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McMahon MJ, Evanovich DM, Pier DB, Kagan MS, Wang JT, Zendejas B, Jennings RW, Zurakowski D, Bajic D. Retrospective analysis of neurological findings in esophageal atresia: Allostatic load of disease complexity, cumulative sedation, and anesthesia exposure. Birth Defects Res 2024; 116:e2269. [PMID: 37936552 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of perioperative critical care on frequency of neurological imaging findings following esophageal atresia (EA) repair. METHODS This is a retrospective study of infants (n = 70) following EA repair at a single institution (2009-2020). Sex, gestational age at birth, type of surgical repair, underlying disease severity, and frequency of neurologic imaging findings were obtained. We quantified the length of postoperative pain/sedation treatment and anesthesia exposure in the first year of life. Data were presented as numerical sums and percentages, while associations were measured using Spearman's Rho. RESULTS Vertebral/spinal cord imaging was performed in all infants revealing abnormalities in 44% (31/70). Cranial/brain imaging findings were identified in 67% (22/33) of infants in the context of clinically indicated imaging (47%; 33/70). Long-gap EA patients (n = 16) received 10 times longer postoperative pain/sedation treatment and twice the anesthesia exposure compared with short-gap EA patients (n = 54). The frequency of neurologic imaging findings did not correlate with underlying disease severity scores, length of pain/sedation treatment, or cumulative anesthesia exposure. Lack of associations between clinical measures and imaging findings should be interpreted with caution given possible underestimation of cranial/brain findings. CONCLUSIONS We propose that all infants with EA undergo brain imaging in addition to routine spinal imaging given the high burden of abnormal brain/cranial findings in our cohort. Quantification of pain/sedation and anesthesia exposure in long-gap EA patients could be used as indirect markers in future studies assessing the risk of neurological sequelae as evidenced by early abnormalities on brain imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie Jean McMahon
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Devon Michael Evanovich
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Danielle Bennet Pier
- Division of Pediatric Neurology, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Mackenzie Shea Kagan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jue Teresa Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin Zendejas
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Surgery, Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Russell William Jennings
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Surgery, Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Kagan MS, Wang JT, Pier DB, Zurakowski D, Jennings RW, Bajic D. Infant Perioperative Risk Factors and Adverse Brain Findings Following Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia Repair. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12051807. [PMID: 36902591 PMCID: PMC10003188 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12051807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent findings implicate brain vulnerability following long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) repair. We explored the relationship between easily quantifiable clinical measures and previously reported brain findings in a pilot cohort of infants following LGEA repair. MRI measures (number of qualitative brain findings; normalized brain and corpus callosum volumes) were previously reported in term-born and early-to-late premature infants (n = 13/group) <1 year following LGEA repair with the Foker process. The severity of underlying disease was classified by an (1) American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) physical status and (2) Pediatric Risk Assessment (PRAm) scores. Additional clinical end-point measures included: anesthesia exposure (number of events; cumulative minimal alveolar concentration (MAC) exposure in hours), length (in days) of postoperative intubated sedation, paralysis, antibiotic, steroid, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) treatment. Associations between clinical end-point measures and brain MRI data were tested using Spearman rho and multivariable linear regression. Premature infants were more critically ill per ASA scores, which showed a positive association with the number of cranial MRI findings. Clinical end-point measures together significantly predicted the number of cranial MRI findings for both term-born and premature infant groups, but none of the individual clinical measures did on their own. Listed easily quantifiable clinical end-point measures could be used together as indirect markers in assessing the risk of brain abnormalities following LGEA repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Shea Kagan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jue Teresa Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Danielle Bennett Pier
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Neurology, Division of Pediatric Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 55 Fruit Street, Wang 708, Boston, MA 021114, USA
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Russell William Jennings
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Surgery, Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(617)-355-7737; Fax: +1-(618)-730-0894
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Kagan MS, Mongerson CRL, Zurakowski D, Bajic D. Impact of Infant Thoracic Non-cardiac Perioperative Critical Care on Homotopic-Like Corpus Callosum and Forebrain Sub-regional Volumes. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2022; 3:788903. [PMID: 35465294 PMCID: PMC9021551 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2022.788903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we reported quantitatively smaller total corpus callosum (CC) and total forebrain size in critically ill term-born and premature patients following complex perioperative critical care for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) that included Foker process repair. We extended our cross-sectional pilot study to determine sub-regional volumes of CC and forebrain using structural brain MRI. Our objective was to evaluate region-specific CC as an in-vivo marker for decreased myelination and/or cortical neural loss of homotopic-like sub-regions of the forebrain. Term-born (n = 13) and premature (n = 13) patients, and healthy naïve controls (n = 21) <1-year corrected age underwent non-sedated MRI using a 3T Siemens scanner, as per IRB approval at Boston Children's Hospital following completion of clinical treatment for Foker process. We used ITK-SNAP (v.3.6) to manually segment six sub-regions of CC and eight sub-regions of forebrain as per previously reported methodology. Group differences were assessed using a general linear model univariate analysis with corrected age at scan as a covariate. Our analysis implicates globally smaller CC and forebrain with sub-region II (viz. rostral body of CC known to connect to pre-motor cortex) to be least affected in comparison to other CC sub-regions in LGEA patients. Our report of smaller subgenual forebrain implicates (mal)adaptation in limbic circuits development in selected group of infant patients following LGEA repair. Future studies should include diffusion tractography studies of CC in further evaluation of what appears to represent global decrease in homotopic-like CC/forebrain size following complex perioperative critical care of infants born with LGEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie Shea Kagan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Chandler R. L. Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Dusica Bajic
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Evanovich DM, Wang JT, Zendejas B, Jennings RW, Bajic D. From the Ground Up: Esophageal Atresia Types, Disease Severity Stratification and Survival Rates at a Single Institution. Front Surg 2022; 9:799052. [PMID: 35356503 PMCID: PMC8959439 DOI: 10.3389/fsurg.2022.799052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal atresia (EA), although a rare congenital anomaly, represents one of the most common gastrointestinal birth defects. There is a gap in our knowledge regarding the impact of perioperative critical care in infants born with EA. This study addresses EA types, disease severity stratification, and mortality in a retrospective cohort at a single institution. Institutional Review Board approved our retrospective cross-sectional study of term-born (n = 53) and premature infants (28–37 weeks of gestation; n = 31) that underwent primary surgical repair of EA at a single institution from 2009–2020. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the electronic medical record, Powerchart (Cerner, London, UK). Patients were categorized by (i) sex, (ii) gestational age at birth, (iii) types of EA (in relation to respiratory tract anomalies), (iv) co-occurring congenital anomalies, (v) severity of disease (viz. American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) and Pediatric Risk Assessment (PRAm) scores), (vi) type of surgical repair for EA (primary anastomosis vs. Foker process), and (vii) survival rate classification using Spitz and Waterston scores. Data were presented as numerical sums and percentages. The frequency of anatomical types of EA in our cohort parallels that of the literature: 9.5% (8/84) type A, 9.5% (8/84) type B, 80% (67/84) type C, and 1% (1/84) type D. Long-gap EA accounts for 88% (7/8) type A, 75% (6/8) type B, and 13% (9/67) type C in the cohort studied. Our novel results show a nearly equal distribution of sex per each EA type, and gestational age (term-born vs. premature) by anatomical EA type. PRAm scoring showed a wider range of disease severity (3–9) than ASA scores (III and IV). The survival rate in our EA cohort dramatically increased in comparison to the literature in previous decades. This retrospective analysis at a single institution shows incidence of EA per sex and gestational status for anatomical types (EA type A-D) and by surgical approach (primary anastomosis vs. Foker process for short-gap vs. long-gap EA, respectively). Despite its wider range, PRAm score was not more useful in predicting disease severity in comparison to ASA score. Increased survival rates over the last decade suggest a potential need to assess unique operative and perioperative risks in this unique population of patients. Presented findings also represent a foundation for future clinical studies of outcomes in infants born with EA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devon Michael Evanovich
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Tufts School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jue Teresa Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Benjamin Zendejas
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Russell William Jennings
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, United States
- *Correspondence: Dusica Bajic
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Kagan MS, Mongerson CRL, Zurakowski D, Jennings RW, Bajic D. Infant study of hemispheric asymmetry after long-gap esophageal atresia repair. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2021; 8:2132-2145. [PMID: 34662511 PMCID: PMC8607454 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous studies have demonstrated that infants are typically born with a left-greater-than-right forebrain asymmetry that reverses throughout the first year of life. We hypothesized that critically ill term-born and premature patients following surgical and critical care for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) would exhibit alteration in expected forebrain asymmetry. METHODS Term-born (n = 13) and premature (n = 13) patients, and term-born controls (n = 23) <1 year corrected age underwent non-sedated research MRI following completion of LGEA treatment via Foker process. Structural T1- and T2-weighted images were collected, and ITK-SNAP was used for forebrain tissue segmentation and volume acquisition. Data were presented as absolute (cm3 ) and normalized (% total forebrain) volumes of the hemispheres. All measures were checked for normality, and group status was assessed using a general linear model with age at scan as a covariate. RESULTS Absolute volumes of both forebrain hemispheres were smaller in term-born and premature patients in comparison to controls (p < 0.001). Normalized hemispheric volume group differences were detected by T1-weighted analysis, with premature patients demonstrating right-greater-than-left hemisphere volumes in comparison to term-born patients and controls (p < 0.01). While normalized group differences were very subtle (a right hemispheric predominance of roughly 2% of forebrain volume), they represent a deviation from the expected pattern of hemispheric brain asymmetry. INTERPRETATION Our pilot quantitative MRI study of hemispheric volumes suggests that premature patients might be at risk of altered expected left-greater-than-right forebrain asymmetry following repair of LGEA. Future neurobehavioral studies in infants born with LGEA are needed to elucidate the functional significance of presented anatomical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie S Kagan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Chandler R L Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Russell W Jennings
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA
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Bajic D, Rudisill SS, Jennings RW. Head circumference in infants undergoing Foker process for long-gap esophageal atresia repair: Call for attention. J Pediatr Surg 2021; 56:1564-1569. [PMID: 33722370 PMCID: PMC8362829 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2021.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We extended our pilot study in infants following long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) repair to report head circumference, an easily obtainable indirect measure of brain size. Data are presented in the context of previously reported body weight and T2-weighted MRI measures of intracranial and brain volumes. METHODS Clinical information and head circumference were obtained for term-born (n = 13) and premature (n = 13) infants following LGEA repair with Foker process, as well as healthy term-born controls (n = 20) <1-year corrected age who underwent non-sedated research MRI. General Linear Model univariate analysis with corrected age at scan as a covariate and Bonferroni adjusted p values assessed group differences. RESULTS We report no difference in head circumference between the three groups. Such findings paralleled trends in body weight and total intracranial volume but not in brain volume as previously reported for the same pilot cohort. DISCUSSION Results suggest uncompromised somatic and head growth after repair of LGEA. In contrast, a novel finding of discrepancy between head circumference (novel data) and brain size (previously published data) in the same cohort suggests that head circumference might not be the best indirect measure of brain size in selected group of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Samuel S. Rudisill
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care, and Pain
Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Bader 3, Boston,
MA 02115, USA,Rush Medical College at Rush University, 600 S. Paulina
Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Russell W. Jennings
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck Street, Boston, MA
02115, USA,Department of Surgery, Esophageal and Airway Treatment
Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115,
USA
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Mongerson CRL, Jaimes C, Zurakowski D, Jennings RW, Bajic D. Infant Corpus Callosum Size After Surgery and Critical Care for Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: Qualitative and Quantitative MRI. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6408. [PMID: 32286423 PMCID: PMC7156662 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63212-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies in preterm infants report white matter abnormalities of the corpus callosum (CC) as an important predictor of neurodevelopmental outcomes. Our cross-sectional study aimed to describe qualitative and quantitative CC size in critically ill infants following surgical and critical care for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) - in comparison to healthy infants - using MRI. Non-sedated brain MRI was acquired for full-term (n = 13) and premature (n = 13) patients following treatment for LGEA, and controls (n = 20) <1 year corrected age. A neuroradiologist performed qualitative evaluation of T1-weighted images. ITK-SNAP was used for linear, 2-D and 3-D manual CC measures and segmentations as part of CC size quantification. Qualitative MRI analysis indicated underdeveloped CC in both patient groups in comparison to controls. We show no group differences in mid-sagittal CC length. Although 2-D results were inconclusive, volumetric analysis showed smaller absolute (F(2,42) = 20.40, p < 0.001) and normalized (F(2,42) = 16.61, p < 0.001) CC volumes following complex perioperative treatment for LGEA in both full-term and premature patients, suggesting delayed or diminished CC growth in comparison to controls, with no difference between patient groups. Future research should look into etiology of described differences, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and role of the CC as an early marker of neurodevelopment in this unique infant population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandler R L Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Camilo Jaimes
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Russell W Jennings
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Rudisill SS, Wang JT, Jaimes C, Mongerson CRL, Hansen AR, Jennings RW, Bajic D. Neurologic Injury and Brain Growth in the Setting of Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia Perioperative Critical Care: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci 2019; 9:E383. [PMID: 31861169 PMCID: PMC6955668 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci9120383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Revised: 12/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously showed that infants born with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) demonstrate clinically significant brain MRI findings following repair with the Foker process. The current pilot study sought to identify any pre-existing (PRE-Foker process) signs of brain injury and to characterize brain and corpus callosum (CC) growth. Preterm and full-term infants (n = 3/group) underwent non-sedated brain MRI twice: before (PRE-Foker scan) and after (POST-Foker scan) completion of perioperative care. A neuroradiologist reported on qualitative brain findings. The research team quantified intracranial space, brain, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and CC volumes. We report novel qualitative brain findings in preterm and full-term infants born with LGEA before undergoing Foker process. Patients had a unique hospital course, as assessed by secondary clinical end-point measures. Despite increased total body weight and absolute intracranial and brain volumes (cm3) between scans, normalized brain volume was decreased in 5/6 patients, implying delayed brain growth. This was accompanied by both an absolute and relative CSF volume increase. In addition to qualitative findings of CC abnormalities in 3/6 infants, normative CC size (% brain volume) was consistently smaller in all infants, suggesting delayed or abnormal CC maturation. A future larger study group is warranted to determine the impact on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born with LGEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S. Rudisill
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.S.R.); (J.T.W.); (C.R.L.M.)
| | - Jue T. Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.S.R.); (J.T.W.); (C.R.L.M.)
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Camilo Jaimes
- Department of Radiology, Division of Neuroradiology, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Department of Radiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Chandler R. L. Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.S.R.); (J.T.W.); (C.R.L.M.)
| | - Anne R. Hansen
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Russell W. Jennings
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (S.S.R.); (J.T.W.); (C.R.L.M.)
- Department of Anaesthesia, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Lee Mongerson CR, Jennings RW, Zurakowski D, Bajic D. Quantitative MRI study of infant regional brain size following surgery for long-gap esophageal atresia requiring prolonged critical care. Int J Dev Neurosci 2019; 79:11-20. [PMID: 31563705 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Little is known regarding the impact of concurrent critical illness and thoracic noncardiac perioperative critical care on postnatal brain development. Previously, we reported smaller total brain volumes in both critically ill full-term and premature patients following complex perioperative critical care for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). Our current report assessed trends in regional brain sizes during infancy, and probed for any group differences. METHODS Full-term (n = 13) and preterm (n = 13) patients without any previously known neurological concerns, and control infants (n = 16), underwent non-sedated 3 T MRI in infancy (<1 year old). T2-weighted images underwent semi-automated brain segmentation using Morphologically Adaptive Neonatal Tissue Segmentation (MANTiS). Regional tissue volumes of the forebrain, deep gray matter (DGM), cerebellum, and brainstem are presented as absolute (cm3) and normalized (% total brain volume (%TBV)) values. Group differences were assessed using a general linear model univariate analysis with corrected age at scan as a covariate. RESULTS Absolute volumes of regions analyzed increased with advancing age, paralleling total brain size, but were significantly smaller in both full-term and premature patients compared to controls. Normalized volumes (%TBV) of forebrain, DGM, and cerebellum were not different between subject groups analyzed. Normalized brainstem volumes showed group differences that warrant future studies to confirm the same finding. DISCUSSION Both full-term and premature critically ill infants undergoing life-saving surgery for LGEA are at risk of smaller total and regional brain sizes. Normalized volumes support globally delayed or diminished brain growth in patients. Future research should look into neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants born with LGEA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandler Rebecca Lee Mongerson
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Bader 3, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
| | - Russell William Jennings
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, United States
| | - David Zurakowski
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Bader 3, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, United States
| | - Dusica Bajic
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Bader 3, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
- Esophageal and Airway Treatment Center, Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave., Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard Medical School, 25 Shattuck St., Boston, MA, United States
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