Magnetic resonance imaging of the transplanted pediatric heart as a potential predictor of rejection

AIM To evaluate cardiac magnetic resonance imaging(CMR) as a non-invasive tool to detect acute cellular rejection(ACR) in children after heart transplant(HT).METHODS Thirty pediatric HT recipients underwent CMR at the time of surveillance endomyocardial biopsy(EMB) and results were compared to 14 non-transplant controls. Biventricular volumes, ejection fractions(EFs), T2-weighted signal intensities, native T1 times, extracellular volumes(ECVs) and presence of late gadolinium enhancement(LGE) were compared between patients and controls and betweenpatients with International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation(ISHLT) grade ≥ 2R rejection and those with grade 0/1R. Heart rate(HR) and brain natriuretic peptide(BNP) were assessed as potential biomarkers.RESULTS Significant ACR(ISHLT grade ≥ 2R) was an infrequent event in our population(5/30, 17%). Ventricular volumes,EFs, LGE prevalence, ECVs, native T1 times, T2 signal intensity ratios, HR and BNP were not associated with the presence of ≥ 2R ACR.CONCLUSION In this pilot study CMR did not reliably identify ACRrelated changes in pediatric HT patients.

Utility and correlation of known anticoagulation parameters in the management of pediatric ventricular assist devices

AIM To assess utility and correlation of known anticoagulation parameters in the management of pediatric ventricular assist device(VAD). METHODS Retrospective study of pediatric patients supported with a Berlin EXCOR VAD at a single pediatric tertiary care center during a single year.RESULTS We demonstrated associations between activated thro-mboplastin time(a PTT) and R-thromboelastography(R-TEG) values(rs = 0.65, P < 0.001) and between anti-Xa assay and R-TEG values(rs = 0.54, P < 0.001). The strongest correlation was seen between a PTT and anti-Xa assays(rs = 0.71, P < 0.001). There was also a statistically significant correlation between platelet counts and the maximum amplitude of TEG(rs = 0.71, P < 0.001). Importantly, there was no association between dose of unfractionated heparin and either measure of anticoagulation(a PTT, anti-Xa or R-TEG value). CONCLUSION This study suggests that while there is strong correlation between a PTT, anti-Xa assay and R-TEG values for patients requiring VAD support, there is a lack of relevant correlation between heparin dose and degree of effect. This raises concern as various guidelines continue to recommend using these parameters to titrate heparin therapy.

The Impact of a Prior Norwood Procedure on Cardiac Transplantation in Failed Fontan Physiology

Objective:The objective of this study was to compare cardiac transplant operative and postoperative courses of patients with failed Fontan physiology who were initially palliated with a Norwood(FFN)to those without a prior Norwood(FF).Methods:A single-institution retrospective review of all patients with Fontan failure who under-went cardiac transplantation from 2003–2021 was completed-22 underwent prior Norwood(FFN)and 11 did not(FF).Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated for operative course and patient outcomes.Results:The operative course of the FFN cohort appeared to be more complex(not statistically significant,but clinically relevant)-this group exclusively experienced sternal re-entry events(3 of 22 patients)and concomitant neo-aor-tic reconstruction(6 patients),had a longer duration of surgery(median of 682 min vs.575.5 min),more time on circulatory arrest(median of 25.5 min vs.12.5 min),and more frequent use of open sternal management[50%of patients(11/22)vs.27.3%of patients(3/11)].Postoperatively,these patients underwent more mediastinal explora-tions[other than sternal closure;40.9%of patients(9/22)vs.18.2%of patients(2/11)],spent more time on mechanical ventilation(median of 5 days vs.2 days),had a longer length of stay(median of 30 days vs.19 days),and required more catheter-based re-interventions[22.7%of patients(5/22)vs.9.1%of patients(1/11)].Conclu-sion:Although underpowered,our results suggest that the operative course of FFN patients is more challenging,based mostly on neo-aortic arch issues.In turn,this likely leads to a more complex postoperative course.We are currently collaborating with other institutions to increase the cohort size and power of the study.

Stubborn Hypoxia in Neonates with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries after Arterial Switch Operation: Central Sleep Apnea as the Cause and Potential Indicator of Brain Immaturity

D-transposition of the great arteries(d-TGA)is surgically repaired with the arterial switch operation(ASO)with excellent results,however short and long-term morbidities still develop including neurocognitive delay.Clinically significant central sleep apnea is uncommon in non-premature infants,but when present indicates immature autonomic control of respiration likely due to a neurologic disorder.We report the unanticipatedfinding of central sleep apnea in four-term neonates with d-TGA after uncomplicated ASO,with the short-term complication of delayed hospital discharge and long-term concerns regarding this early marker of brain immaturity and its hindrance to normal development.Within this report,we will review each patient’s clinical course and then examine the literature on pediatric central sleep apnea,neurodevelopmental outcomes after ASO,and the important overlap of these entities in the care of patients going forward.

A 63-Year-Old Male with D-Transposition of the Great Arteries Who Had an Early Form of the Arterial Switch Operation

We describe a 63-year-old male who appears to have undergone an early form of the arterial switch operation for D-transposition of the great arteries performed in the mid-1960s.We review the clinical and imaging data that support our conclusion.He had a diagnostic cardiac catheterization which demonstrated severe pulmonary hypertension responsive to epoprostenol and oxygen.Our case may represent one example of the experimental surgical work done prior to Dr.Adibe Jatene’s description of thefirst successful arterial switch performed in 1975.

Coarctation of the aorta:Management from infancy to adulthood

Coarctation of the aorta is a relatively common form of congenital heart disease, with an estimated incidence of approximately 3 cases per 10000 births. Coarctation is a heterogeneous lesion which may present across all age ranges, with varying clinical symptoms, in isolation, or in association with other cardiac defects. The first surgical repair of aortic coarctation was described in 1944, and since that time, several other surgical techniques have been developed and modified. Additionally, transcatheter balloon angioplasty and endovascular stent placement offer less invasive approaches for the treatment of coarctation of the aorta for some patients. While overall morbidity and mortality rates are low for patients undergoing intervention for coarctation, both surgical and transcatheter interventions are not free from adverse outcomes. Therefore, patients must be followed closely over their lifetime for complications such as recoarctation, aortic aneurysm, persistent hypertension, and changes in any associated cardiac defects. Considerable effort has been expended investigating the utility and outcomes of various treatment approaches for aortic coarctation, which are heavily influenced by a patient's anatomy, size, age, and clinical course. Here we review indications for intervention, describe and compare surgical and transcatheter techniques for management of coarctation, and explore the associated outcomes in both children and adults.

Effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome

AIM： To study the effect of oral garlic on arterial oxygen pressure in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome, METHODS： Garlic powder in a capsule form was given to 15 children with hepatopulmonary syndrome （confirmed by contrast echocardiography） at the dosage of 1 g/1.73 m^2 per day. Patients were evaluated clinically and by arterial blood gas every four weeks. RESULTS： The garlic capsule was administered to 15 patients with hepatopulmonary syndrome. There were 10 boys and 5 girls with a mean age of 9.4 ± 3.9 years. The underlying problems were biliary tract atresia （4 patients）, autoimmune hepatitis （4 patients）, cryptogenic cirrhosis （4 patients） and presinusoidal portal hypertension （3 patients）. Eight patients （53.3%） showed an increase of 10 mmHg in their mean arterial oxygen pressure. The baseline PaO2 was 65.6 ± 12.1 mmHg in the responder group and 47.1 ± 11.2 mmHg in nonresponder group. At the end of treatment the mean PaO2 in responders and non-responders was 92.2 ± 7.75 mmHg and 47.5 ± 11.87 mmHg, respectively （P 〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： Garlic may increase oxygenation and improve dyspnea in children with hepatopulmonary syndrome.

Effective data sampling strategies and boundary condition constraints of physics-informed neural networks for identifying material properties in solid mechanics

Material identification is critical for understanding the relationship between mechanical properties and the associated mechanical functions.However,material identification is a challenging task,especially when the characteristic of the material is highly nonlinear in nature,as is common in biological tissue.In this work,we identify unknown material properties in continuum solid mechanics via physics-informed neural networks(PINNs).To improve the accuracy and efficiency of PINNs,we develop efficient strategies to nonuniformly sample observational data.We also investigate different approaches to enforce Dirichlet-type boundary conditions(BCs)as soft or hard constraints.Finally,we apply the proposed methods to a diverse set of time-dependent and time-independent solid mechanic examples that span linear elastic and hyperelastic material space.The estimated material parameters achieve relative errors of less than 1%.As such,this work is relevant to diverse applications,including optimizing structural integrity and developing novel materials.

Safety and outcome of treatment of metastatic melanoma using 3-bromopyruvate: a concise literature review and case study

3-Bromopyruvate(3BP) is a new, promising anticancer alkylating agent with several notable functions. In addition to inhibiting key glycolysis enzymes including hexokinase II and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), 3BP also selectively inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, angiogenesis, and energy production in cancer cells. Moreover, 3BP induces hydrogen peroxide generation in cancer cells(oxidative stress effect) and competes with the LDH substrates pyruvate and lactate. There is only one published human clinical study showing that 3BP was effective in treating fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. LDH is a good measure for tumor evaluation and predicts the outcome of treatment better than the presence of a residual tumor mass. According to the Warburg effect, LDH is responsible for lactate synthesis, which facilitates cancer cell survival, progression, aggressiveness, metastasis, and angiogenesis. Lactate produced through LDH activity fuels aerobic cell populations inside tumors via metabolic symbiosis. In melanoma, the most deadly skin cancer, 3BP induced necrotic cell death in sensitive cells, whereas high glutathione(GSH) content made other melanoma cells resistant to 3BP. Concurrent use of a GSH depletor with 3BP killed resistant melanoma cells. Survival of melanoma patients was inversely associated with high serum LDH levels, which was reported to be highly predictive of melanoma treatment in randomized clinical trials. Here, we report a 28-year-old man presented with stage IV metastatic melanoma affecting the back, left pleura, and lung. The disease caused total destruction of the left lung and a high serum LDH level(4,283 U/L). After ethics committee approval and written patient consent, the patient received 3BP intravenous infusions(1-2.2 mg/kg), but the anticancer effect was minimal as indicated by a high serum LDH level. This may have been due to high tumor GSH content. On combining oral paracetamol, which depletes tumor GSH, with 3BP treatment, serum LDH level dropped maximally. Although a slow intravenous infusion of 3BP appeared to have minimal cytotoxicity, its anticancer efficacy via this delivery method was low. This was possibly due to high tumor GSH content, which was increased after concurrent use of the GSH depletor paracetamol. If the anticancer effectiveness of 3BP is less than expected, the combination with paracetamol may be needed to sensitize cancer cells to 3BP-induced effects.

Anesthetic Technique for Transesophageal Electrophysiology Studies in Pediatric Patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Objective: Patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) Syndrome require risk assessment to determine their potential for sudden cardiac death. Transesophageal electrophysiology studies (TEEPS) are an effective risk stratification tool. The purpose of this study is to describe a minimially invasive, effective anesthetic technique to employ during transesophageal electrophysiology studies. Methods: A retrospective review of anesthetic technique utilized during TEEPS. Inclusion criteria;WPW on ECG;age <18 years;and no history of tachycardia, palpitations, or syncope and patient had TEEPS under monitored anesthesia care (MAC). Midazolam, Fentanyl, and Propofol were used in various combinations. Sevoflurane was used during induction period in all GA cases and discontinued 10 minutes prior to initiation of TEEPS. Results: Inclusion criteria were met by 20 patients with an average age of 11.9 years, average weight of 48.9 kg and average height of 149.2 cm. IV sedation was performed on 15%, MAC on 10% and GA in remainder. Airway management techniques included 13.3% LMA, 20% endotrachael tube (ETT) and 66% mask. IV sedation, the initial anesthetic, was found to be cumbersome and uncomfortable. Next was ETT and LMA but trouble pacing was encountered due to positional change of the esophagus relative to the left atrium during ventilation. Mask induction was then performed in remaining 10 patients with TEEPS probe inserted through a nare while anesthesiologist continued mask ventilation. All mask procedures were successful without complications. Conclusions: Induction of anesthesia to perform TEEPS procedures on pediatric patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome underwent numerous attempts to make the procedure easy, reliable and reproducible for anesthesia and electrophysiologist. The eventual technique that proved to meet these criteria during a transesopheagel electrophysiology procedure was utilization of mask induction with continuous IV sedation.

The Use of Trans-Esophageal Electrophysiology Study to Identify a High Risk Asymptomatic Wolff Parkinson White Syndrome Patient

Patients with a Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) pattern on their ECG can experience symptoms such as syncope, palpitations, supraventricular tachycardia, and atrial fibrillation, or they can be asymptomatic (aWPW). All patients with WPW, regardless of the presence or absence of symptoms, are at risk of sudden death. Therefore, it is recommended that younger patients with WPW undergo studies to determine their risk. We report a previously asymptomatic WPW patient identified as high risk for sudden death due to?rapid conduction down her accessory pathway during atrial fibrillation induced during a trans-esophageal electrophysiology study.

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Systolic Function after Pulmonary Valve Replacement Using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Following reparative surgery for tetralogy of Fallot or critical pulmonary stenosis(PS),patients frequently present with severe right ventricular(RV)volume overload due to pulmonary regurgitation,resulting in decreased RV function.Surgical pulmonary valve replacement(PVR)is known to improve RV function,but changes in left ventricular(LV)function after PVR have rarely been described.We sought to determine the midterm results regarding LV systolic function after PVR using cardiac MRI in 40 consecutive patients with repaired TOF(31 patients)or PS(9 patients)with an age of 29±9 years who underwent PVR from 2006 to 2011 at a single center.Cardiac MRI RV and LV volumes before and after PVR were analyzed.Demographics,clinical variables,cardiopulmonary bypass duration,and medications were reviewed.LV ejection fraction(LVEF)increased from(54±8)to(57±6)%(P=0.02).Before PVR,26 patients had depressed LVEF of(49±5)%(range 36– 54%).In this group,LVEF increased by(7±7)%(P<0.0001)after PVR.Low LVEF before PVR was correlated with increased LVEF after PVR(regression coefficient-0.7,R 2=0.59,P<0.0001).Demographics,medications,prior pregnancies,and cardiopulmonary bypass duration had no effect on LVEF after PVR.The increase in LVEF was most significant in patients with low pre-PVR LVEF.

Age-adjusted NT-proBNP could help in the early identification and follow-up of children at risk for severe multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19(MIS-C)

BACKGROUND Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children(MIS-C) has emerged as a new disease associated with COVID-19 that presents in acute critically ill children with acute cardiovascular dysfunction.AIM To determine whether the age-adjusted N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide(NT-proBNP) value(Z-log-NT-proBNP) is associated with severe MIS-C and myocardial dysfunction.METHODS A retrospective study was conducted which included children with MIS-C managed at our institution between April 1,2020,and February 28,2022.We divided the population into groups depending on severity based on pediatric intensive care unit(PICU) admission.We compared Z-log-NT-proBNP values across these groups and analyzed Z-log-NT-proBNP dynamics during the onemonth follow-up.RESULTS We included 17 participants [median age 3(2-9) years] and seven(41%) required PICU admission.All(100%) of these cases presented very high(Z-log > 4) levels of NT-proBNP at the time of admission compared to only 5(50%) patients with non-severe MIS-C(P = 0.025).NT-proBNP was significantly correlated with highsensitive Troponin I levels(P = 0.045),Ross modified score(P = 0.003) and left ventricle ejection fraction(P = 0.021).CONCLUSION Raised NT-proBNP,specifically very high values(Z-log-NT-proBNP > 4) could help in the early identification of MIS-C patients with myocardial dysfunction requiring inotropic support and PICU admission.

Hemodynamic Profiling Using a Cardiac Index–Systemic Vascular Resistance Plot in Patients with Fontan Circulation

Background: Elevated Fontan pressure (FP) alone cannot fully predict clinical outcomes. We hypothesized thathemodynamic profiling using a cardiac index (CI)-systemic vascular resistance (SVR) plot could characterize clinicalfeatures and predict the prognosis of post-Fontan patients. Methods: We included post-Fontan patients whounderwent cardiac catheterization at age < 10 years. Patients were classified into four categories: A, CI ≥ 3, SVRindex (SVRI) ≥ 20;B, CI < 3, SVRI ≥ 20;C, CI ≥ 3, SVRI < 20;and D, CI < 3, SVRI < 20. The primary outcome wasfreedom from the combined endpoint: new onset of protein-losing enteropathy or plastic bronchitis, heart transplant,and death. Clinical and hemodynamic variables and freedom from the endpoint were compared betweenthe hemodynamic categories and outcome predictors were evaluated. Results: Eighty-three patients wereincluded. Median follow-up was 5.3 years. Category A/B/C/D consisted of 4/15/53/11 patients, respectively. Allthe patients in category A were New York Heart Association I/II and had a significantly lower pulmonary vascularresistance index (PVRI). Patients in category C had lower pulmonary/systemic blood flow. Patients in category Dhad a higher PVRI and had the poorest freedom from the endpoint (44% at 5 years). Elevated FP and category Dwere outcome predictors. Conclusions: CI-SVR plots was a novel adjunctive method for Fontan hemodynamicprofiling.

The ASD that Wouldn’t Go Away:An Unusual Case of ASD Device Failure in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome

Marfan syndrome patients have connective tissue abnormalities that predispose them to intracardiac defects and postoperative complications.We present a case of late onset ASD device failure secondary to device movement within the atrial septum in a girl with Marfan syndrome.This case study suggests that further studies are necessary to determine the optimal device and approach for ASD repair in this patient cohort.

Congenital Coronary Artery Fistula in Children:A Review of 28 Cases with Clinical and Imaging Outcomes

Background:Congenital coronary artery fistula(CCAF)is a rare anomaly.Treatment strategies tend to close the defect with a symptomatic and significant shunt,primarily based on expert consensus and case series.Results for long-term follow-up in children are limited Methods:We conducted a retrospective study to assess clinical and imaging outcomes of children with CCAF at Siriraj Hospital,Thailand during 2000–2020.Patients with single ventricle were excluded.Treatment strategies[surgical closure(SC),and percutaneous closure(PC)]were classified and the clinical outcomes at the follow-up in 2021,including coronary thrombosis,myocardial ischemia,and the results of cardiovascular imaging were reviewed.Results:Twenty-eight children with CCAF were included in the study.The median age at diagnosis was 2.5 years(2 days–18 years).Presenting symptoms were audible murmur(82%)and heart failure(35%).Most of fistulae arose from the right coronary artery(12/28)and exited at the right atrium(11/28).In recent visits(0.5–14 years follow-up),six patients with asymptomatic small CCAF were managed by watchful follow-up without complications.PC was primarily treated in 11 children:7 underwent successful procedures;1 had a residual shunt and required re-intervention;1 had ischemic symptoms immediately after the procedure with left coronary occlusion that required device removal plus SC and 2 were technically unable to place the device,requiring SC.Four patients were waiting for interventions(1 PC and 3 SC).Cardiovascular imaging surveillance that followed closure demonstrated asymptomatic thrombus formation in three patients(1 PC and 2 SC).No mortality presented.Conclusion:CCAF with significant shunt is indicated to close either SC or PC.Ischemic events are rare but have been reported after closure.In addition,thrombus formation should be watched for post-intervention.Surveillance with cardiovascular imaging is recommended after defect closure(ideally 1–5 years post closure),or at interval follow-ups in patients with symptoms to evaluate possible recanalization,thrombus,or ischemia.Life-long clinical and echocardiographic follow-up is warranted.Watchful follow-up is acceptable for hemodynamically insignificant fistula without complication in the series.

Exercise Catheterization for Hemodynamic Evaluation of Adults with Coarctation of the Aorta

Background: Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is associated with a generalized arteriopathy and long-term complicationsdespite repair. Data on invasive exercise hemodynamics in this population are lacking. Accordingly, wereviewed adults with CoA undergoing exercise catheterization to assess 1. hemodynamic profile;2. feasibilityfor assessment of CoA severity. Methods: Twenty patients undergoing exercise cardiac catheterization (12 armadduction and 8 supine cycle ergometry) at a quaternary care center between 2004 and 2021 were identified. Restingand exercise hemodynamic data were abstracted from the procedure logs. Results: Mean age was 43.6 ±12.0 years. Eleven patients (55%) had resting pulmonary arterial wedge pressure (PAWP) >15 mmHg;amongthose undergoing arterial catheterization, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure was >15 mmHg in 63%. Elevenpatients (55%) had pulmonary hypertension: 7 (35%) combined and 4 (20%) isolated post-capillary. At peak exercise,ΔPAWP/Δcardiac output (CO) ≥2 and Δmean pulmonary artery pressure/ΔCO ≥3 mmHg/l/min were foundin 7 (78%) and 6 (67%) patients, respectively;the composite of exercise PAWP ≥25 mmHg or ΔPAWP/ΔCO>2 was seen in 12 (86%). CoA peak-to-peak gradients at baseline (n = 14) and during exercise (n = 9) were 12(3–16) and 16 mmHg (9–28), respectively. Only 2 patients had an increase in CoA gradient to >20 mmHg withexercise. Conclusions: Diastolic dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension were highly prevalent, with exerciseunmasking abnormal diastolic and pulmonary vascular reserve in some individuals. Most patients failed to showsignificant increases in CoA peak-to-peak gradients with exercise. Further studies are warranted to establish thebest diagnostic method for CoA severity assessment.

Growth of the Pulmonary Valve Annulus after the Modified Blalock-Taussig Shunt in Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot

Background:The surgical outcomes of tetralogy of Fallot(TOF)have evolved dramatically and have resulted in lower mortality rate.Currently,the many cardiac centers have a trend to early single-stage complete repair more than a staged repair.However,the patients who have an early primary repair were required transannular patch augmentation of a pulmonary valve frequently.This effect has been developed a chronic pulmonary insufficiency may lead to right ventricular dilation,dysfunction.In this era,the aim of treatment of TOF is attempted to preserve pulmonary valve annulus for prevent right ventricular dysfunction in the future.The systemic to pulmonary artery shunt is a palliative procedure or known as staged repair for symptomatic patients with TOF.The modified Blalock-Taussig shunt(mBTS)is the most useful systemic to pulmonary shunt and perform as an initial procedure before complete repair.The mBTS can provide increase pulmonary blood flow as well as improve oxygenation and also promote pulmonary artery(PA)growth.However,the effect of this procedure to promote growth of a pulmonary valve annulus is still debate.Objectives:To compare a growth of pulmonary valve annulus between after staged repair and primary repair in patients with TOF(without pulmonary atresia).Methods:A retrospective case-control study,review of patients with TOF underwent total repair at our hospitals from January 2005 and December 2017 was performed,a total number of 112 patients underwent TOF repair.Twenty-nine patients(26%)underwent a staged repair(mBTS group)and 83(74%)underwent total repair only or primary repair(PR group).We evaluated diameter of pulmonary valve annulus by using echocardiography at the time of first diagnosis and before complete repair on both groups.Results:The age of diagnosis of mBTS group were younger than PR group(p=0.011).Therefore,pulmonary valve annuls were smaller in mBTS group.(Z-score,−2.93±1.42 vs.−1.89±0.97;p=0.001).However,the growth potential of pulmonary valve annulus was increase more than PR group significantly(Z-score,−1.46±1.02 vs.−2.11±1.19;p=0.009)Even though a patent ductus arteriosus was found commonly in PR group(p=0.018).Conclusions:Our results suggest the systemic to pulmonary shunt or mBTS can promote growth of pulmonary valve annulus in patients with TOF.

Incidence and Related Risk Factors of Junctional Ectopic Tachycardia in Infants after Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

Objective:Junctional ectopic tachycardia is common after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease.However,its incidence and related risk factors in infants after cardiac surgery are not well known.The objective of this study was to determine the overall incidence and related risk factors for junctional ectopic tachycardia in neonates and infants.Methods:We enrolled a total of 271 patients aged<1 year who underwent open cardiac surgery at Severance Cardiovascular Hospital from January 2018 to December 2020.Exclusion criteria were immediate postoperative mortality,other arrhythmias detected in the perioperative period,and prematurity.Result:The overall incidence of junctional ectopic tachycardia was 12.9%.The logistic regression analysis revealed that longer cardiopulmonary bypass time,surgery involving atrioventricular node stretching,and the presence of early repolarization on preoperative electrocardiography increased the risk of junctional ectopic tachycardia.Patients with junctional ectopic tachycardia had longer intubation time and intensive care unit stay.Conclusion:Junctional ectopic tachycardia is a common arrhythmia after cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in infants.Occasionally,infants developing junctional ectopic tachycardia after cardiac surgery have specific preoperative electrocardiography findings.The risk factors for junctional ectopic tachycardia were associated not only with surgical procedural factors but also with preoperative electrocardiographic parameters.

Pediatric Post-Operative Atrio-Ventricular Block Meets the Affordable Care Act: A New Strategy for Management

Introduction: Post-operative (post-op) complete atrio-ventricular heart block (CAVB) occurs after 1% - 4% of pediatric cardiac operations. Current practice dictates implantation of permanent pacemaker (PPM) when post-op CAVB persists >9 days. We propose that earlier PPM implantation may be the most cost-effective methodology since patient costs increase with extended length of stay (LOS). Methods: Data on the probabilities of persistent post-op CAVB were extracted from published reports. No individual patient data were utilized during this study. This was utilized to create a decision-making model and a total cost analysis on post-op day 0 - 10 to determine the most cost-efficient day to implant a PPM. Cost variables included estimates of daily cardiac ICU care, cost of PPM implantation, LOS, cost related to possible superficial or deep infection based on published prevalence rates (2.3% and 4.9%, respectively) and need for explant due to deep infection or recovery of native conduction. The model assumes 5-day minimum LOS and 1 day increase in LOS with PPM implantation. Cost data were obtained from relevant billing codes and manufacturer list prices for PPM and leads. A secondary analysis evaluated probability of unnecessary PPMs implanted and excess costs. Results: Post-op day (POD) 4 is the lowest total cost of PPM implantation for post-op CAVB, even when accounting for possible risk of either superficial or deep infection. A one-way sensitivity analysis accounting for variability of cardiac ICU care costs between centers ranging from $3000 - $9000 per day consistently replicates POD 4 as the most cost-effective day for PPM implantation. Implant on POD 4 results in a 26% chance of unnecessary implantation. Conclusions: The most cost-efficient day for PPM implantation for post-op CAVB is post-op day 4, which results in a minimum total cost savings of $17,422 per patient. Added costs due to risk of superficial or deep infection are marginal due to low prevalence of post-operative infection in this population.