Preoperative Determinants of Outcomes of Infant Heart Surgery in a Limited-Resource Setting.

We studied the effect of preoperative determinants on early outcomes of 1028 consecutive infant heart operations in a limited-resource setting. Comprehensive data on pediatric heart surgery (January 2010-December 2012) were collected prospectively. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality, prolonged ventilation (>48 hours), and bloodstream infection (BSI) after surgery.

Impact of the International Quality Improvement Collaborative on outcomes after congenital heart surgery: a single center experience in a developing economy.

Background: The International Quality Improvement Collaborative (IQIC) for Congenital Heart Surgery in Developing Countries was initiated to decrease mortality and major complications after congenital heart surgery in the developing world.

Objective: We sought to assess the impact of IQIC on postoperative outcomes after congenital heart surgery at our institution.

Methods: The key components of the IQIC program included creation of a robust worldwide database on key outcome measures and nurse education on quality driven best practices using telemedicine platforms.

Off-pump atrial septostomy with thoracoscopic scissors under transesophageal echocardiography guidance.

Selected children with congenital heart defects undergoing palliative closed heart procedures require a cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) run only for the purpose of creating an inter-atrial communication. We report a simple technique of atrial septostomy using thoracoscopy scissors under transesophageal echocardiography guidance without the need for CPB.

Mitral valve repair in infants and children.

A number of children are born with myxomatous deformity of the mitral valve, causing mitral regurgitation. Traditional techniques of repair may be daunting in these children because apart from their small size, their valves appear grossly deformed and the tissues are friable. Techniques to circumvent these problems and ensure a predictable and satisfactory outcome are described.