Repeat sternotomy in congenital heart surgery: no longer a risk factor.

Background: The risk of repeat sternotomy (RS) is often taken into account when making clinical management decisions. Current literature on RS suggests a risk of approximately 5% to 10% for major morbidity. We sought to establish the true risk of RS in a contemporary pediatric series.

Encouraging results for the Contegra conduit in the problematic right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery connection.

Objective: The Contegra conduit was developed for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction. This report evaluates the Contegra conduit, with focus on certain subpopulations in which conduits are known to perform poorly (ie, patients with previous homograft conduits and infants).

Methods: A retrospective review of 76 patients who had 77 Contegra conduits placed for right ventricular outflow tract reconstruction (January 2001 through August 2005) was completed.

Preliminary experience with the MicroMed DeBakey pediatric ventricular assist device.

Mechanical circulatory support for both acute and chronic heart failure is a widely applied therapeutic option in the adult population with a variety of devices clinically available. Technology in this field has advanced sufficiently such that long-term support or "destination therapy" has become a generally accepted reality. Similar progress has not occurred in the field of device support for heart failure in children.