Our country has made great progress in the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease, but after entering the new era, congenital cardiac surgery also presents some new features and trends. The quality of data of Guangdong congenital heart defects monitoring network was recognized by international organizations. We analyzed the data of the incidence of congenital heart disease, the rate of surgical treatment, the mortality of surgical procedures and the quality of surgical treatment in Guangdong province from Guangdong congenital heart defects monitoring network, and then accurately understood the development characteristics of congenital cardiac surgery. It is very helpful to clarify the regional status of congenital cardiac surgery, which is conducive to the development of a more reasonable surgical strategy for congenital heart disease, and finally promote the further development of congenital cardiac surgery in China.
Objective To summarize the clinical experience of cardiac surgery during pregnancy in a single center for the past 11 years. MethodsThe clinical data of 26 pregnant patients (mean age 28.6±4.9 years) complicated with heart diseases who underwent non-emergency cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass from 2010 to 2020 in Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the gestational age at the time of surgery: a change group (gestational age<21 weeks) and a stable group (gestational age≥21 weeks). The hospitalization data and follow-up data of the patients were collected. ResultsMean gestational age at surgery was 23.4±4.2 weeks. Eleven patients had congenital heart diseases and fifteen had valvular heart diseases. Meanpostoperative ICU stay was 2.5±2.4 d, and mean total hospital stay was 22.5±9.5 d. There were 5 postoperative fetal losses. There was no maternal death during follow-up. No statistical difference in the maternal postoperative outcomes between two groups. ConclusionThe number of patients undergoing cardiac surgery during pregnancy is increasing. The maternal mortality rate is low and the prognosis is good, but the fetal loss remains concern. Cardiac surgery performed before or after the establishment of cardiopulmonary adjustment in pregnancy does not change the maternal postoperative outcomes.
In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) technology has been more and more widely used in the auxiliary diagnosis and treatment of structural heart disease (SHD), and is also an important basis for the application of other technologies such as artificial intelligence. However, there are still some problems to be solved in the clinical application of 3D technology. In this paper, the application of 3D technology in SHD field is reviewed, and the future development of 3D technology is prospected.
Abstract： Objective To analyze the early outcomes of open heart surgery for congenital heart diseases in sixty low birth weight infants and premature infants. Methods Sixty low birth weight infants （body weight＜2 500 g） and premature infants with congenital heart diseases undergoing surgical repair from May 2003 to October 2011 were studied retrospectively in Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute. There were 43 male patients and 17 female patients with their mean gestational age of 33.5±4.1 weeks （ranging from 26 to 42 weeks） and mean age at operation of 24.9±12.5 d（ranging from 4 to 55 d）. Among them there were 47 premature infants with their mean birth weight of 1 729.3±522.5 g（ranging from 640 to 2 500 g）and mean weight at operation of 1 953.2±463.6 g （ranging from 650 to 2 712 g）. All the patients received preoperative treatment in newborn intensive care unit（NICU） and underwent surgical repair under general anesthesia, including 29 patients without cardiopulmonary bypass （CPB）and 31 patients with CPB . All surviving patients received postoperative monitoring and treatment in NICU, and their postoperative complications and in-hospital death were reported. Results A total of 13 patients died during hospitalization with a total in-hospital mortality of 21.7%（13/60）, including 4 intra-operative deaths, 6 early deaths （within 72 h postoperatively） and 3 patients giving up postoperative treatment. CPB time was 121.0±74.7 min, aortic clamp time was 74.8±44.7 min, and postoperative mechanicalventilation time was （136.9±138.1）h. Thirteen patients underwent delayed sternal closure. Eight patients underwentreexploation for postoperative bleeding. Ten patients had severe pneumonia, 2 patients had pulmonary hypertensive crisis, and 8 patients had low cardiac output syndrome. All the postoperative complications were resolved or improved after proper treatment. Follow-up was complete in 47 patients from 2 to 12 monthes, and all the patients were alive during follow-up. Conclusion Early surgical repair for low birth weight infants and premature infants with congenital heart diseases is safe and effective.
Objective To investigate the application of delayed sternal closure (DSC) following arterial switch operation for neonates with transposition of great arteries (D-TGA). Methods We retrospectively analyzed clinical data of 172 neonates underwent arterial switch operation with transposition of great arteries (D-TGA) between June 1st 2009 and December 31st 2015. These neonates were divided into 2 groups including a DSC group (118 patients with 99 males and 19 females) and a non-DSC group (54 patients with 47 males and 7 females). The outcome of the two groups were compared. Results Preoperative mechanical ventilation(P<0.001), emergency surgery (P=0.023) and extracorporeal circulation time (P<0.001) were the risk factors for delayed sternal closure. The incidence of complications of median sternotomy incision in the DSC group was not higher than that in the non-DSC group. The mortality rate in the DSC group was markedly higher than that in the non-DSC group (P<0.001). However, DSC was not a risk factor for the death of the neonates. Conclusion Delayed sternal closure does not increase the incidence of complications of the median sternotomy incision, nor is it a risk factor for the death of the neonates. Reasonable application of delayed sternal closure is helpful for early postoperative recovery of the neonates.
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.
Objective To analyze risk factors for pulmonary vein obstruction (PVO) after intracardiac total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) repair. Methods A retrospective analysis of clinical data of the patients with intracardiac TAPVC who underwent surgery at our center from April 2009 to April 2019 was conducted. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to assess the risk of postoperative PVO. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify relevant risk factor for postoperative PVO. ResultsWe finally included 169 patients. The median age at surgery was 89.0 (41.5, 195.0) days, and the median weight at surgery was 4.8 (3.8, 6.0) kg. The preoperative PVO rate was 18.3% (31/169). Post-repair PVO occurred in 8.9% (15/169) of the patients. The atresia of common pulmonary and subtype of coronary sinus/right atrium did not significantly affect the risk of PVO (P=0.053, P=0.330). Relevant risk factors included preoperative PVO (P<0.001) and the ratio of left ventricular end-systolic diameter to right ventricular diameter (P=0.025). ConclusionSurgical repair of intracardiac TAPVC has achieved satisfactory results in our center, but the long-term risk of obstruction should not be underestimated. An increased ratio of left ventricular end-systolic diameter to right ventricular diameter and preoperative PVO are associated with post-repair PVO.
Objective To examine the influence of hormonal fluctuations on the perioperative outcomes of patients undergoing congenital heart surgery. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of clinical data from fertile women diagnosed with congenital heart disease at the Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, between January 1, 2015, and July 30, 2019. Initially, patients were categorized into groups based on serum progesterone levels: a low progesterone group (n=31) and a high progesterone group (n=153). Furthermore, based on serum estrogen levels, they were divided into a low estrogen group (n=10), a medium estrogen group (n=32), and a high estrogen group (n=118) for comparative analysis. A control group (n=24) consisted of patients who received progesterone injections before their menstrual period. Results We finally included 184 patients. The patients’ average age was 27.6±5.7 years, with 142 (77.17%) presenting with complex congenital heart conditions. There were statistically significant differences in total postoperative standard thoracic drainage volume and postoperative albumin level between the high and low progesterone groups (P<0.05), while other perioperative outcome indicators showed no statistical differences (P>0.05). Among the different serum estrogen level groups, there were statistically significant differences in postoperative blood urea nitrogen levels, total postoperative standard thoracic drainage volume, and hospital stay (P<0.05), while other perioperative outcome indicators showed no statistical differences (P>0.05). ConclusionConsidering the overall clinical significance, the physiological changes in sex hormone levels appear to have a negligible effect on the perioperative outcomes of fertile women with congenital heart disease.
ObjectiveTo summarize the relationship between preoperative duration of mechanical ventilation and prognosis in patients with ventricular septal defect. MethodsThe clinical data of patients with ventricular septal defect requiring ventilator support preoperatively and undergoing surgical treatment in our hospital from May 2009 to May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the duration of preoperative ventilation, the patients were divided into three groups: a group A (0-47 hours), a group B (48-96 hours), and a group C (＞96 hours). Each group's postoperative recovery, complications, and medical costs were analyzed. Results Finally 272 patients were enrolled, including 154 males and 118 females, with a median surgical age of 2 (1, 4) months. There were 43 patients in the group A, 75 patients in the group B, and 154 patients in the group C. Early death occured in 3 (1.3%) patients, all in the group C. No statistical difference in mortality was found among the three groups (P=0.734). The mean postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation in the three groups was 158.6±133.5 hours, 101.2±56.1 hours, and 133.1±97.9 hours, respectively. The group B had significantly shorter duration than the other two groups (P＜0.05). The mean postoperative hospital stay in the three groups was 17.5±9.9 days, 13.5±5.8 days, and 16.5±10.8 days, respectively. Postoperative hospital stay in the group B was significantly shorter than that in the other two groups (P＜0.05). The mean total in-hospital cost in the three groups were 89 000±34 000 yuan, 87 000±21 000 yuan, and 109 000±41 000 yuan, respectively. The costs in the group C were significantly higher than those in the other two groups (P≤0.001). ConclusionPrompt surgical repair is necessary for patients with ventricular septal defects requiring ventilator support preoperatively. However, attention should be paid to surgical timing. Preoperative duration of mechanical ventilation is associated with better surgical outcomes within 48-96 hours than 0-47 hours or ＞96 hours.
Objective To explore the value of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation(ECMO) combined with hypothermia therapy for children patients with refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. Methods From January 2013 to June 2016, we conducted a prospective study of 23 children (18 males, 5 females at age of 7±11 months) who underwent ECMO for refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. All patients were randomly divided into two groups: a standard group (11 patients) and a hypothermia group (12 patients). The patients of the standard group received standard therapy (the core body temperature maintaining at 37.0℃) and the hypothermia group received hypothermia therapy (the core body temperature maintaining at 33.0℃). The hospital discharge rate, the rate of weaning from ECMO and the morbidity were compared between the two groups. Results Eleven of 23 patients (47.8%) were weaned from ECMO successfully and 7 of 23 patients (30.4%) discharged from hospital. The hospital discharge rate between the hypothermia group (n=6, 50.0%) and the standard group (n=1, 9.1%) had no statistical difference (χ2=4.537, P=0.069). The rate of weaning from ECMO of the hypothermia group (n=9, 75.0%) was higher than that of the standard group (n=2, 18.2%, χ2=7.425, P=0.006). The morbidity between the two groups had no statistical difference. Conclusion Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation can improve the survival rate of the children who suffered from refractory cardiac arrest after congenital heart disease surgery. There is no evidence that ECMO combined with hyperthermia therapy is better than the only ECMO in improving the discharge rate. But ECMO combined with hypothermia therapy has higher rate of weaning from ECMO than that of the only ECMO.