Ali Riza Karaci

Which may be effective to reduce blood loss after cardiac operations in cyanotic children: tranexamic acid, aprotinin or a combination?

Background:  Children with cyanotic heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery in which cardiopulmonary bypass is used are at increased risk of postoperative bleeding. In this study, the authors investigated the possibility of reducing postoperative blood loss by using aprotinin and tranexamic acid alone or a combination of these two agents.

Comparison of parameters for detection of splanchnic hypoxia in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass with pulsatile versus nonpulsatile normothermia or hypothermia during congenital heart surgeries.

The aim of this study is to evaluate gastric mucosal oxygenation together with whole-body oxygen changes in infants undergoing congenital heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) procedure and the use of either pulsatile or nonpulsatile mode of perfusion with normothermia and pulsatile or nonpulsatile moderate hypothermia. Sixty infants undergoing congenital cardiac surgery were randomized into four groups as: nonpulsatile normothermia CPB (NNCPB, n = 15), pulsatile normothermia CPB (PNCPB, n = 15), nonpulsatile moderate hypothermia CPB (NHCPB, n = 15), and pulsatile moderate hypothermia CPB (PHCPB, n = 15) groups. In NNCPB and PNCPB groups, mild hypothermia was used (35°C), whereas in NHCPB and PHCPB groups, moderate hypothermia (28°C) was used. Gastric intramucosal pH (pHi), whole-body oxygen delivery (DO(2)) and consumption (VO(2)), and whole-body oxygen extraction fraction were measured at sequential time points intraoperatively and up to 2 h postoperatively. The measurement of continuous tonometry data was collected at desired intervals. The values of DO(2), VO(2), and whole-body oxygen extraction fraction were not different between groups before CPB and during CPB, whereas the PNCPB group showed higher values of DO(2), VO(2), and whole-body oxygen extraction fraction compared to the other groups at the measurement levels of 20 and 60 min after aortic cross clamp, end of CPB, and 2 h after CPB (P < 0.0001). Between groups, no difference was observed for pHi, lactate, and cardiac index values (P > 0.05). This study shows that the use of normothermic pulsatile perfusion (35°C) provides better gastric mucosal oxygenation as compared to other perfusion strategies in neonates and infants undergoing congenital heart surgery with CPB procedures.

Randomized comparison between mild and moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass for neonatal arterial switch operation

OBJECTIVES To compare neonates receiving arterial switch operation (ASO) either with mild or moderate hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass. METHODS Forty neonates undergoing ASO were randomized to receive either mild (Mi > 32 °C, n = 20) or moderate (Mo > 26 °C, n = 20) hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) between April 2007 and June 2010. All patients were diagnosed with simple transposition of the great arteries. Mean age (Mi: 8.32 ± 4.5 days, Mo: 7.54 ± 5.0 days, P = 0.21) and body weight were similar in both groups (Mi: 3.64 ± 0.91 kg, Mo: 3.73 ± 0.84 kg, P = 0.14). Follow-up was 3.1 ± 2.5 years for all patients. RESULTS Lowest perioperative rectal temperature was 33.5 ± 1.4 °C (Mi) versus 28.2 ± 2.1 °C (Mo) (P < 0.001). All patients safely weaned from CPB required lower doses of dopamine (Mi: 5.1 ± 2.4 µg/kg min, Mo: 6.5 ± 2.1 µ/kg min, P = 0.04), dobutamine (Mi: 7.2 ± 2.5 µg/kg min, Mo: 8.6 ± 2.4 µ/kg min, P = 0.04) and adrenalin (Mi: 0.02 ± 0.02 µg/kg min, Mo: 0.05 ± 0.03 µ/kg min, P = 0.03) in mild hypothermia group. Intraoperative blood transfusion (Mi: 190 ± 58 ml, Mo: 230 ± 24 ml, P = 0.03) and postoperative lactate levels (Mi: 2.7 ± 0.9 mmol/l, Mo: 3.1 ± 2.2 mmol/l, P = 0.02) were lower under mild hypothermia. Secondary chest closure was performed in 30% (Mi) versus 35% (Mo) (P = 0.65). Duration of inotropic support (Mi: 7 (4-11) days, Mo: 11 (7-15) days, P = 0.03), time to extubation (Mi: 108 (88-128) h, Mo: 128 (102-210) h, P = 0.04), lengths of intensive care unit (ICU) stay (Mi: 9 (5-14) days, Mo: 12 (10-18) days, P = 0.04) and hospital stay (Mi: 19 (10-29) days, Mo: 23 (15-37) days, P = 0.04) were significantly shorter under mild hypothermia. Two-year freedom from reoperation was 100% for both the groups. CONCLUSIONS The ASO under mild hypothermia seemed to be beneficial for pulmonary recovery, need for inotropic support and length of ICU and hospital stay. No worse early- or intermediate-term effects of mild hypothermia were found.

Istanbul Symposium on Neonatal and Pediatric Cardiopulmonary Bypass Procedures

Last summer, after organizing two Istanbul symposiums on pediatric extracorporeal life support systems, the third one was held on December 17, 2011 at the American Hospital in Istanbul, Turkey (1). The main topic of the third symposium was “minimizing adverse effects of cardiopulmonary bypass procedures in neonates and pediatric cardiac patients.”The objective of this editorial is to present the outcomes of the third symposium and suggest more topics for future symposiums in 2012. The third symposium is dedicated to honor Prof. Dr. Aydın Aytaç for his lifelong contributions as a pioneering surgeon and educator of the development of pediatric cardiac surgery in Turkey (Fig. 1) (2–6).

A Different Therapeutic Strategy for Severe Tetralogy of Fallot with Origin of the Left Pulmonary Artery from the Ascending Aorta: Stenting of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract before Complete Repair

The origin of pulmonary artery branches (particularly the left pulmonary artery) from the ascending aorta is a rare condition. We detected prominent hypoplasia of the main and right pulmonary arteries in a 3.5-month-old 3.7 kg female infant who had tetralogy of Fallot with origin of the left pulmonary artery in the ascending aorta. In order to ensure the development of the right pulmonary artery, a stent was put in that extended from the right ventricular outflow tract to the right pulmonary artery. During follow-up, after the patients right pulmonary artery had developed sufficiently, a complete repair surgery was done. It is common practice for patients with abnormal origin of the left pulmonary artery to perform the complete repair using the direct reimplantation technique. However, we think that another possibility is to implant the stent in patients with hypoplastic pulmonary artery and branches in the early stages, wait for a short period of time and perform the complete repair surgery before permanent pulmonary hypertension develops.

Levoatriocardinal vein with normal intracardiac anatomy and pulmonary venous return.

Levoatriocardinal vein (LACV) is characterized by an abnormal connection between pulmonary and systemic venous return. This extremely rare cardiac malformation is usually associated with left-sided obstructive lesions including mitral atresia, hypoplastic left-heart syndrome, and abnormal pulmonary venous connection. Patients may have low systemic cardiac output and pulmonary venous obstruction symptoms. In this manuscript, we report a case with LACV and normal pulmonary venous return with absence of any intracardiac pathology. LACV was demonstrated with echocardiography, angiography, and computed tomography. Surgical correction was made successfully.

The effects of antedgrade cerebral perfusion on immediate postoperative outcome in neonatal and infant aortic arch repair concomitant with intracardiac surgery

Araştırma Hastanesi, İstanbul-Türkiye Phone: +90 216 459 44 40 Fax: +90 216 337 97 16 E-mail: sasmazel@yahoo.com Accepted Date/Kabul Tarihi: 30.05.2013 Available Online Date/Çevrimiçi Yayın Tarihi: 25.10.2013 ©Telif Hakk› 2013 AVES Yay›nc›l›k Ltd. Şti. Makale metnine www.anakarder.com web sayfas›ndan ulaş›labilir. ©Copyright 2013 by AVES Yay›nc›l›k Ltd. Available on-line at www.anakarder.com doi:10.5152/akd.2013.262 Scientific Letter Bilimsel Mektup 804

Response to the Letter to the Editor Entitled "Biodegradable Ring Annuloplasty for Valve Repair in Children with Endocarditis"

(J Card Surg 2012;27:394)

Is Routine Echocardiographic Examination Necessary for All Deep Venous Thrombosis? For a Recurrent Paradoxical Embolism Case

nous thrombosis; incidence is still high. Paradoxical Embolism is rare than 10%, that originate from the lower extremity deep venous system. At the same instance, high prevalence of PFO among the young patients who had a stroke is showing us the importance of paradoxical embolism.1 At the article of Lausanne et al., paradoxical embolism is announced for the origin of the strokes at younger age patients with an incidence of 3.8%.2 Low incidence rates are consolation however, prognosis for these patients are catastrophic. Today, deep venous thrombosis and thromboem-

A Different Therapeutic Strategy for Severe Tetralogy of Fallot with Origin of the Left Pulmonary Artery from the Ascending Aorta: Stenting of the Right Ventricular Outflow Tract before Complete Repair: Stent Implantation for Hipoplastic Pulmonary Artery

The origin of pulmonary artery branches (particularly the left pulmonary artery) from the ascending aorta is a rare condition. We detected prominent hypoplasia of the main and right pulmonary arteries in a 3.5-month-old 3.7 kg female infant who had tetralogy of Fallot with origin of the left pulmonary artery in the ascending aorta. In order to ensure the development of the right pulmonary artery, a stent was put in that extended from the right ventricular outflow tract to the right pulmonary artery. During follow-up, after the patients right pulmonary artery had developed sufficiently, a complete repair surgery was done. It is common practice for patients with abnormal origin of the left pulmonary artery to perform the complete repair using the direct reimplantation technique. However, we think that another possibility is to implant the stent in patients with hypoplastic pulmonary artery and branches in the early stages, wait for a short period of time and perform the complete repair surgery before permanent pulmonary hypertension develops.