Abstract Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most frequent congenital heart disease, with an incidence of approximately 1%. It can be silent and associated with normal valve function. However, a series of complications, even catastrophic, may occur with time: valve incompetence, valve stenosis by dystrophic calcification, infective endocarditis, progressive dilatation..
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Abstract In unfractionated heparin (UFH) monitoring during extracorporeal circulation, the traditional measures of activated clotting time (ACT) or activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) may diverge, confounding anticoagulant adjustments. We aimed to explore the factors explaining this discrepancy in children and young adults. This retrospective observational study, conducted at an urban..
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Abstract This case report explores the successful use of the Impella 5.5 (Abiomed Inc., Danvers, MA) device in a 22 kg, 0.89 body surface area (BSA) pediatric patient with longstanding dilated cardiomyopathy and elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. The article details the device selection, management, and outcome demonstrating the feasibility and potential..
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Abstract The development of new right ventricular (RV) dysfunction after cannulation to venovenous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and its association with worse outcomes is increasingly recognized in adult patients, however, no studies have evaluated this phenomenon in pediatric patients. We report results of a single-center retrospective cohort study at..
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Abstract OBJECTIVES Intestinal ischaemia–reperfusion injury induced by cardiopulmonary bypass causes intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction, leading to dysbiosis and bacterial translocation. We conducted a randomized prospective study with 2 objectives: (i) to investigate epithelial barrier dysfunction and bacterial translocation induced by cardiopulmonary bypass and changes in the gut microbiota and (ii)..
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Abstract OBJECTIVES: Cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CS-AKI) is associated with adverse outcomes. Single-center studies suggest that the prevalence of CS-AKI is high after the Norwood procedure, or stage 1 palliation (S1P), but multicenter data are lacking. DESIGN: A secondary analysis of the Neonatal and Pediatric Heart and Renal Outcomes..
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Abstract Refractory septic shock is associated with a high risk of death. Circulatory support in the form of veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA ECMO) may function as a bridge to recovery, allowing for the treatment of the source of the sepsis. Whilst VA ECMO has been accepted as the means..
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Abstract Introduction Retrograde Autologous Priming (RAP) of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuits is an effective way to reduce prime volume, commonly through the transfer of prime into separate reservoirs or circuit manipulation. We describe a simple and safe technique for RAP without the need for any circuit modifications or manipulations. Methods..
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Abstract Background: Nitric Oxide (NO) is a naturally occurring modulator of inflammation found in the human body. Several studies in the pediatric cardiothoracic surgery literature have demonstrated some beneficial clinical effects when NO is added to the sweep gas of the cardiopulmonary bypass circuit. Purpose: Our primary aim was to determine..
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Abstract Background: Cardiogenic shock in children still carries a high mortality risk despite advances in medical therapy. The use of temporary mechanical circulatory supports is an accepted strategy to bridge patients with acute heart failure to recovery, decision, transplantation or destination therapy. These devices are however limited in children and extracorporeal..
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