Hyperlactataemia Following Crystalloid Cardiopulmonary Bypass Priming in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery-Benign or Malignant? A Retrospective Study.

Background: Various mechanisms leading to early hyperlactataemia post-cardiac surgery have been postulated. Specifically, in the paediatric population, benign early hyperlactataemia may be associated with crystalloid priming in the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. The aim of this study was to review paediatric patients who had crystalloid prime and assess their outcomes.

Outcomes after hospital discharge in children requiring post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: a binational retrospective cohort study.

Objectives: To describe longer-term survival and morbidity outcomes after hospital discharge in a binational cohort of children who required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after cardiac surgery.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study from the Australia and New Zealand Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery database. All patients younger than 18 years of age (n=12,290) undergoing paediatric cardiac surgical procedures between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2021 who required post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the same admission were included.

Early outcomes after post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in paediatric patients: a contemporary, binational cohort study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the early outcomes and risk factors of paediatric patients requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation after cardiac surgery (post-cardiotomy).

Methods: Retrospective binational cohort study from the Australia and New Zealand Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery database. All patients younger than 18 years of age who underwent a paediatric cardiac surgical procedure from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2021 and required post-cardiotomy extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (PC-ECMO) in the same hospital admission were included in the study.

CardioCel® for repair of congenital heart defects: nationwide results of over 1000 implants.

Objectives: To assess the mid-term performance of CardioCel for the repair of congenital heart defects.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected from databases and hospital records in 3 congenital cardiac surgery centres in Australia. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were used to test for associations between patient age, gender, patch type and site of implantation.

Utility of routine chest radiographs after chest drain removal in paediatric cardiac surgical patients-a retrospective analysis of 1076 patients.

Objectives: Chest drains are routinely placed in children following cardiac surgery. The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of a clinically relevant pneumothorax and/or pleural effusion after drain removal and to ascertain if a chest radiograph can be safely avoided following chest drain removal.

Methods: This single-centre retrospective cohort study included all patients under 18 years of age who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2015 and December 2019 with the insertion of mediastinal and/or pleural drains.

Mid- and long-term outcomes after surgical correction of subaortic stenosis: a 27-year experience.

Objectives: We reviewed the mid- and long-term surgical outcomes of patients with subaortic stenosis (SAS).

Methods: Patients operated for SAS from April 1990 to August 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. Patients with major associations such as aortic arch obstruction were excluded.

A machine learning approach to predicting 30-day mortality following paediatric cardiac surgery: findings from the Australia New Zealand Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery (ANZCORS).

Objectives: We aim to develop the first risk prediction model for 30-day mortality for the Australian and New Zealand patient populations and examine whether machine learning (ML) algorithms outperform traditional statistical approaches.

Methods: Data from the Australia New Zealand Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery, which contains information on every paediatric cardiac surgical encounter in Australian and New Zealand for patients aged <18 years between January 2013 and December 2021, were analysed (n = 14 343). The outcome was mortality within the 30-day period following a surgical encounter, with ∼30% of the observations randomly selected to be used for validation of the final model.

Performance of CardioCel in Cardiac Surgery: A Systematic Review.

A systematic review was performed for evaluation of the performance of CardioCel in cardiac surgery. The review included all studies published from January 2013 to December 2020. We conclude that CardioCel is a strong, flexible tissue substitute with good handling characteristics and a low incidence of thrombosis, aneurysm formation, infection, or structural degeneration.

Clinical stakeholder preferences for paediatric cardiac surgery outcome reporting in Australia and New Zealand.

Background: Outcome reporting is an essential element of quality assurance. Evaluation of the information needs of stakeholders of outcome reporting is limited. This study aimed to examine stakeholder preferences for the content, format, and dissemination of paediatric cardiac surgery performance data in Australia and New Zealand.

Feeding Neonates and Infants Prior to Surgery for Congenital Heart Defects: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates requiring cardiac surgery. Feeding practices vary significantly across institutions and remain controversial. We conducted a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis to identify associations between feeding practices and necrotising enterocolitis.

The occult rheumatic scourge: A clinicopathological analysis of missed rheumatic heart disease.

Aims: To study the clinical and pathological manifestations of missed cases of rheumatic heart disease (RHD) and postulate possible reasons behind a missed diagnosis.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective 20-year (2000-2019) autopsy data of chronic RHD were reviewed and patients, in whom the valvular deformities had been incidental autopsy findings, were selected. The clinical details of these patients were correlated with the morphology of the affected valves.

The Australia and New Zealand Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery (ANZCORS): methodology and preliminary results.

Background: Analysis of multi-institutional data and benchmarking is an accepted accreditation standard in cardiac surgery. Such a database does not exist for congenital cardiac surgery in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ). To fill this gap, the ANZ Congenital Outcomes Registry for Surgery (ANZCORS) was established in 2017.

Contemporary outcomes of the double switch operation for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries.

Objective: To determine the contemporary outcomes of the double switch operation (DSO) (ie, Mustard or Senning + arterial switch).

Methods: A single-institution, retrospective review of all patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries undergoing a DSO.

Results: Between 1999 and 2019, 103 patients underwent DSO with a Mustard (n = 93) or Senning (n = 10) procedure.

A single-centre, retrospective study of mid-term outcomes of aortic arch repair using a standardized resection and patch augmentation technique.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the mid-term outcomes after the repair of aortic arch using a standard patch augmentation technique.

Methods: The study included all patients who underwent repair of a hypoplastic/interrupted aortic arch (IAA) in a single institute from June 2012 to December 2019 by a standardized patch augmentation (irrespective of concomitant intra-cardiac lesions). End points evaluated were reintervention for arch obstruction and persistent/new-onset hypertension.

Perioperative Cefazolin Prophylaxis in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective, Cohort Study.

Background: This study's objective was to determine the effect of age, prolonged bypass, and hypothermia on serum cefazolin concentrations in children undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods: A prospective, single-center, observational study was conducted, examining children undergoing cardiac surgery. Participants received cefazolin intravenously approximately 1 hour before skin incision, 3 hourly intraoperatively, and 8 hourly postoperatively.

Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries Requiring Percutaneous Intervention Following the Arterial Switch Operation: A Case Series and Systematic Review.

Dextro transposition of the great arteries (d-TGA) is the most common critical congenital cardiac defect surgically treated in the neonatal period by arterial switch operation (ASO). Major aortopulmonary collaterals (MAPCAs) can be present in this population and may complicate the early postoperative period. Our aim was to review our institutional data and systematically review the available literature to provide further insight on the clinical significance of MAPCAs during the early postoperative course after ASO.

Comparison of homografts and bovine jugular vein conduits in the pulmonary position in patients <20 years of age.

Objective: To compare the performance of homografts and bovine jugular vein (BJV) conduits in the pulmonary position.

Methods: All patients with congenital heart disease up to age 20 years who underwent pulmonary valve replacement with homografts or BJV at 3 centers in Australia were evaluated. There were 674 conduits, with 305 (45%) pulmonary homografts (PHs), 303 (45%) BJV conduits, and 66 (10%) aortic homografts (AHs).

Single-Leaflet Aortic Valve Reconstruction Utilizing the Ozaki Technique in Patients With Congenital Aortic Valve Disease.

Evaluate outcomes of single leaflet aortic valve reconstruction using Ozaki sizer and template. Single institute retrospective analysis between August 2015 and August 2019. Thirty-three patients, median age 9.

The Ring-and-Sling complex - Does it "Ring" true?

Background: The "Ring-and-Sling" complex (RSC) comprises congenital tracheal stenosis and an abnormal origin/course of the left pulmonary artery. Based on clinical and imaging studies, the luminal narrowing is assumed to be as a result of rings cartilage (forming an "O").

Aims: This is a postmortem based study of tracheal histology in infants after an autopsy encounter of a case of RSC.

Fontan operation at less than 3 years of age is not a risk factor for long-term failure.

Objectives: The age at which the Fontan operation is performed varies globally. Over the last decade, the median age of patients having the Fontan in Australia and New Zealand has been 4.6 years, including 6% of patients younger than 3 years.

The Association of Age and Repair Modification with Outcome after Cone Repair for Ebstein's Malformation.

Cone repair (CR) uses native tissue for tricuspid valve (TV) repair and provides potential for growth. Results after CR were investigated in different age groups including several surgical modifications. Single institution retrospective analysis of all CR excluding neonatal procedures.