured for 3090 consecutive pediatric cardiac surgical admissions in 5 UK centers between October 2015 and June 2017.

Establishment Success of the Beetle Tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta Depends on Dose and Host Body Condition.

Parasite effects on host fitness and immunology are often intensity-dependent. Unfortunately, only few experimental studies on insect-parasite interactions attempt to control the level of infection, which may contribute substantial variation to the fitness or immunological parameters of interest. The tapeworm -flour beetle model-has been used extensively for ecological and evolutionary host-parasite studies.

A longer waiting game: bridging children to heart transplant with the Berlin Heart EXCOR device--the United Kingdom experience.

Background: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) is used to support children with end-stage heart failure to heart transplant.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of 7 years' experience with the Berlin Heart (BH) EXCOR (Berlin Heart AG, Berlin Germany) paracorporeal ventricular assist device (VAD) in 2 United Kingdom (UK) pediatric heart transplant centers and the effect of this program on the UK pediatric heart transplant service.

Results: Of 102 children who received BH support, 84% survived to transplant or BH explant and 81% survived to discharge.

The impact of mechanical circulatory support on outcomes in paediatric heart transplantation.

Objectives: Internationally, the number of donors for cardiac transplantation has remained static, while the number of patients requiring transplantation for congenital heart disease (CHD) has increased. Although the availability of mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may increase the number of transplants performed by reducing deaths while waiting, it may also lead to increased morbidity post-transplantation. We sought to assess the impact of mechanical support on post-transplant outcomes in a single centre.

'Matching Michigan': a 2-year stepped interventional programme to minimise central venous catheter-blood stream infections in intensive care units in England.

Background: Bloodstream infections from central venous catheters (CVC-BSIs) increase morbidity and costs in intensive care units (ICUs). Substantial reductions in CVC-BSI rates have been reported using a combination of technical and non-technical interventions.

Methods: We conducted a 2-year, four-cluster, stepped non-randomised study of technical and non-technical (behavioural) interventions to prevent CVC-BSIs in adult and paediatric ICUs in England.

Mechanical circulatory support after paediatric heart transplantation.

Objectives: Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) may be required after orthotopic heart transplantation (OHTx) in children for the treatment of failure or rejection. We review the incidence and outcomes of post-transplant MCS in our institution.

Methods: MCS was classified as early (<1 month since transplant) or late (>1 month since transplant) and the support offered was either veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) or a ventricular assist device (VAD).

The effect of music reinforcement for non-nutritive sucking on nipple feeding of premature infants.

In this randomized, controlled multi-site study, the pacifier-activated-lullaby system (PAL) was used with 68 premature infants. Dependent variables were (a) total number of days prior to nipple feeding, (b) days of nipple feeding, (c) discharge weight, and (d) overall weight gain. Independent variables included contingent music reinforcement for non-nutritive sucking for PAL intervention at 32 vs.