ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of pulmonary ultrasound on pulmonary complications in ultra-fast-track anesthesia for congenital heart disease surgery.MethodsIn 2019, 60 patients with congenital heart diseases underwent ultra-fast-track anesthesia in Shenzhen Children's Hospital, including 34 males and 26 females with the age ranging from 1 month to 6 years. They were randomly divided into a normal group (group N, n=30) and a lung ultrasound optimization group (group L, n=30). Both groups were used the same anesthesia method and anesthetic compatibility. The group N was anesthetized by ultra-fast-track, the tracheal tube was removed after operation and then the patients were sent to the cardiac intensive care unit (CCU). After operation in the group L, according to the contrast of pre- and post-operational lung ultrasonic examination results, for the patients with fusion of B line, atelectasis and pulmonary bronchus inflating sign which caused the increase of lung ultrasound score (LUS), targeted optimization treatment was performed, including sputum suction in the tracheal tube, bronchoscopy alveolar lavage, manual lung inflation suction, ultrasound-guided lung recruitment and other optimization treatments, and then the patients were extubated after lung ultrasound assessment and sent to CCU. The occurrence of pulmonary complications, LUS, oxygenation index (OI), extubation time, etc were compared between the two groups.ResultsCompared with the induction of anesthesia and 1 hour after extubation of the two groups, the incidence of pulmonary complications in the group L (18 patients, 60.0%) was lower than that in the group N (26 patients, 86.7%, χ2= 4.17, P=0.040) and the rate of patients with LUS score reduction was higher in the group L (15 patients, 50.0%) than that in the group N (7 patients, 23.3%, χ2=4.59, P=0.032). The correlation analysis between the LUS and OI value of all patients at each time point showed a good negative correlation (P<0.05). Extubation time in the group L was longer than that in the group N (18.70±5.42 min vs. 13.47±4.73 min, P=0.001).ConclusionUltra-fast-track anesthesia for congenital heart disease can be optimized by pulmonary ultrasound examination before extubation, which can significantly reduce postoperative pulmonary complications, improve postoperative lung imaging performance, and help patients recover after surgery, and has clinical application value.
Fontan operation is still a main procedure for treatment of complex congenital heart disease, such as univentricular heart. Fontan procedure has undergone many revisions since its introduction in 1968. The earlyapplied atriumpulmonary connection has been replaced by total cavopulmonary connection. The midterm and late results of both the intraatrial lateral tunnel and extracardiac total cavopulmonary connections were compared and analyzed in this article. Extracardiac conduit is better. The Fontan circulation failure would appear at last because of nopump function of the right ventricle. Once Fontan circulation failure occurred and could not recover by medicine, heart transplantation is mandatory, but the source of donor heart is lacking. The study of mechanical cavopulmonary assist device, to “biventricularize” the univentricular Fontan circulation, has been developed, which is quite promising. Following the development of diagnostic and treatment techniques for fetal heart disease, the treatment procedure of complex congenital heart disease has been broadened in recent years, such as to prevent the severe aortic stenosis from developing into hypoplastic left heart syndrome with fetal cardiac intervention so as to increase the chance of biventricular repair, and to terminate gestation to decrease its birth rate of complex heart abnormalities, which could not be completely repaired to date.
Bidirectional superior cavopulmonary anastomosis(BCPA)is a palliative method used in the single ventricular repair. It mainly includes bidirectional Glenn shunt and hemi-Fontan operation. The indications of BCPA are those as an intermediate option of total cavopulmonary anastomosis, partial biventricular or 1 1/2 ventricle repair and a practical approach to complex congenital heart surgery. The choise of age,influence on pulmonary artery maturation,remain of additional pulmonary flow,formation of collaters and time to Fontan are demand of study.
ObjectiveTo analyze the short-term outcomes of cardiac surgery via minimally invasive approach under thoracoscope in a single-center. Methods The clinical data of patients who underwent cardiac surgery via minimally invasive approach under thoracoscope between July 2017 and February 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 453 patients were enrolled, including 150 males and 303 females at an average age of 42.2±14.6 years. The main disease types included atrial septal defect in 314 patients, partial atrioventricular septal defect in 26 patients, and cardiac tumor in 105 patients. There was no death during the perioperative period. The mean operative time was 3.9±0.8 h, cardiopulmonary bypass time was 101.2±34.0 min, aortic occlusion time was 42.1±25.1 min, ventilator assistance time was 11.6±9.4 h, ICU stay time was 22.6±13.9 h and postoperative hospital stay was 6.0±1.7 d. Intraoperative and postoperative complications occurred in 18 (4.0%) patients, including 2 patients with conversion to sternotomy, 3 with incision expand, 3 with reoperation for bleeding, 1 with of redo operation, 4 with incision infection, 2 with respiratory insufficiency, 2 with cerebrovascular accident, and 1 with ventricular fibrillation. The follow-up time was 22.6±15.4 months, during which 1 patient died, 4 patients had moderate mitral regurgitation, 1 patient had mild-moderate mitral regurgitation, and 1 patient had mild-moderate tricuspid regurgitation. Conclusion Minimally invasive cardiac surgery under thoracoscope is safe with small invasions and few complications, and has satisfactory short-term outcomes.
Objective To study the impact of chronic hypoxia on white matter (WM) injury and brain development delay using a neonatal rat model, and to explore its value in simulating chronic hypoxic brain damage in cyanotic congenital heart disease (CHD). Methods Three-day-old Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly distributed to an experiment group (n=36, FiO2 10.5%±1.0%) and a control group (n=36, FiO2 21.0%±0.0%) and were raised for 12 days. (1) Body weight of SD rats was recorded every day and fresh brain weight was measured on P14. (2) H&E staining was performed on sections of brain tissue to observe pathological changes and ventricular size. (3) Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was applied to reveal alterations of oligodendroglial progenitor cells (OPC), preoligodendrocytes (PreOL) and myelin basic protein (MBP) in brain WM area. (4) Protein was extracted from 50 mg of brain tissue in WM area and expression of MBP was determined using Western blotting. (5) Motor function and coordination of rats (P30) were assessed via rotation experiment. Results (1) Body weight and brain weight were significantly less in the experiment group compared with the control group on P14 (body weight 14.92±1.26 gvs. 30.26±1.81 g, t=7.51, P<0.01; brain weight 0.68± 0.05 gvs.0.97±0.04 g, t=13.26, P<0.01); (2) HE staining: Sections of brain tissue from the experiment group showed ventricular size enlargement with a statistical difference (P<0.01), disordered cell organization, local neuronal death and leukomalacia. (3) The number of OPC and PreOL in the experiment group were significantly less than those in the control group (64.8±6.3vs. 126.2±8.4, t=11.19, P<0.01; 19.1±7.6vs. 46.7±9.5, t=7.28, P<0.01, respectively). MBP distribution was sparse and disorganized in the experiment group. (4) Western blotting: Expression of MBP was less in the experiment group (P<0.01). (5) Behavioral test: Time on rotarod was less in the experiment group with a statistical difference (P<0.01). Conclusion Chronic hypoxia can result in WM injury and brain development delay in neonatal rats, with features comparable to those seen in infants with cyanotic CHD.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application value and significance of pulse indicator continuous cardiac output (PiCCO) in perioperative treatment of adult congenital heart disease (ACHD). MethodsBetween June 2014 and June 2015, 100 adult patients (44 females and 56 males) underwent congenital heart disease operation. Patients were randomly divided into a PiCCO group and an experience treatment (control) group. According to the data of PiCCO detection, the PiCCO group was treated with vasoactive drugs and liquid balance management, the control group was treated by routine monitoring data. The clinical effectiveness of the two groups was compared. ResultsThe ventilator time, ICU time and length of stay in the PiCCO group were significantly shorter than those in the control group with statistical differences (P=0.02, 0.03, 0.04). The drug dosage (dopamine, milrinone) during ICU were higher in the PiCCO group than those in the control group (P<0.01, P=0.04). There was no mortality in both groups. No significant difference was found in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>0.05). ConclusionThe application of PiCCO in the perioperative treatment of adult congenital heart disease can promote the early recovery of ACHD patients, and has a certain safety and effectiveness. Actively vasoactive drugs application to maintain circulation early in ICU has positive effect on the patient's recovery.
ObjectiveTo analyze the effect of modified Blalock-Taussig shunt on the treatment of cyanotic congenital heart diseases in neonates.MethodsThe clinical data of 33 neonates undergoing modified Blalock-Taussig shunt between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2017 were reviewed, including 28 males and 5 females with the age of 3.0-28.0 (18.0±6.1) d and weight of 1.9-3.7 (2.9±0.5) kg.ResultsThere were 3 (9.1%) in-hospital deaths. Ten (30.3%) patients required early unplanned reoperations after surgery. Five (15.2%) patients were lost to follow-up. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative acidosis, emergency operation and postoperative bedside thoracotomy were independent risk factors of early death. During the follow-up of 18.0-93.0 (40.2±22.5) months, there was no death and 9 (36.0%) survival patients underwent corrective surgery and stage-two palliative surgery. In the multivariate analysis, preoperative hyperhemoglobinemia was an independent risk factor of nonadministration of the corrective surgery and stage-two palliative surgery. Receiver operating characteristic curve showed that preoperative hyperhemoglobinemia was significant in determining whether secondary surgery was possible.ConclusionThe modified Blalock-Taussig shunt is effective in promoting development of pulmonary arteries and preparing for the secondary surgery. The rate of mortality and postoperative complications after the neonatal modified Blalock-Taussig shunt remains high. The rate of secondary surgery is still low during follow-up.
Objective To evaluate the application of three-dimensional printing technique in surgical treatments on complex congenital heart diseases. Methods Two patients were enrolled with complex congenital heart diseases. The computerized tomography data were used to build the 3D architecture of cardiac anomalies. The White-Jet-Process technique was used to print the models with 1∶1 ratio in size. The models were used to make the treatment strategy making, young surgeon training and operation simulation. Results The full color and hollowed-out cardiac models with 1∶1 ration in size were printed successfully. They were transected at the middle point of vertical axis, which was conveniently to explore the intracardiac anomalies. However, for patient 1, the model lost the atrial septal defect. Taking the two models as references, operation group held preoperative consultation, operation simulation, and finally, the operation plans were determined for the two patients. Both the two operation were carried out smoothly. Conclusion Although the limitations of 3D printing still exist in the application for congenital heart diseases, making the preoperative plan and operation simulation via 3D cardiac model could enhance the understanding of following operation and procedure details, which could improve the tacit cooperation among operation group members. Furthermore, operation results also could be improved potentially. Therefore, the cardiac 3D printing should be popularized in clinic in the future.
Artificial intelligence belongs to the field of computer science. In the past few decades, artificial intelligence has shown broad application prospects in the medical field. With the development of computer technology in recent years, doctors and computer scientists have just begun to discover its potential for clinical application, especially in the field of congenital heart disease. Artificial intelligence now has been successfully applied to the prediction, intelligent diagnosis, medical image segmentation and recognition, clinical decision support of congenital heart disease. This article reviews the application of artificial intelligence in congenital cardiology.
At present, the operative results of complex congenital heart disease are suboptimal which is closely correlated to the understanding of the anatomy and function of complex congenital heart disease, and operative techniques. With the further understanding to pathology and physiology of congenital heart disease, strategies and techniques in well-known operations and complex procedures have developed in recent years. Currently, designing and applying individual operative method in terms of patient’s characteristics of anatomy and physiology is very important trend. This article reviewed the advances of knowledgement and techniques in some representive complex congenital heart disease including complete atrioventricular septal defect, unifocalization for major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, transopsition of the great artery and Fontan type operation.