Ravi Agarwal

Hybrid intraoperative pulmonary artery stenting in redo congenital cardiac surgeries

OBJECTIVEnReconstruction of branch pulmonary arteries (PAs) can be challenging in redo congenital heart surgeries. Treatment options like percutaneous stent implantation and surgical patch angioplasty may yield suboptimal results. We present our experience with hybrid intraoperative stenting which may be an effective alternative option.nnnMETHODSnWe retrospectively analyzed data of all patients with PA stenosis who underwent intraoperative PA branch stenting in our institution between January 2011 and December 2012.nnnRESULTSnTen patients [6 females, median age 10 (1.4 to 37) years], underwent hybrid stenting of the PA. Primary cardiac diagnoses were pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD) in three patients, pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum in two, Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in one, Double outlet right ventricle (DORV) with pulmonary stenosis (PS) in one, complex single ventricle in two and VSD with bilateral branch PA stenosis in one patient. Concomitant surgeries were revision/reconstruction of RV-PA conduit in 4, Fontan completion in 4, repair of TOF with conduit placement in 1 and VSD closure in 1 patient. The left PA was stented in 7, the right in 2 and both in 1, with a total of 11 stents. There were no complications related to stent implantation. Two early postoperative deaths were unrelated to stent implantation. At mean follow-up period of 14.8 (12-26) months, stent position and patency were satisfactory in all survivors. None of them needed repeat dilatation or surgical reintervention.nnnCONCLUSIONnHybrid stenting of branch PA is a safe and effective option for PA reconstruction in redo cardiac surgeries. With meticulous planning, it can be safely performed without fluoroscopy.

Tricuspid valve replacement with a fresh antibiotic preserved tricuspid homograft.

Prosthetic replacement of valves in children is limited by size constraints of the prosthesis and lack of growth potential. In specific situations like infective endocarditis, valve preservation is near impossible and in such instances alternatives are hard to get. Furthermore, in the tricuspid position the long-term results of both mechanical and bioprosthesis are not optimal. We used an innovative method in a small boy with tricuspid valve endocarditis by using a tricuspid homograft in the tricuspid position.

A Tubular Aortopulmonary Window: An Embryological Curiosity.

We describe, in this report, an unusually shaped aortopulmonary communication observed in a six-month-old infant who presented with an associated ventricular septal defect. The defect was tubular, measuring 7 mm in length, and located intrapericardially between the proximal ascending aorta and the pulmonary trunk. It was well defined by transthoracic echocardiogram and was suitable for surgical ligation. We share our dilemma in naming this defect appropriately. We base our explanation on our understanding of normal development of the intrapericardial arterial trunks. There is initially an extensive aortopulmonary foramen. This is closed by apposition of a protrusion from the dorsal wall of the aortic sac, the aortopulmonary septum, with the distal margins of the outflow cushions. The spiral nature of formation of the aortopulmonary septum provides an understanding of the configuration of our tubular aortopulmonary window.

Do preoperative haemodynamic data and reactivity test predict the postoperative reversibility of pulmonary arterial hypertension in patients with large ventricular septal defect and borderline operability

Background Decisions to operate on patients with shunt lesions presenting late with severe pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and borderline operability are often not based on precise cut off values of haemodynamic data owing to paucity of studies. Objective To assess the reliability of the preoperative haemodynamic data and reactivity test in predicting the postoperative reversibility of PAH in patients with isolated large ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and borderline operability. Patients and method Between 2004 and 2010, 30 patients underwent VSD closure surgically; no early deaths occurred. Twenty-six patients were followed up regularly (mean 39.6±16u2005months) and one late postoperative death occurred. Fourteen patients who had been followed up for at least 1u2005year postoperatively underwent cardiac catheterisation. Results There were 3 responders (asymptomatic patients with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) index <3u2005WU.m2) and 12 non-responders. The following were lower among responders: mean age at surgery (3.2±0.42 vs 11.55±3.29u2005years, p=0.227), mean baseline PVR index (3.69±0.8 vs 10.57±9.1, p=0.204), average resistance ratio (RR=0.25±0.01 vs 0.59±0.25, p=0.049) and ratio of pulmonary and systemic mean pressures (PAm:SAm ratio) (0.70±0.009 vs 0.87±0.118, p=0.003). Conclusions Preoperative ‘base line’ PAm:SAm and RR appear to be better predictors of postoperative outcome than other baseline parameters. Preoperative reactivity test had no significant role in predicting postoperative reversibility of PAH at mid-term.

The curious case of a button which led to the needle.

Foreign bodies in the heart are uncommon in children. These are often removed even if asymptomatic to prevent complications like erosion, embolization, bleeding, thrombosis, and endocarditis. We report the case of a one-and-a-half-year-old child with a hypodermic needle in the heart which was found incidentally and removed successfully by surgery.

Late Surgical Removal of an Embolized Patent Ductus Arteriosus Device Causing Erosion of the Aortic Wall

We report a case of 2-year-old boy who presented late after PDA device embolization to descending aorta. He had mild obstruction with erosion of the intimal layer of descending aorta caused by the device that was successfully retrieved surgically with reconstruction of the aortic segment.

Hybrid stage I palliation for hypo-plastic left heart condition without a hybrid suite: suggestions for developing nations.

Cardiac hybrid procedures are performed in modern, spacious, and highly equipped hybrid suites in developed countries. Organizing such expensive suites in countries with an emerging economy is difficult from both a financial and logistics point of view. We share our experience of safely performing a Hybrid stage I palliation procedure for Aortic atresia with ventricular septal defect on a 2-month-old infant weighing 3.35 kg using minimal resources in a conventional catheterization laboratory.

Ascending Aortic Transection: Useful Adjunct in Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction

Pulmonary artery reconstruction is frequently needed during surgery for congenital heart disease. Exposure of the main pulmonary artery and its branches is difficult if they are hypoplastic with a large anteriorly placed aorta. In redo operations, adhesions make this not only technically difficult, but also prone to bleeding. We electively transected the ascending aorta in 36 patients to facilitate pulmonary artery exposure, without complications or significant prolongation of cross clamp time.

Factor V Leiden mutation: An added risk in single ventricle palliation

We present the case report of a child with Factor V Leiden mutation who underwent Fontan procedure. Thromboembolism is a widely recognized complication of the Fontan procedure and its modifications. Factor V Leiden mutation, being a hypercoagulable state, posed a higher risk for thromboembolism in this child. Appropriate measures taken before and after surgery prevented postoperative coagulopathy.

Ascending aortic pseudoaneurysm following open heart surgery

Received 18 November 2007; received in revised form 9 January 2008; accepted 11 January 2008 rom ht