Effect of Cardioplegia for Myocardial Protection in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery:A Network Meta-Analysis

Cardioplegia has been widely used to reduce myocardial injury during pediatric cardiac surgery;however,which cardioplegia solution has the best protective effect has not been established.Thus,we compared the myocardial protective effects of different cardioplegia solutions used in pediatric cardiac surgery.Seven databases were searched to identify the relevant randomized controlled trials.A network meta-analysis with a Bayesian framework was conducted.The outcomes included the following biochemical and clinical outcomes:serum concentrations of the creatine kinase-myocardial band at 6 h postoperatively;cardiac troponin I(cTnI)at 4,12,and 24 h postoperatively;spontaneous beating after declamping;postoperative arrhythmias;inotropic support percentage and duration;mechanical ventilation hours;intensive care unit stay in days;hospital stay in days;and mortality.The group treated with cold crystalloid cardioplegia(cCCP)was chosen as the control group.The 22 studies involved 1529 patients.Six types of cardioplegia solutions were described in these studies,including cold blood cardioplegia,cCCP,del Nido,histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate(HTK),terminal warm blood cardioplegia,and warm blood cardioplegia(wBCP).The serum concentrations of the 24-h cTnI with wBCP(MD=−2.52,95%CI:−4.74 to−0.27)was significantly lower than cCCP.The serum concentrations of the 24-h cTnI with HTK(MD=4.91,95%CI:2.84–7.24)was significantly higher than cCCP.There was no significant difference in other biochemical and clinical outcomes when compared to cCCP.In conclusion,wBCP may have a superior myocardial protective effect with lower 24-h cTnI levels postoperatively and similar clinical outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Perfusionist strategies for blood conservation in pediatric cardiac surgery

There is increasing concern about the safety of homologous blood transfusion during cardiac surgery,and a restrictive transfusion practice is associated with improved outcome.Transfusion-free pediatric cardiac surgery is unrealistic for the vast majority of procedures in neonates or small infants;however,considerable progress has been made by using techniques that decrease the need for homologous blood products or even allow bloodless surgery in older infants and children.These techniques involve a decrease in prime volume by downsizing the bypass circuit with the help of vacuumassisted venous drainage,microplegia,autologous blood predonation with or without infusion of recombinant(erythropoietin),cell salvaging,ultrafiltration and retrograde autologous priming.The three major techniques which are simple,safe,efficient,and cost-effective are:a prime volume as small as possible,cardioplegia with negligible hydric balance and circuit residual blood salvaged without any alteration.Furthermore,these three techniques can be used for all the patients,including emergencies and small babies.In every pediatric surgical unit,a strategy to decrease or avoid blood bank transfusion must be implemented.A strategy to minimize transfusion requirement requires a combined effort involving the entire surgical team with pre-,peri-,and postoperative planning and management.

Mediastinitis in pediatric cardiac surgery:Prevention,diagnosis and treatment

In spite of advances in the management of mediastinitis following sternotomy,mediastinitis is still associated with significant morbidity.The prognosis is much better in pediatric surgery compared to adult surgery,but the prolonged hospital stays with intravenous therapy and frequent required dressing changes that occur with several therapeutic approaches are poorly tolerated.Prevention includes nasal decontamination,skin preparation,antibioprophylaxis and air filtration in the operating theater.The expertise of the surgical team is an additional factor that is difficult to assess precisely.Diagnosis is often very simple,being made on the basis of a septic state with wound modification,while retrosternal puncture and CT scan are rarely useful.Treatment of mediastinitis following sternotomy is always a combination of surgical debridement and antibiotic therapy.Continued use of numerous surgical techniques demonstrates that there is no consensus and the best treatment has yet to be determined.However,we suggest that a primary sternal closure is the best surgical option for pediatric patients.We propose a simple technique with high-vacuum Redon's catheter drainage that allows early mobilization and short term antibiotherapy,which thus decreases physiological and psychological trauma for patients and families.We have demonstrated the ef-ficiency of this technique,which is also cost-effective by decreasing intensive care and hospital stay durations,in a large group of patients.

Early vasopressin initiation for pediatric patients with vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery

Objective Vasopressin has showed a beneficial use in pediatric patients with vasodilatory shock after cardiac surgery. However, the optimal timing of vasopressin initiation has not been investigated.Our aim was to evaluate the effect of early vasopressin initiation for these patients.

Time Course of Elevations in Plasma Olprinone Concentration during Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Purpose: Little research has been reported to date on the usefulness of olprinone in pediatric cardiac surgery, and no standard pediatric infusion protocol is currently established. Our study sought to confirm that the regimen described herein rapidly achieves the requisite plasma olprinone concentrations. Methods: For the purposes of our study, we enrolled 13 patients: 7 biventricular repair candidates and 6 Fontan-type operation candidates. We administered a continuous infusion of olprinone to our study subjects at 0.3 μg/kg/min with no loading dose starting approximately 30 minutes (min) before weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). We performed blood sampling at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after the start of infusion and at the same elapsed intervals after separation from CPB. We measured plasma olprinone concentrations using ultra-fast liquid chromatography. Results: We observed effective plasma olpri-none concentrations (>20 ng/ml) at 30 min after weaning from CPB, or at 60 min after the start of infusion. Conclusion: We conclude that continuous olprinone infusion at 0.3 μg/kg/min without a loading dose initiated immediately after the release of aortic cross-clamping or immediately after the completion of all surgical procedures quickly and reliably achieves effective plasma concentrations.

Innovations in Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgery is one of the youngest surgical disciplines.Only a century ago the heart and great vessels were not surgically approachable,and any pathology affecting these structures that needed surgery inevitably led to a poor prognosis[1].The turning point came with the introduction of modern anesthesia and,above all,with the invention of extracorporeal cardiopulmonary circulation.

Safety and feasibility of enhanced recovery after surgery-based management model for ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures

BACKGROUND There is still some room for optimizing ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures,and the preoperative and postoperative management quality for pediatric patients needs to be improved.AIM To discuss the safety and feasibility of the enhanced recovery after surgery(ERAS)-based management model for ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures.METHODS We selected 320 pediatric patients undergoing ambulatory surgery from June 2023 to January 2024 at The First People’s Hospital of Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture.Of these,220 received ERAS-based management(research group)and 100 received routine management(control group).General information,postoperative ambulation activities,surgical outcomes(operation time,postoperative gastro-intestinal ventilation time,and hospital stay),postoperative pain visual analogue scale,postoperative complications(incision infection,abdominal distension,fever,nausea,and vomiting),and family satisfaction were compared.RESULTS The general information of the research group(sex,age,disease type,single parent,family history,etc.)was comparable to that of the control group(P>0.05),but the rate of postoperative(2 h,4 h,and 6 h after surgery)ambulation activities was statistically higher(P<0.01),and operation time,postoperative gastrointestinal ventilation time,and hospital stay were markedly shorter(P<0.05).The research group had lower visual analogue scale scores(P<0.01)at 12 h and 24 h after surgery and a lower incidence of total postoperative complications than the control group(P=0.001).The research group had higher family satisfaction than the control group(P=0.007).CONCLUSION The ERAS-based management model was safe and feasible in ambulatory pediatric surgical procedures and worthy of clinical promotion.

Cardiac rehabilitation after cardiac surgery:An important underutilized treatment strategy

Physical inactivity remains in high levels after cardiac surgery,reaching up to 50%.Patients present a significant loss of functional capacity,with prominent muscle weakness after cardiac surgery due to anesthesia,surgical incision,duration of cardiopulmonary bypass,and mechanical ventilation that affects their quality of life.These complications,along with pulmonary complications after surgery,lead to extended intensive care unit(ICU)and hospital length of stay and significant mortality rates.Despite the well-known beneficial effects of cardiac rehabilitation,this treatment strategy still remains broadly underutilized in patients after cardiac surgery.Prehabilitation and ICU early mobilization have been both showed to be valid methods to improve exercise tolerance and muscle strength.Early mobilization should be adjusted to each patient’s functional capacity with progressive exercise training,from passive mobilization to more active range of motion and resistance exercises.Cardiopulmonary exercise testing remains the gold standard for exercise capacity assessment and optimal prescription of aerobic exercise intensity.During the last decade,recent advances in healthcare technology have changed cardiac rehabilitation perspectives,leading to the future of cardiac rehabilitation.By incorporating artificial intelligence,simulation,telemedicine and virtual cardiac rehabilitation,cardiac surgery patients may improve adherence and compliance,targeting to reduced hospital readmissions and decreased healthcare costs.

Study of the intensive care unit activity scale in the early rehabilitation of patients after direct cardiac surgery

BACKGROUND Direct cardiac surgery often necessitates intensive post-operative care,and the intensive care unit(ICU)activity scale represents a crucial metric in assessing and guiding early rehabilitation efforts to enhance patient recovery.AIM To clarify the clinical application value of the ICU activity scale in the early recovery of patients after cardiac surgery.METHODS One hundred and twenty patients who underwent cardiac surgery between September 2020 and October 2021 were selected and divided into two groups using the random number table method.The observation group was rated using the ICU activity scale and the corresponding graded rehabilitation interventions were conducted based on the ICU activity scale.The control group was assessed in accordance with the routine rehabilitation activities,and the postoperative rehabilitation indexes of the patients in both groups were compared(time of tracheal intubation,time of ICU admission,occurrence of complications,and activity scores before ICU transfer).The two groups were compared according to postoperative rehabilitation indicators(time of tracheal intubation,length of ICU stay,and occurrence of complications)and activity scores before ICU transfer.RESULTS In the observation group,tracheal intubation time lasted for 18.30±3.28 h and ICU admission time was 4.04±0.83 d,which were significantly shorter than the control group(t-values:2.97 and 2.038,respectively,P<0.05).The observation group also had a significantly lower number of complications and adverse events compared to the control group(P<0.05).Before ICU transfer,the observation group(6.7%)had few complications and adverse events than the control group(30.0%),and this difference was statistically significant(P<0.05).Additionally,the activity score was significantly higher in the observation(26.89±0.97)compared to the control groups(22.63±1.12 points)(t-value;-17.83,P<0.05).CONCLUSION Implementation of early goal-directed activities in patients who underwent cardiac surgery using the ICU activity scale can promote the recovery of cardiac function.

Exploring the Role of Serum Cystatin C in Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury among On-Pump Cardiac Surgery Patients: A Single-Center Investigation in Bangladesh

Background: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) stands as a prominent postoperative complication in on-pump cardiac surgery, with repercussions on morbidity, mortality, and hospitalization duration. Current diagnostic criteria relying on serum creatinine levels exhibit a delayed identification of AKI, prompting an exploration of alternative biomarkers. Aims and Objectives: This study is designed to overcome diagnostic constraints and explore the viability of serum Cystatin C as an early predictor of Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) in individuals undergoing on-pump cardiac surgery. The investigation aims to establish the relationship between serum Cystatin C levels and the onset of AKI in patients subjected to on-pump cardiac surgery. Primary objectives involve the assessment of the diagnostic effectiveness of serum Cystatin C, its comparison with serum creatinine, and the exploration of its potential for the early identification and treatment of AKI. Methodology: Conducted as a single-center study at the cardiac surgery department of BSMMU in Bangladesh from September 2020 to August 2022, a comparative cross-sectional analysis involved 31 participants categorized into No AKI and AKI groups based on Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. Data collection encompassed preoperative, post-CBP (cardiopulmonary bypass) conclusion at 2 hours, postoperative day 1, and postoperative day 2 intervals. Statistical analyses included Chi-squared tests, independent Student’s t-tests, and one-sample t-tests. Significance was set at P Results: The study revealed no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the No AKI and AKI groups, except for CPB time and cross-clamp time. Serum Cystatin C levels in the AKI group exhibited statistical significance at various time points, highlighting its potential as an early detector. Conversely, Serum Creatinine levels in the AKI group showed no statistical significance. The Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis further supported the efficacy of serum Cystatin C, with an Area under the ROC Curve of 0.864 and a cut-off value of 0.55 (p Conclusion: This study supports the superior utility of serum Cystatin C as an early detector of AKI in on-pump cardiac surgery patients compared to serum creatinine. Its ability to identify AKI several hours earlier may contribute to reduced morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The findings underscore the significance of exploring novel biomarkers for improved post-cardiac surgery renal function assessment.

Safety and effectiveness of neuromuscular electrical stimulation in cardiac surgery:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Lack of mobilization and prolonged stay in the intensive care unit(ICU)are major factors resulting in the development of ICU-acquired muscle weakness(ICUAW).ICUAW is a type of skeletal muscle dysfunction and a common complication of patients after cardiac surgery,and may be a risk factor for prolonged duration of mechanical ventilation,associated with a higher risk of readmission and higher mortality.Early mobilization in the ICU after cardiac surgery has been found to be low with a significant trend to increase over ICU stay and is also associated with a reduced duration of mechanical ventilation and ICU length of stay.Neuromuscular electrical stimulation(NMES)is an alternative modality of exercise in patients with muscle weakness.A major advantage of NMES is that it can be applied even in sedated patients in the ICU,a fact that might enhance early mobilization in these patients.AIM To evaluate safety,feasibility and effectiveness of NMES on functional capacity and muscle strength in patients before and after cardiac surgery.METHODS We performed a search on Pubmed,Physiotherapy Evidence Database(PEDro),Embase and CINAHL databases,selecting papers published between December 2012 and April 2023 and identified published randomized controlled trials(RCTs)that included implementation of NMES in patients before after cardiac surgery.RCTs were assessed for methodological rigor and risk of bias via the PEDro.The primary outcomes were safety and functional capacity and the secondary outcomes were muscle strength and function.RESULTS Ten studies were included in our systematic review,resulting in 703 participants.Almost half of them performed NMES and the other half were included in the control group,treated with usual care.Nine studies investigated patients after cardiac surgery and 1 study before cardiac surgery.Functional capacity was assessed in 8 studies via 6MWT or other indices,and improved only in 1 study before and in 1 after cardiac surgery.Nine studies explored the effects of NMES on muscle strength and function and,most of them,found increase of muscle strength and improvement in muscle function after NMES.NMES was safe in all studies without any significant complication.CONCLUSION NMES is safe,feasible and has beneficial effects on muscle strength and function in patients after cardiac surgery,but has no significant effect on functional capacity.

Cardiac Surgery at Yaoundé General Hospital by a Local Team: Activity Report from September 2022 to January 2024

Introduction: The practice of cardiac surgery (CS) in sub-Saharan Africa faces a number of challenges. We report on the surgical activities of the first 17 months of the program launched at the Yaoundé General Hospital (YGH), describing the types of interventions and the early results. Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study including patients who underwent CS from September 2022 to January 2024 at the YGH. Clinical, operative and postoperative data were collected and analysed retrospectively by R software. Results: A total of 37 patients underwent CS during the study period, divided into 23 (62.2%) open-heart and 14 (37.8%) closed-heart cases. Males predominated (sex ratio 1.17). The median age and interquartile range (IQR) were 36 years (9 - 51). Isolated valve surgery, in 15 (40.5%) cases, was the most common procedure in open-heart surgery cases. Closed-heart surgery involved closure of the patent ductus arteriosus in 9 (24.3%) cases, coronary artery bypass grafting in 3 (8.1%) cases, and pericardectomy in 2 (5.4%) cases. The median duration of extracorporeal circulation and aortic cross-clamping was 101 min (IQR 84 - 143) and 74 min (IQR 54 - 112) respectively. The median duration of mechanical ventilation was 2 hours (IQR 2 - 3). The median intensive care unit stay and median hospital stay were 2 days (IQR 2 - 3) and 7 days (IQR 5 - 8) respectively. Operative mortality was 2 (5.4%). Conclusion: Cardiac surgery remains a major challenge for African populations. The early results achieved by the local team are satisfactory. An increase in surgical activity should be strongly encouraged to facilitate local training and ensure the sustainability of the activity.

Blood conservation pediatric cardiac surgery in all ages and complexity levels

AIM To demonstrate the feasibility of blood conservation methods and practice across all ages and risk categories in congenital cardiac surgery.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed a collected database of 356 patients who underwent cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass(CPB) from 2010-2015. The patients were grouped into blood conservation(n = 138) and nonconservation(n = 218) groups and sub-grouped based on their ages and procedural complexity scores. RESULTS There were no statistical differences in gender,weight,pre-operative and pre-CPB hematocrit levels in both groups. Despite equivalent hematocrit levels during and after CPB for both groups,there was significantly less operative homologous blood utilized in blood conservation group across all ages and complexity levels. CONCLUSION Blood conservation surgery can be performed in con-genital patients needing cardiac surgery in all age groups and complexity categories. The above findings in addition to attendant risks and side effects of blood transfusion and the rising cost of safer blood products justify blood conservation in congenital cardiac surgery.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Sub-syndromal Delirium in Patients after Cardiac Surgery

[Objectives]This study aimed to investigate the incidence and risk factors associated with SSD in patients following cardiac surgery.[Methods]A total of 378 patients who underwent cardiac surgery in Taihe Hospital were recruited and screened.Diagnosis of delirium was made using evaluation methods and DSM-5 criteria.SSD was defined as the presence of one or more core features of delirium without meeting the full diagnostic criteria.Statistical analysis included independent samples t-test for group comparisons and binary logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for SSD after cardiac surgery.[Results]Among the 378 subjects,112(29.63%)had SSD,28(7.41%)had delirium,and the remaining 238 patients(62.96%)did not present with delirium.Univariate analysis revealed that age,APACHE II score,duration of aortic clamping,length of ICU stay,duration of sedation use,and daily sleep time were significant risk factors for the occurrence of SSD(P<0.05).Logistic regression analysis identified age>70 years old,APACHE II score>20 points,length of ICU stay>5 d,and duration of sedation use>24 h as independent risk factors for SSD after cardiac surgery(P<0.05).A functional model was fitted based on the analysis results of the binary logistic regression model,yielding the equation logit P=1.472X_(1)+2.213X_(2)+3.028X_(3)+1.306X_(4).[Conclusions]Comprehensive clinical assessment is crucial for patients undergoing cardiac surgery,and appropriate preventive measures should be taken for patients with identified risk factors.Close monitoring of the patient s consciousness should be implemented postoperatively,and timely interventions should be conducted.Further research should focus on model validation and optimization.

Incidence and peri-operative risk factors for development of acute kidney injury in patients after cardiac surgery:A prospective observational study

BACKGROUND Patients admitted to intensive care unit(ICU) after cardiac surgery develop acute kidney injury(AKI) immediately post-operation. We hypothesized that AKI occurs mainly due to perioperative risk factors and may affect outcome.AIM To assess peri-operative risk factors for AKI post cardiac surgery and its relationship with clinical outcome.METHODS This was an observational single center, tertiary care setting study, which enrolled 206 consecutive patients, admitted to ICU after cardiac surgery. Patients were followed-up until ICU discharge or death, in order to determine the incidence of AKI, perioperative risk factors for AKI and its association with outcome.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess predictor variables for AKI development.RESULTS After ICU admission, 55 patients(26.7%) developed AKI within 48 h. From the logistic regression analysis performed, high EuroScore Ⅱ(OR: 1.18;95%CI: 1.06-1.31, P = 0.003), white blood cells(WBC) pre-operatively(OR: 1.0;95%CI: 1.0-1.0, P = 0.002) and history of chronic kidney disease(OR: 2.82;95%CI: 1.195-6.65, P = 0.018) emerged as independent predictors of AKI among univariate predictors. AKI that developed AKI had longer duration of mechanical ventilation [1113(777–2195) vs 714(511–1020) min, P = 0.0001] and ICU length of stay [70(28–129) vs 26(21–51) h, P = 0.0001], higher rate of ICU-acquired weakness(16.4% vs 5.3%, P =0.015), reintubation(10.9% vs 1.3%, P = 0.005), dialysis(7% vs 0%, P = 0.005), delirium(36.4% vs 23.8%, P = 0.001) and mortality(3.6% vs 0.7%, P = 0.046).CONCLUSION Patients present frequently with AKI after cardiac surgery. EuroScore Ⅱ, WBC count and chronic kidney disease are independent predictors of AKI development. The occurrence of AKI is associated with poor outcome.

Effect of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on postoperative outcomes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery:A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND Cardiovascular disease is the most prevalent disease worldwide and places a great burden on the health and economic welfare of patients.Cardiac surgery is an important way to treat cardiovascular disease,but it can prolong mechanical ventilation time,intensive care unit(ICU)stay,and postoperative hospitalization for patients.Previous studies have demonstrated that preoperative inspiratory muscle training could decrease the incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications.AIM To explore the effect of preoperative inspiratory muscle training on mechanical ventilation time,length of ICU stay,and duration of postoperative hospitalization after cardiac surgery.METHODS A literature search of PubMed,Web of Science,Cochrane Library,EMBASE,China National Knowledge Infrastructure,WanFang,and the China Science and Technology journal VIP database was performed on April 13,2022.The data was independently extracted by two authors.The inclusion criteria were:(1)Randomized controlled trial;(2)Accessible as a full paper;(3)Patients who received cardiac surgery;(4)Preoperative inspiratory muscle training was implemented in these patients;(5)The study reported at least one of the following:Mechanical ventilation time,length of ICU stay,and/or duration of postoperative hospitalization;and(6)In English language.RESULTS We analyzed six randomized controlled trials with a total of 925 participants.The pooled mean difference of mechanical ventilation time was-0.45 h[95%confidence interval(CI):-1.59-0.69],which was not statistically significant between the intervention group and the control group.The pooled mean difference of length of ICU stay was 0.44 h(95%CI:-0.58-1.45).The pooled mean difference of postoperative hospitalization was-1.77 d in the intervention group vs the control group[95%CI:-2.41-(-1.12)].CONCLUSION Preoperative inspiratory muscle training may decrease the duration of postoperative hospitalization for patients undergoing cardiac surgery.More high-quality studies are needed to confirm our conclusion.

Application progress of nursing intervention in cardiac surgery

As a stressor,cardiac surgery affects the physiology and psychology of patients,as well as their postoperative recovery.Patients tend to worry about cognitive deficiency,pain,discomfort,the risk of death,sleep,complications,and other factors,resulting in stress and anxiety.Moreover,serious adverse events,such as circulatory and respiratory dysfunction and infection,tend to occur after cardiac surgery and increase the economic burden on patients.Therefore,appropriate nursing interventions should be selected to strengthen patients’cognitive levels,compliance,and postoperative practices to accelerate their recovery,reduce complications,and shorten hospital stays so as to contribute to patients’lives and health.

Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Review—Kidney Transplant and Cardiac Surgery

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in kidney transplant patients and increasing proportion of these patients are referred to cardiac surgery. Data on short- and long-term outcomes of these patients are limited to single center reports with no randomized trials and no prospective studies published previously. The aim of this review was to report both short- and long-term outcomes of these patients. Methods: Literature review was conducted using three databases from inception to June 2022. Multiple search terms were used and limited to English language. Thirty-one relevant articles were included. Outcomes of interest were short-term mortality, long-term survival, renal allograft failure and infection in kidney transplant patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Results: Cardiac risk factors (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia) were prevalent in kidney transplant patients. 30-days mortality ranged across the studies from zero to 18.8%. The 1-year survival ranged from 71% - 97% and 5-years survival ranged from 31% - 95.7%. Commonest causes of death were cardiac and sepsis. Multiple predictors of mortality were reported. Postoperative acute kidney injury ranged from 0 - 74% with most of them being transient. Kidney graft failure ranged from 0 - 45% with 5-year kidney graft survival rates ranged between 37% - 80%. Post-operative infection rates ranged from 1% - 25% and the most common sites were pneumonia followed by septicemia and surgical site infections. Conclusion: Cardiac surgery can be performed in kidney transplant patients with good short- and long-term results.

Incidence and Outcomes of Surgical Site Infections after Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Single-Center Experience

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) remain a challenging medical problem, especially in cardiac surgery patients. There is a lack of studies evaluating the rate of and outcomes of SSIs following cardiac surgeries in Saudi Arabia. Aims: This study aimed to determine the incidence of SSIs after adult cardiac surgeries that were done in Madinah Cardiac Center, Saudi Arabia. Further, to identify the outcomes and risk factors contributing to death among surgical site infection patients. Methods: This was a 6-year, single-center, retrospective cohort study that included 93 consecutive patients who underwent adult cardiac surgery between August 2016 and August 2022. All adult patients aged 18 years or older who had clinical evidence of postoperative surgical wound infection were included. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative data (early and late) were collected from medical records. Microbiological culture reports and clinical outcomes were also recorded. Results: The study revealed a 9.1% (93/1021) incidence rate of SSIs. Of the 93 patients with SSIs, 60 had superficial incisional infections and 33 had deep infections with incidence rates of 5.9% and 3.2%, respectively. In-hospital mortality due to SSI was recorded in 4 out of 93 patients with an incidence rate of 4.3%. There was a significant association between the in-hospital mortality and the type of SSIs (p = 0.014). All non-survivors had deep SSIs. The type of cardiac surgery also showed a significant association with the in-hospital mortality (p = 0.017). Furthermore, the median duration of antibiotic administration was significantly longer in the non-survivors than in the survivors (72.5 vs 17, respectively, p Conclusions: In conclusion, the incidence of surgical wound infections following cardiac surgery is not low (9.1%);of which 3.2% were deep infections. The in-hospital mortality rate after treatment of SSIs was fortunately low (4.3%), and all non-survivors had deep SSIs. The non- survivors showed a significantly longer duration of antibiotics administration than survivors. Combined CABG and valve procedures showed a higher mortality rate (75%) than the isolated procedures.

Health-related quality of life of pediatric living donor liver transplantation donors who undergone donation surgery for 10 years

Objective:To investigate the quality of life(QOL)of living donor liver transplantation(LDLT)donors.Methods:The Euro Qol 5-dimensional questionnaire(EQ-5D)was used to measure the QOL of donors.Results:One donor repor ted“a little problem”of mobility(MO),and 2 donors(9.1%)repor ted“a little problem”of usual activities(UA).Moreover,there were 8 donors(36.4%)and 7 donors(31.8%)declaring“a little problem”of pain/discomfor t(PD)and anxiety/depression(AD),respectively.And both dimensions have a donor repor ting“moderate problem.”The mean visual analog scale(VAS)was 83.1±12.4.Conclusions:Donors can gain a stable and preferable QOL after donation in both the shor t and long terms.ED-5D application in the field of liver transplant could be an effective choice in QOL studies.