Extended end-to-end repair and enlargement of the entire arch in complex coarctation.

Background: Treatment of hypoplasia of the entire arch in coarctation is a surgical challenge. The current approaches have technical difficulties, high recurrence rates, and increased morbidity and mortality.

Methods: Over a 14-month period, a combined extended end-to-end repair with patch enlargement of the concavity of the entire arch was performed in 6 neonates and 1 infant.

The effect of preoperative dexamethasone on the immediate and delayed postoperative morbidity in children undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Unlabelled: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we examined the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and 24-h recovery in children undergoing tonsillectomy. One hundred thirty children, 2-12 yr of age, ASA physical status I or II, completed the study. All children received oral midazolam 0.

Transcatheter closure of ventricular septal defects: hemodynamic instability and anesthetic management.

The technique of transcatheter ventricular septal defect (VSD) device closure may be associated with significant hemodynamic instability. The anesthetic records and catheterization data of 70 consecutive transcatheter VSD closures between February 1989 and September 1992 were reviewed, and risk factors associated with hemodynamic instability evaluated. In 28 of 70 procedures (40%), hypotension (> 20% decrease in systolic blood pressure from baseline) occurred; 12 responded to administration of fluids intravascularly alone, whereas 16 patients required additional acute resuscitation.

Detection of residual flow by transesophageal echocardiography during video-assisted thoracoscopic patent ductus arteriosus interruption.

The purpose of this study is to examine prospectively the efficacy of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) monitoring in reducing the incidence of residual ductal flow during video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) interruption. Thirty consecutive patients undergoing PDA interruption via the VATS procedure were monitored with an appropriately sized Hewlett-Packard color-Doppler TEE probe. All examinations were performed by the same individual and interpreted with a cardiologist.

Paediatric cardiac catheterization: innovations.

In recent years interventional procedures have been introduced to the field of paediatric cardiac catheterization. These procedures continue to develop in complexity and increasingly are being applied to patients with reduced cardiovascular reserve, as an alternative to cardiac surgery or when cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass is contraindicated. More frequently anaesthetists are being called upon to provide support in sedating, anaesthetizing or/and resuscitating these patients.

Transoesophageal echocardiography detects residual ductal flow during video-assisted thoracoscopic patent ductus arteriosus interruption.

This report describes transoesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) monitoring in a one-year-old boy undergoing patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) interruption. After application of a first vascular clip, echocardiographic monitoring detected incomplete interruption of ductal flow, prompting the surgeon to add a second clip to the ductus. The procedure was performed via a new surgical technique: video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS).