ObjectiveTo explore the clinical effect of delayed sternal closure (DSC) after neonatal cardiac operations. MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 347 neonates who underwent cardiac operations through midterm sternotomy in Shanghai Children's Medical Center between January 2008 and December 2012. There were 273 male and 74 female patients with mean age of 14.8±8.4 days and mean weight at 3.4±0.5 kg. We analyzed the influencing factors of delayed sternal closure and the relationship between delayed sternal closure and mortality. A total of 127 patients had DSC (36.6%). Ninety-two patients were of primary DSC because of hemodynamic instability in the operation room, and 35 were of the secondary DSC because that the sternum was reopened in intensive care unit during the early postoperative period. The diagnosis of complex congenital heart defects had a high risk of DSC. The incidence of DSC for great artery (TGA), corctation of aorta (CoA), interruption of aortic arch (IAA), total anormalous pulmonary vein drainage (TAPVD), Taussig-Bing malformation, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) was 43.2%, 83.3%, 62.5%, 15.6%, 71.4%, and 66.7% respectively. The DSC patients had longer duration of CPB time (141.4±51.7 min versus 108.5±51.9 min) and clamping time (79.3±29.2 min versus 65.4±25.5 min). In 113 patients the sternums were closed 1-11 days after the initial operation. Sixteen patients died ultimately including 2 deaths after the closure of sternum with a mortality of 12.6%. Surgical site infection occurred in 5 patients including 2 severe patients with surgical intervention. ConclusionDSC has been an essential part of neonatal heart surgery. It provides an opportunity for the recovery of cardiac function.
ObjectiveTo analyze the outcomes of patients with one-stage Fontan procedure and short-term prognosis at a single institute. Method We retrospectively analyzed clinical records of 116 patients with one-stage Fontan procedure in our hospital from January 2008 through September 2013. There were 77 males and 39 females (36%), with median age 6.27 years (ranged 3.15 to 17.47 years) at the time of surgery and the median weight at 17.5 kg (ranged 10.0 to 80.0 kg). There were 55 patients with standard extracardiac conduit, 13 patients with direct extracardiac connection, 17 patients with intra-atrial or intra/extracardiac conduit, and 31 patients with lateral tunnel. ResultsMedian cardiopulmonary bypass time was 124 (61-256) minutes. Median cross-clamp time was 60 (19-152) minutes. There were six early deaths (5.1%). The overall median time of the cardiac intensive care unit stay was 4 (1-17) days, with a median ventilator support of 7.3 (1.0-181.0) hours. The mean room air saturation was 90.00%±4.68% before discharge. Median length of chest tube drainage was 10 (4-45) days. Multiple logistic analysis confirmed that heterotaxy syndrome was the only independent predictor for postoperative renal insufficiency. Operations with aortic cross-clamping (OR=26.184, 95% CI 1.712-400.451), preoperative sinus mode dysfunction (OR=6.777, 95% CI 1.495-30.721) and cross-clamp time over 60 minutes (OR=1.036, 95% CI 1.002-1.076) were predictors for prolonged chest tube drainage. A total of 110 patients were followed up for 17 (8-47) months with 2 deaths and 1 with thrombosis. No reoperation occurred. ConclusionThe one-stage Fontan procedure can be performed with satisfactory outcomes. Staged strategies for operations may be appropriately loosen for selected elder children.