Citations

Objectives. Increasing number of mechanical circulatory assist devices (MCADs) are being placed in heart failure patients. Morbidity from device placement is high and the outcome of patients who require noncardiac surgery after, is unclear. As laparoscopic interventions are associated with decreased morbidity, we examined the impact of such procedures in these patients. Methods. A retrospective review was conducted on 302 patients who underwent MCAD placement from 2005 to 2012. All laparoscopic abdominal surgeries were included and impact on postoperative morbidity and mortality studied. Results. Ten out of 16 procedures were laparoscopic with 1 conversion to open. Seven patients had a HeartMate II, 2 had Total Artificial Hearts, and 1 had CentriMag. Four patients had devices for ischemic cardiomyopathy and 6 cases were emergent. Surgeries included 6 laparoscopic cholecystectomies, 2 exploratory laparoscopies, 1 laparoscopic colostomy takedown, and 1 laparoscopic ventral hernia repair with mesh. Median age of the patients was 63 years (range, 29-79 years). Median operative time was 123 minutes (range, 30-380 minutes). Five of 10 patients were on preoperative anticoagulation with average intraoperative blood loss of 150 mL (range, 20-700 mL). There were 3 postoperative complications; acute respiratory failure, acute kidney injury and multisystem organ failure resulting in death not related to the surgical procedure. Conclusion. The need for noncardiac surgery in post-MCAD patients is increasing due to limited donors and due to more durable and longer support from newer generation assist devices. While surgery should be approached with caution in this high-risk group, laparoscopic surgery appears to be a safe and successful treatment option.

Objective The portable Freedom Drive (SynCardia Inc, Tucson, AZ USA) for total artificial heart (TAH-t) support was approved for an investigational device exemption study in March 2010. We review our center's experience with the portable driver. Methods A retrospective review was conducted of patients who underwent TAH-t implantation and transfer to portable driver from September 2008 to June 2012, with follow-up through December 2012. Results A total of 30 patients underwent TAH-t implantation during this time period, with 11 patients successfully transferred to the Freedom Driver. Transfer to Freedom Driver after TAH-t implant was a median of 46 days (range, 225–86 days). Ninety-one percent (10) of 11 patients transferred to Freedom Driver were bridged to transplantation. One patient died on support. Five (45.5%) of 11 patients were discharged home and 5 (45.5%) remained in-patient on the portable driver before transplantation. Four patients (80%) successfully discharged home required at least 1 hospital readmission (range, 1–5 admissions per patient). Six patients (55%) transferred to the portable driver required a return to a main driver console. Two patients were temporarily maintained on the main driver then returned to the Freedom Driver for bridge to transplantation. Conclusions Patients with TAH-t can be considered for transfer to the portable Freedom Driver while awaiting transplantation. Issues that complicated this patient population included inadequate social support, hemodynamic instability, and concurrent morbidities. The potential benefits of the portable driver are currently undergoing assessment. These may include increased mobility and improved quality of life, opportunity for discharge home, and decreased overall medical costs.

We treated 26 eyes of 25 young patients having a mean age of 30 years with intravitreal vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitor for choroidal new vessel (CNV) formation overlying choroidal osteoma over a mean follow-up of 26 months. Mean number of injections was 2.4 at 6 months, 3.2 at 12 months, and 5.5 at 24 months. CNV was subfoveal in 14 eyes, juxtafoveal in 5, extrafoveal in 5, and peripapillary in 2. By paired comparison, mean decrease from baseline was 119.7 microns at 6 months (n=15;P=0.001), 105.3 microns at 1 year (n=10;P=0.03), and 157.6 microns at 2 years (n=7;P=0.08). BCVA improved by 3.3 lines at 6 months after therapy (n=26;P<0.001), 2.8 lines (n=20;P=0.01) at 1 year, and 3.1 lines (n=13;P=0.049) at 2 years. We conclude that intravitreal anti-VEGF injections improve vision in majority of eyes with CNV from choroidal osteoma.

Purpose Open fractures are considered orthopedic emergencies that are traditionally treated with surgical debridement within 6 h of injury to prevent infection. However, this proclaimed “6-h rule” is arbitrary and not based on rigorous scientific evidence. The aim of our study was to systematically review the literature that compares late (>6 h from the time of injury) to early (<6 h from the time of injury) surgical debridement of pediatric open fractures. Methods We searched several databases from 1946 to 2013 for any observational or experimental studies that evaluated late and early surgical debridement of pediatric open fractures. We performed a meta-analysis using a random effects model to pool odds ratios for a comparison of infection rates between children undergoing late versus early surgical debridement. We also investigated the infection rates in upper- and lower-limb pediatric open fractures. Descriptive, quantitative, and qualitative data were extracted. Results Of the 12 articles identified, three studies (retrospective cohort studies) were eligible for the meta-analysis, encompassing a total of 714 open fractures. The pooled odds ratio (OR = 0.79) for infection between late and early surgical debridement was in favor of late surgical debridement but was not statistically significant (95 % CI 0.32, 1.99; p = 0.38, I 2 = 0 %). No significant difference in infection rate was detected between pediatric open fractures in the upper and lower limbs according to the time threshold in the included studies (OR = 0.72, 95 % CI 0.29, 1.82; p = 0.40, I 2 = 0 %). Conclusions The cumulative evidence does not, at present, indicate an association between late surgical debridement and higher infection rates in pediatric open fractures. However, initial expedient surgical debridement of open fractures in children should always remain the rule. Thus, multi-center randomized controlled trials or prospective cohort studies will be able to answer this question with more certainty and a higher level of evidence. Level of evidence Level III.

Mechanical circulatory support emerged for the pediatric population in the late 1980s as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. The Total Artificial Heart (TAH-t) (SynCardia Systems Inc., Tuscon, AZ) has been approved for compassionate use by the Food and Drug Administration for patients with end-stage biventricular heart failure as a bridge to heart transplantation since 1985 and has had FDA approval since 2004. However, of the 1,061 patients placed on the TAH-t, only 21 (2%) were under the age 18. SynCardia Systems, Inc. recommends a minimum patient body surface area (BSA) of 1.7 m 2 , thus, limiting pediatric application of this device. This unique case report shares this pediatric institution’s first experience with the TAH-t. A 14-year-old male was admitted with dilated cardiomyopathy and severe biventricular heart failure. The patient rapidly decompensated, requiring extracorporeal life support. An echocardiogram revealed severe biventricular dysfunction and diffuse clot formation in the left ventricle and outflow tract. The decision was made to transition to biventricular assist device. The biventricular failure and clot formation helped guide the team to the TAH-t, in spite of a BSA (1.5 m 2 ) below the recommendation of 1.7m 2 . A computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax, in conjunction with a novel three-dimensional (3D) modeling system and team, assisted in determining appropriate fit. Chest CT and 3D modeling following implantation were utilized to determine all major vascular structures were unobstructed and the bronchi were open. The virtual 3D model confirmed appropriate device fit with no evidence of compression to the left pulmonary veins. The postoperative course was complicated by a left lung opacification. The left lung anomalies proved to be atelectasis and improved with aggressive recruitment maneuvers. The patient was supported for 11 days prior to transplantation. Chest CT and 3D modeling were crucial in assessing whether the device would fit, as well as postoperative complications in this smaller pediatric patient.

The Fontan procedure represents the final stage of the transition to single ventricle physiology. Conversion of very complex congenital heart anatomy, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, double-outlet right ventricle or double-inlet left ventricle, to a single ventricle has grown in popularity as morbidity and mortality have improved. As these patients grow, survivors are at risk for impaired ventricular dysfunction, plastic bronchitis, protein-losing enteropathy and late failure. Late failing Fontan patients represent a particularly vexing scenario for clinicians, as the only durable treatment option is cardiac transplantation. However, in the short-term, some of these patients require support beyond medical management, with mechanical circulatory support via extracorporeal life support or a ventricular assist device. We report the successful bridge of an adolescent female post-Fontan conversion with late severe cardiac failure. The patient was initially resuscitated with extracorporeal life support, transitioned to a single Berlin Heart EXCOR® ventricular assist device and, subsequently, underwent successful cardiac transplantation.

AbstractCardiac allograft rejection and failure may require mechanical circulatory support as bridge‐to‐retransplantation. Prognosis in this patient group is poor and implantable ventricular assist devices have had limited success due to organ failure associated with the high dose immunosuppression required to treat ongoing rejection. We present a case from our institution and the world‐wide experience utilizing the SynCardia CardioWest Total Artificial Heart (TAH‐t; SynCardia Systems, Inc., Tucson, AZ, USA) for replacement of the failing graft, recovery of patient and end‐organ failure with ultimate bridge to retransplantation. We present our experience and review of world‐wide experience for use of TAH‐t in this type patient.