Carotid Artery Cut-Down in Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization: When and How?

Background:Vascular access used for pediatric cardiac catheterization is one of the most important factors that affects the success of the procedure.We aimed to compare the effect,success,and complications of cardiac catheterizations performed by carotid cut-down or femoral puncture in newborns or young infants.Methods:We included who underwent catheterization in our department between 28 January 2017 and 15 April 2021.These patients underwent balloon aortic valvuloplasty,balloon coarctation angioplasty,ductal stenting,diagnostic procedures for aortic arch pathologies,and modified Blalock-Taussig in-shunt intervention.Patients were divided into two groups:femoral puncture(group=1)and carotid cut-down(CC,group=2).Results:Seventy-two catheterization procedures were performed in 64 patients;32(44.4%)were performed via the femoral approach and 40(55.6%)were performed via the carotid approach.Sixteen(22.2%)procedures were diagnostic and 56(77.8%)procedures were interventional.CC was performed in 13(32.5%)patients with failed femoral intervention.Patients in the CC group had shorter durations of procedure,vascular access,and anesthesia,compared with the femoral access group(80.9 and 116.2 min,p=0.001;12.9 and 22.5 min,p=0.001;140.9 and 166.6 min,p=0.001,respectively).Patients who underwent CC had fewer complications than did patients in the femoral access group(2.5%and 21.8%,respectively;p=0.01);larger sheats were used in CC patients(p=0.028).Conclusion:The carotid artery can be successfully used as a primary catheterization route,particularly in patients with small body weight and patients who require rapid vascular access,or stenting of the vertical duct.

A New Three-Dimensional(3D)Printing Prepress Algorithm for Simulation of Planned Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease

Background:Three-dimensional printing technology may become a key factor in transforming clinical practice and in significant improvement of treatment outcomes.The introduction of this technique into pediatric cardiac surgery will allow us to study features of the anatomy and spatial relations of a defect and to simulate the optimal surgical repair on a printed model in every individual case.Methods:We performed the prospective cohort study which included 29 children with congenital heart defects.The hearts and the great vessels were modeled and printed out.Measurements of the same cardiac areas were taken in the same planes and points at multislice computed tomography images(group 1)and on printed 3D models of the hearts(group 2).Pre-printing treatment of the multislice computed tomography data and 3D model preparation were performed according to a newly developed algorithm.Results:The measurements taken on the 3D-printed cardiac models and the tomographic images did not differ significantly,which allowed us to conclude that the models were highly accurate and informative.The new algorithm greatly simplifies and speeds up the preparation of a 3D model for printing,while maintaining high accuracy and level of detail.Conclusions:The 3D-printed models provide an accurate preoperative assessment of the anatomy of a defect in each case.The new algorithm has several important advantages over other available programs.They enable the development of customized preliminary plans for surgical repair of each specific complex congenital heart disease,predict possible issues,determine the optimal surgical tactics,and significantly improve surgical outcomes.

Veno-Venous Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in a Child with Hemoptysis and Fontan Circulation

Background: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is a rescue life support technique used in life threatening conditions of refractory respiratory and/or cardiac distress. Indication for extracorporeal life support in children depends on age and varies from pulmonary to cardiac pathologies. In some cases, it may be used as a bridge to a therapeutic procedure. We described here the management of respiratory failure due to hemoptysis in a child with a Fontan circulation and veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation which served as a bridge to angio-embolization. Hemoptysis can be a life threatening condition which can lead to hypovolemic shock and impaired alveolar gas exchange. The latter can result in respiratory failure and consequent asphyxia. When hemoptysis occurs in a patient with a univentricular heart and a Fontan circulation, management of this clinical situation can be challenging due to the particular physiology of the latter. Total cavopulmonary connection is a palliative surgical repair which constitutes Fontan circulation as a definitive treatment in patients with a univentricular heart. Methods: Case report description of a 16 year-old boy with a univentricular heart and a Fontan circulation who presented hemoptysis managed with a veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as a bridge to angio-embolization. Results: Hemoptysis due to diffuse intra-alveolar hemorrhage from collateral circulation was successfully treated in this young patient with pulmonary vascular embolization. This allowed to wean the patient from extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation. Conclusion: Veno-venous ECMO can be life-saving as a bridge to angio-embolization for severe hemoptysis in patients with Fontan circulation. The reported case allows to underline that our multidisciplinary approach in this complex pediatric patient surely participated to improve outcome.