Bilateral remote ischemic conditioning in children: A two-center, double-blind, randomized controlled trial in young children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Objective: The study objective was to determine whether adequately delivered bilateral remote ischemic preconditioning is cardioprotective in young children undergoing surgery for 2 common congenital heart defects with or without cyanosis.

Methods: We performed a prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial at 2 centers in the United Kingdom. Children aged 3 to 36 months undergoing tetralogy of Fallot repair or ventricular septal defect closure were randomized 1:1 to receive bilateral preconditioning or sham intervention.

Esophago-Vascular Fistulae in Children: Five Survivors, Literature Review, and Proposal for Management.

Introduction: Esophago-vascular fistulae in children are almost uniformly fatal with death occurring by exsanguination. We present a single centre series of five surviving patients, a proposal for management and literature review.

Materials And Methods: Patients were identified from surgical logbooks, surgeon recollection and discharge coding data.

Outcomes of the arterial switch for transposition during infancy using a standardized approach over 30 years.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the early and late outcomes of the arterial switch for transposition.

Methods: A single-centre retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess the early and late outcomes of arterial switch performed during infancy using a standardized institutional approach between 1988 and 2018, compared by morphological groups.

Results: A total of 749 consecutive patients undergoing arterial switch during infancy were included, 464 (61.

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.

Pulmonary artery banding: still a role for staged bi-ventricular repair of intracardiac shunts?

Objectives: Although pulmonary artery banding remains a useful palliation in bi-ventricular shunting lesions, single-stage repair holds several advantages. We investigate outcomes of the former approach in high-risk patients.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including all pulmonary artery banding procedures over 9 years, excluding single ventricle physiology and left ventricular training.

Common arterial trunk in functionally univentricular hearts: a case series.

Introduction: The association of a univentricular heart defect with common arterial trunk is extremely rare. There is a lack of population-based outcome studies reported in the literature.

Methods: The hospital records, echocardiographic and other imaging modality data, outpatients' records, operation notes, and other electronic data were reviewed.

Four right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit types.

Objective: The most durable valved right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit for the repair of congenital heart defects in patients of different ages, sizes, and anatomic substrate remains uncertain.

Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of 4 common right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits used in a single institution over 30 years, using univariable and multivariable models of time-to-failure to analyze freedom from conduit dysfunction, reintervention, and replacement.

Results: Between 1988 and 2018, 959 right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduits were implanted: 333 aortic homografts, 227 pulmonary homografts, 227 composite porcine valve conduits, and 172 bovine jugular vein conduits.

Stenting of the right ventricular outflow tract as an initial intervention in Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

Objectives: To assess the role of right ventricular outflow tract stenting as the primary intervention in Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries.

Background: The management of a subset of infants with Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary stenosis and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries requires a staged approach including rehabilitation of diminutive native pulmonary arteries, conventionally using an aortopulmonary shunt. We share our experience of pulmonary artery rehabilitation with right ventricular outflow tract stenting.

Short to medium term outcomes of right ventricular outflow tract stenting as initial palliation for symptomatic infants with complete atrioventricular septal defect with associated tetralogy of Fallot.

Objectives: To assess the impact of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) stenting as the primary palliation in infants with complete atrioventricular septal defect with associated tetralogy of Fallot (cAVSD/TOF).

Background: Historically, palliation of symptomatic patients with cAVSD/TOF has been achieved through surgical systemic to pulmonary artery shunting. More recently RVOT stenting has evolved as an acceptable alternative in patients with tetralogy of Fallot.

Strategies to Minimise Need for Prosthetic Aortic Valve Replacement in Congenital Aortic Stenosis-Value of the Ross Procedure.

To examine the role and outcomes of all interventions for aortic stenosis in children, with focus on freedom from reintervention and the aim to minimise prosthetic aortic valve replacement (pAVR) during childhood. Retrospective analysis of 194 consecutive children who underwent any aortic valve intervention for a biventricular repair strategy at a single institution between 1995 and 2017. Data were obtained from hospital records and follow-up was 100% complete.

Unifocalization cannot rely exclusively on native pulmonary arteries: the importance of recruitment of major aortopulmonary collaterals in 249 cases†.

Objectives: We sought to define the early and late outcomes of unifocalization based on a classification of the native pulmonary artery (nPA) system and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) with a policy of combined recruitment and rehabilitation and to analyse the role of unifocalization by leaving the ventricular septal defect (VSD) open with a limiting right ventricle-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit in borderline cases.

Methods: An analysis of 271 consecutive patients assessed for unifocalization at a single institution between 1988 and 2016 was performed. Patients were classified according to the pulmonary blood supply: group A, unifocalization based on nPA only; group B, based on nPA and MAPCAs; group C, MAPCAs only (absent nPAs).

Fate of the Left Ventricular Outflow Tract After Rastelli With Selective Infundibular Muscle Resection.

Background: The Rastelli procedure has been criticized for a high rate of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and translocation procedures have been proposed as an alternative. Infundibular resection can be performed during Rastelli to optimize the outflow tract. This study examines whether a selective policy to enlarge the outflow tract improves Rastelli outcomes across all morphological variants.

Approaches to Pulmonary Atresia With Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries.

Pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs) is one of the most challenging surgical conditions to manage-not only because of the technical complexity of the surgery but also in terms of defining the anatomy of the pulmonary vasculature, the timing of surgery, and decision making on staged vs complete repair. The importance of early definition of pulmonary blood supply is paramount, establishing which areas of the lung are supplied by MAPCAs alone and which have dual supply with the native system (noting that 20% of patients have absent intrapericardial native vessels). Early unifocalization (3-6 months) is ideal, with closure of the ventricular septal defect (VSD) performed if 15 or more out of 20 lung segments can be recruited.

An Unusual Combination of Double Inlet Left Ventricle With Discordant Ventriculoarterial Connections and Bilateral Arterial Ducts.

The presence of bilaterally persistent arterial ducts is an uncommon abnormality. Here, we describe the anatomy and successful management of an unusual patient with bilateral ducts in the setting of double inlet left ventricle, discordant ventriculoarterial connections, aortic atresia, and a severely hypoplastic and serpentine aortic arch.

The importance of age and weight on cavopulmonary shunt (stage II) outcomes after the Norwood procedure: Planned versus unplanned surgery.

Objective: The study objective was to evaluate the outcomes of the cavopulmonary shunt after the Norwood procedure with a particular focus on age, weight, and whether surgery was planned or expedited by clinical findings.

Methods: We studied 297 consecutive patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome undergoing the cavopulmonary shunt operation between 2002 and 2014. All patients underwent the Norwood procedure with a right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenator support in infants with systemic-pulmonary shunts.

Background: Management of a patent systemic-pulmonary (SP) shunt and the resulting runoff during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) varies among institutions. We have used a strategy of increased flow without surgical reduction of the shunt diameter, and here report our results with this strategy.

Methods: In this database review of 169 successive veno-arterial ECMO runs performed between 2002 and 2013 in infants and neonates, ECMO flow, time to achieve lactate clearance, normal pH, and negative fluid balance were compared in patients with shunts and those without shunts.

Late outcomes of infants supported by extracorporeal membrane oxygenation following the Norwood operation.

Background: Hospital survival for infants who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following the Norwood operation is 30% to 60%. However, little is known about late outcomes of hospital survivors and their ability to progress through subsequent palliative stages.

Methods: Between 2002 and 2012, 38 (13.

Modified technique for the implantation of berlin heart excor ventricular assist device in children.

The Berlin Heart Excor (BHE) assist device has become our standard mechanical support device for long-term support in children with heart failure. We report two useful surgical modifications for the implantation of the BHE in the pediatric population, improving ease of implantation as well as subsequent surgical procedures at the time of explantation or transplantation. The first modification entails the use of a polytetrafluoroethylene graft for cannulation via the innominate artery for arterial perfusion during cardiopulmonary bypass.

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.

Is CFTR-delF508 really absent from the apical membrane of the airway epithelium?

Background: Understanding where mutant CFTR is localised in airway epithelia is essential in guiding the best therapeutic approach to correct the dysfunction of the CFTR protein. The widely held paradigm is that CF patients harbouring the commonest mutation, CFTR-delF508, trap CFTR within the endoplasmic reticulum and target it for degradation. However there are conflicting reports concerning expression and localisation of CFTR-delF508 in lung tissue.

Sildenafil citrate augments myocardial protection in heart transplantation.

Background: Sildenafil citrate has been shown to induce myocardial protective effects in a variety of experimental settings. Whether these effects could be used to enhance myocardial protection afforded by crystalloid cardioplegia, volatile anesthesia and hypothermia during cardiac transplantation remains to be established.

Methods: We investigated the use of sildenafil-mediated cardioprotection in a rat model of heterotopic cardiac transplantation.

Acute hemodynamic effects of intravenous sildenafil citrate in congestive heart failure: comparison of phosphodiesterase type-3 and -5 inhibition.

Background: The reversibility of elevated pulmonary vascular resistance in heart failure bears an important relation to outcome after cardiac transplantation. The phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3) and PDE5 inhibitors both increase levels of cyclic nucleotides in the vascular smooth muscle, causing vasodilatation. PDE3 inhibitors also have direct inotropic effects.

Extended donor criteria in lung transplantation.

Purpose Of Review: Despite improvements in respiratory care and lung transplant organ allocation algorithms, waiting lists continue to grow worldwide. Attempts at improving organ donation rates have generally had little impact on the increase in the number of transplants performed. Improved use of the available pool of cadaveric organ donors, therefore, represents one of few immediately available strategies to alleviate organ shortages.