Objective To compare the advantages of reconstructing the aorta by end-to-side anastomosis with extended end-to-end anastomosis for aortic coarctation （CoA） with cardiac lesions in neonates and infants. Methods There were 63 neonates and infants who underwent median full sternotomy for correction of CoA and cardiaclesions from January 2008 to July 2011 in Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center. These patients were divided into two groups： extended end-to-end anastomosis was performed in 24 patients （end-to-end group, 17 males and 7 females with their mean age of 4.6±2.9 months）and end-to-side anastomosis in 39 patients （end-to-side group, 24 males and 15 females with their mean age of 3.4±2.6 months）. We compared the two groups with regard to postoperative mortality, morbidity and difference in blood pressure between the lower and upper extremities. Results The percentage of newborn patient（23.1% vs. 4.2%; χ2=3.979, P=0.045）and presence of pre-operative acidosis（15.4% vs. 0%; χ2=4.080, P=0.048）were significantly higher in end-to-side group than those in end-to-end group. There was no postoperative death in end-to-end group and 1 patient died after surgery in end-to-side group（2.6%）. The average duration of circulatory arrest in end-to-side group was significantly shorter than that in end-to-end group （18.6±2.7 min vs.23.4±3.7 min, F=14.617, P=0.000）. At the time back to cardiac intensive care unit, the percentage of patients whose difference in systolic pressure between radial and femoral artery ＜ 5 mm Hg, 5-15 mm Hg, and＞ 15 mm Hg was 20.8%, 45.8% and 33.3% respectively in end-to-end group, and 97.4%, 2.6% and 0% respectively in end-to-side group（χ2=40.380，P=0.000）. Twenty-four hours after surgery, the percentage of patients whose difference in systolic pressure between radial and femoral artery＜ 5 mm Hg, 5-15 mm Hg, and＞ 15 mm Hgwas 45.8%, 41.7% and 12.5% respectively in end-to-end group, and 100%, 0% and 0% respectively in end-to-side group （χ2=26.620, P=0.000）. All the surviving 62 patients were followed up for 2-36 months, and there was no patient with angeioma or re-stenosis needing intervention in either group during follow-up. Conclusion End-to-side anostomosis is a safe and effective method for treating CoA with cardiac lesions and eliminating residual stenosis in neonates and infants.
Objective To compare the early and mid-term results between Fontan operation and anatomic correction for congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA). Methods The clinical data of 53 patients with ccTGA who underwent anatomic correction and Fontan operation from January 2009 to September 2021 in our hospital were reviewed, including 41 males and 12 females with a mean age of 55.02 (3-168) months. They were divided into an anatomic correction group (16 patients) and a Fontan operation group (37 patients) according to the operation. The hospitalization mortality, survival rate, postoperative complications, and free rate from re-intervention between the two groups were compared. Another 180 healthy children were recruited as a control group, and 14 children were matched with the propensity score matching method as a Fontan control group. The results of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) between the Fontan operation group and the Fontan control group were compared. Results There were 2 (12.5%) early deaths and 3 (18.8%) early re-intervention in the anatomic correction group, while 1 death and 2 re-intervention in the Fontan operation group. In addition, there were 9 patients (56.3%) in the anatomic correction group and 6 (16.2%) patients in the Fontan operation group suffering from arrhythmia after operation, respectively. Compared with the anatomic correction group, cardiopulmonary bypass time, aortic cross-clamping time, intubation time and ICU stay were significantly shortened in the Fontan operation group (P<0.05). CPET results showed that, percent predicted max VO2 in the Fontan operation group was lower than that in the Fontan control group (0.84±0.11 vs. 0.99±0.12, P＜0.05). The patients were followed up for 0.5-126.0 months. Two patients were lost in the Fontan operation group. There was no death and 1 re-intervention in the anatomic correction group, while no death or re-intervention in the Fontan operation group. The 1-year, 5-year and 10-year transplant-free survival rate of the anatomic correction group and the Fontan operation group was 87.5%, 87.5%, 87.5% and 97.3%, 97.3%, 97.3%, respectively (P＞0.05). The 48 patients were classified as grade Ⅰ-Ⅱ in cardiac function in the last follow-up. Conclusion There is no statistical difference in the transplant-free survival rate between the anatomic correction and the Fontan operation group. The postoperative complications in the Fontan operation group are decreased than those in the anatomic correction group. The Fontan operation is also a good choice, even though the patients with ccTGA meet the condition of the procedure of anatomic correction.
ObjectiveTo summarize the diagnosis and treatment of thoracoomphalopagus conjoined twins according to successful separation of two cases of conjoined twins. MethodsA retrospectives study was performed on two pairs of thoracoomphalopagus twins. One case was omphalopagus with complex congenital heart disease (transposition of the great arteries and single cardiac ventricle), and the other was sternoxiphopagus with single pericardium and complex congenital heart disease (single cardiac ventricle and cardiac atrium). All the two cases of conjoined twins shared the common livers. The separation surgery was performed at one month after birth. Results All the two cases of conjoined twins were successfully separated. These conjoined twins were connected by a liver bridge, and shared a pericardium or had a contact pericardium, respectively. The coloboma of peritoneum, diaphragm， and mediastinum were repaired by Gore-Tex patch. Each patient, to varying degrees, had a wound infection after surgery, and healed by taking out the Gore-Tex, debridement or drainage. The first two infants were discharged on 37 d after operation, but one died of pneumonia after 6 months. The two other infants were discharged on 40 d and 93 d after operation, respectively. ConclusionsDetailed information about the twins’ general and conjoined condition, especially on cardiovascular system and the joined liver, shall be understood by the imagination examinations before the operation. Adequate preoperative preparation, elaborate liver separation and rational reconstruction for thoracic and abdominal wall are the key to successful operation.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the early- and mid-term outcomes of surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus in children in a single institution of China.MethodsThe clinical data of 27 consecutive patients with persistent truncus arteriosus undergoing surgical repair in Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center from November 2009 to May 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. There were 14 males and 13 females. Median age was 3.0 months (range: 13 days -11 years), of whom 10 (37.0%) were older than 6 months. ResultsThere were three early deaths with a mortality of 11.1%. The main complications included VSD partial repair in 2 patients, complete atrioventricular block in one patient. The mean follow-up time was 24.5±19.3 months (range: 1–76 months). There were three late deaths, and two patients lost follow. Echocardiology showed seven patients of right heart outflow tract obstruction, including three in pulmonary artery trunk, and four of pulmonary artery branches. One patient showed moderate aortic valve regurgitation. None required re-intervention during the follow-up. Survival estimates for the entire cohort following surgery were both 76.1% (95%CI 59.2% to 92.9%) at 1 year and 5 years.ConclusionThe surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) remains challenges. The early- and mid-term outcomes of surgical repair of persistent truncus arteriosus are acceptable. For older children with severe pulmonary artery hypertension and/or trunk valve regurgitation, the risk of death is still higher. Some children have the higher risk of late right heart obstructive lesions.
ObjectiveTo summarize the results of surgical treatment for 79 patients with coarctation of the aorta (CoA) combined with complex anomalies (CA) in recent years.MethodsThe data from 79 patients with CoA combined with CA admitted to Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center between January 19, 2010 and September 7, 2017 were collected and analyzed. There were 52 males and 27 females. The median age was 71 days, and the median weight was 4.3 kg. There were 26 patients combined with tracheostenosis and 7 patients with preoperative tracheal intubation. Extended end-to-side anastomosis was used to correct the CoA, and the associated cardiac abnormalities were treated simultaneously by an incision through median sternotomy. All operations were performed by the same group of surgeons.ResultsThe median deep hypothermic circulatory arrest was 18 (13-28) minutes, the median aorta cross-clamp time was 62 (15-199) minutes, the median cardiopulmonary bypass time was 145 (71-674) minutes, the median ventilation time was 72 (9-960) hours, the median length of ICU stay was 144 (12-1 944) hours, and the median length of hospital stay was 24 (2-93) days. Early death occurred in 9 patients and late death occurred in 5 patients. Reoperation occurred in 28 patients and recoarctation developed in 10 patients. After operation, transcoarctation gradient was reduced, and the transcutaneous oxygen saturation, C-reactive protein (CRP), lactate and creatinine were increased. Compared to the survival group, both preoperative and postoperative transcutaneous oxygen saturation were worse and the postoperative levels of plasma brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) and CRP were higher in the death group.ConclusionCorrecting the CoA and the associated CA simultaneously with extended end-to-side anastomosis by an incision through median sternotomy is effective and safe, and the outcomes of immediate and medial-term are satisfactory. Improving oxygenation and limiting elevation of BNP and CRP levels may reduce the death rate.
Objective To explore the efficacy of humidified high flow nasal cannula ( HHFNC) for respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease. Methods FromJanuary 2010 to August 2010, 33 newborns and infants [ ( 7. 8 ±8. 4) months, range 3 days to 36 months; weight ( 6. 6 ±3. 6) kg, range 2. 2 to 19. 6 kg] were treated with HHFNC ( 22 cases) and routine oxygen therapy ( 11 cases) for respiratory failure following ventilator weaning after operation of congenital heart disease. Symptoms, blood oxygen saturation ( SpO2 ) , partial pressure of oxygen( PaO2 ) , partial pressure of carbondioxide ( PaCO2 ) , incidence rate of re-intubation, duration of ICU, and hospital stay were assessed and compared between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group.Results There were no statistical significance in the duration of ICU, hospital stay, duration of mechanical ventilation, or infection rate between the HHFNC group and the routine oxygen therapy group ( P gt; 0. 05) . But the incidence rate of re-intubation was lower in the HHFNC group than that in the routine oxygen therapy group. Meanwhile SpO2 and PaO2 increased and PaCO2 decreased significantly in the HHFNC group ( P lt;0. 05) . Conclusion HHFNC shows a clinical improvement rapidly and efficiently in preventing respiratory failure after ventilator weaning in post-operative newborns and infants with congenital heart disease.