Brain and Muscle Oxygen Saturation Combined with Kidney Injury Biomarkers Predict Cardiac Surgery Related Acute Kidney Injury.

Background: Early identification of patients at risk for cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) based on novel biomarkers and tissue oxygen saturation might enable intervention to reduce kidney injury.

Aims: The study aimed to ascertain whether brain and muscle oxygenation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), in addition to cystatin C and NGAL concentrations, could help with CS-AKI prediction.

Methods: This is a single-centre prospective observational study on adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB).

Filter life span in postoperative cardiovascular surgery patients requiring continuous renal replacement therapy, using a postdilution regional citrate anticoagulation continuous hemofiltration circuit.

Background: Regional citrate anticoagulation (RCA) is the recommended standard for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT). This study assesses its efficacy in patients admitted to critical care following cardiovascular surgery and the influence of standard antithrombotic agents routinely used in this specific group.

Methods: Consecutive cardiovascular surgery patients treated with postdilution hemofiltration with RCA were included in this prospective observational study.

Postoperative kinetics of common inflammatory biomarkers after congenital heart defect procedures with extracorporeal circulation in children.

Background: Extracorporeal circulation is associated with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. Therefore, the diagnosis of infection should be differentiated from a typical postoperative course.

Aim: The aim of the study was to evaluate the kinetics of inflammatory biomarkers in children in the first days after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation.

Paediatric Melody® mitral valve replacement in acute endocarditis - alternative surgical-hybrid technique.

Background And Aim: Acute endocarditis (AE) is still rare disease in the paediatric population; nevertheless, the children suffering from AE usually need heart valve repair or replacement in emergency settings.

Methods: We present a case of emergency mitral valve replacement with the use of Melody balloon expandable stented bioprosthesis in a two-year-old patient with AE and subsequent mitral (bicuspid) valve incompetence after aggressive infective destruction with the symptoms of critical multi-organ failure.

Results: The patient, with a history of rapid deterioration after two-week-long septicaemia in the course of AE, was operated urgently after initial antibiotic treatment because of huge vegetations into the mitral valve orifice.

Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk in its new location - previous activity and perspectives for development.

The Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk is the only pediatric cardiac surgery center in northern Poland providing comprehensive treatment to children with congenital heart defects. The Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery in Gdansk currently offers a full spectrum of advanced procedures of modern cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology dedicated to patients from infancy to adolescence. January 19, 2016 marked the official opening of its new location.

Aortic cross-clamping phase of cardiopulmonary bypass is related to decreased microvascular reactivity after short-term ischaemia of the thenar muscle both under intravenous and volatile anaesthesia: a randomized trial.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to assess, by near-infrared spectroscopy with an INVOS oximeter during the vascular occlusion test (VOT), the influence of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on tissue saturation in the thenar muscle. The secondary aim was to compare the effects of propofol and sevoflurane anaesthesia on tissue saturation.

Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, open-label study.

Inflammatory marker levels after hybrid treatment of selected congenital heart disease in children.

Background: Hybrid treatment of congenital heart disease is indicated in a selected group of borderline patients who do not have clear indications for either surgery or interventional treatment. Hybrid procedures take the best from cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology to reduce patient risk and trauma. Hybrid closure of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and atrial septal defect (ASD) without the use of extracorporeal circulation (ECC) might be less traumatic for patient.

Hybrid cardiovascular procedures in the treatment of selected congenital heart disease in children: a single-centre experience.

Background: Paediatric hybrid cardiovascular procedures are becoming increasingly popular due to the wide spectrum of cardiovascular abnormalities and a large population of patients who could benefit from hybrid therapy. Contemporary hybrid procedures are introduced in the settings where routine cardiac surgery or cardiac interventions would not allow satisfactory results. Combining cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology techniques appears more beneficial and less invasive for the patient.

Effects of thoracic epidural anaesthesia on cardiac repolarization.

1. Prolongation of the QT interval is associated with a risk of life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. In the present study, we examined whether reversible blockade of preganglionic sympathetic fibres of the heart, achieved by thoracic epidural anaesthesia, affects cardiac repolarization and thus confers an anti-arrhythmic effect.