Management of infants with large, unrepaired ventricular septal defects and respiratory infection requiring mechanical ventilation

Analysis of risk factors for prolonged stay in the intensive care unit after cardiac surgery in children with pneumonia

AIM

Preoperative pneumonia in children with CHD may lead to longer stays in the ICU after surgery. However, research on the associated risk factors is limited. This study aims to evaluate the pre-, intra-, and postoperative risk factors contributing to extended ICU stays in these children.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study collected data from 496 children with CHD complicated by preoperative pneumonia who underwent cardiac surgery following medical treatment at a single centre from 2017 to 2022. We compared the clinical outcomes of patients with varying ICU stays and utilised multivariate logistic regression analysis and multiple linear regression analyses to evaluate the risk factors for prolonged ICU stays.

RESULTS

The median ICU stay for the 496 children was 7 days. Bacterial infection, severe pneumonia, and Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery-1 were independent risk factors for prolonged ICU stays following cardiac surgery (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

CHD complicated by pneumonia presents a significant treatment challenge. Better identification of the risk factors associated with long-term postoperative ICU stays in these children, along with timely diagnosis and treatment of respiratory infections in high-risk populations, can effectively reduce ICU stays and improve resource utilisation.

How do Age at the Surgery and Birth Weight Influence Post-Operative Anthropometric Parameters in Infants with Surgical Closure of Large Ventricular Septal Defects? A Prospective Cohort Study from a Lower-Middle-Income Country

Closure of the large ventricular septal defects (VSD) in infancy can lead to normalization of growth, but data are limited. Our study is done to assess the growth pattern in different age groups of children and lower birth weight babies after shunt closure. This is a prospective observational study that included infants with isolated large VSD operated in infancy. Anthropometric data were collected at baseline and at follow-up, and growth patterns were analyzed. 99 infants were included in the study. The mean age and weight at the time of surgery were 6.97 ± 2.79 months and 5.07 ± 1.16 kg, respectively. The mean follow-up duration was 8.99 ± 2.31 months. The weight for age (W/A) was the most adversely affected parameter preoperatively, and there was significant improvement noted in the mean Z score for W/A after shunt closure (- 3.67 ± 1.18 vs. - 1.76 ± 1.14, p = 0.0012). There was improvement in Z-scores for length for age (L/A) and weight for length (W/L), although it was not statistically significant. The infants from all the age groups had statistically significant growth in the anthropometric parameters. The rate of weight gain was maximum in the infants operated below 8 months of age (2-4 months = 3588 g, 5-6 months = 3592 g, 7-8 months = 3606 g, 9-10 months = 2590 g, 11-12 months = 2250 g). Low birth weight and normal birth weight infants had similar Z-scores at the time of surgery and at follow-up in all 3 anthropometric parameters, and birth weight did not affect pre- as well as post-operative growth parameters. Suboptimal improvement in weight and length was seen in 40 and 20% of babies even after successful surgical repair, respectively. Growth failure in infants with a large VSD can be multifactorial. Early surgical closure of the shunt can lead to early normalization of growth parameters and faster catch-up growth. Few babies may fail to demonstrate a positive growth response even after timely surgical correction, and may be related to intrauterine and genetic factors or faulty feeding habits.

Global leadership in paediatric and congenital cardiac care: education and empowerment to improve outcomes in low- and middle-income countries - an interview with Krishna Kumar, MD, DM FAHA

Dr Krishna Kumar is the focus of our sixth in a series of interviews in Cardiology in the Young entitled, "Global Leadership in Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Care." Dr Kumar was born in Raurkela, India. He attended medical school at Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, graduating in 1984. Dr Kumar then went on to complete internal medicine, emergency medicine, and adult cardiology training at All India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. He then pursued paediatric cardiology training at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, USA. Dr Kumar began his clinical position as a paediatric cardiologist at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi, Kerala, India.During his impressive career, Dr Kumar has made significant contributions to educational advancement, research and innovation, public health advocacy, and clinical care. Dr Kumar is credited for distinguishing paediatric cardiology as a distinct subspecialty in India. He was a founding member of the Pediatric Cardiology Society of India and the original editor of the society's academic journal. Recognising the deficit of paediatric cardiology-trained physicians in low- and middle-income countries, Dr Kumar helped establish formal structured training programmes for paediatric cardiology in India. More recently, he established the Children's HeartLink Fellowships in paediatric cardiac sciences at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi and Institut Jantung Negara in Malaysia. Through educational programmes, Dr Kumar has taught countless caregivers and paediatricians, in India and neighbouring countries, the early identification and management of children with CHD. Dr Kumar has established a premier paediatric heart programme at Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences. As department Chief, he emphasises the importance of teamwork, advocacy, and continuous quality improvement. He has developed numerous low-cost strategies for the management of CHD. He has established large community-based studies on rheumatic heart disease and CHD in South India. Dr Kumar's focus on advocacy and policy change in India has made a substantial impact on early identification and treatment of CHD in the subcontinent. He has made a global impact on the care of paediatric cardiology patients through his educational programmes, research and innovation, large-scale research registries, and advocacy for public health policy changes. He is an incredibly humble and generous leader, and his patients and community are the source of his unending motivation.

Early high-energy feeding in infants following cardiac surgery: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Effective nutrition programs are beneficial for nutritional recovery in infants. Few studies have focused on the effect of early high-energy feeding after open heart surgery. This study sought to assess the effects of early high-energy feeding in infants after congenital heart surgery.

METHODS

Patients at a tertiary pediatric cardiology center who underwent open heart surgery between July 2016 and July 2018 were recruited and randomly allocated to 1 of the following 2 groups: (I) the intervention group (postoperative early high-energy feeding; n=124); and (II) the control group (no intervention; n=120).The primary endpoints of average energy delivery and growth Z-scores [i.e., weight-for-height Z-score (WHZ), weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), and height-for-age Z-score (HAZ)] were recorded preoperatively, during the intensive care unit (ICU) stay, at discharge, and at 1 and 3 months postoperatively. The secondary endpoints of malnutrition recovery, ventilator support time, infection rate, and cardiac ICU (CICU) stay were also recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 244 infants were included in the study. There were no significant differences in the baseline features between the 2 groups. The intervention group received higher calories on average than the control group (44.5 vs. 34.7; P<0.001). At discharge from the ICU, the WHZ (-2.29 vs. -2.76; P<0.001) and WAZ (-3.08 vs. -3.43; P=0.005) of patients in the intervention group were higher than those of patients in the control group. Ventilator support time (P=0.004), CICU stay (P=0.045), and infection rate (P=0.001) were significantly lower in the intervention group than the control group. At 3 months post-surgery, the intervention group exhibited a higher malnutrition recovery rate than the control group (19.4% vs. 6.5%; P=0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

The administration of early high-energy feeding to infants after congenital heart surgery is associated with improved growth, reduced CICU stay, decreased ventilator support time, and reduced postoperative infection rates.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials NCT04609358.

Outcomes of Infant Cardiac Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease Concomitant With Persistent Pneumonia: A Retrospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVES

There is still controversy about whether an infant should have cardiac surgery concomitant with ongoing persistent pneumonia. This study analyzes the outcome of surgical treatment for infants with left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease accompanied with persistent pneumonia and discusses the perioperative management strategies for these cases.

DESIGN

This is a retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

This study was conducted in an academic hospital and is a single-center study.

PARTICIPANTS

In this study, the authors analyzed the data of 94 infants admitted to our hospital from January 2014 to May 2016 who underwent surgical correction for left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease.

INTERVENTIONS

Fifty cases without pneumonia were included as a control group, and 44 cases with unresolved persistent pneumonia were included as a study group. The clinical characteristics between the 2 groups were compared, and the perioperative safety and short-term prognosis were evaluated.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

There was no significant difference in sex composition between the 2 groups. Infants in the pneumonia group were younger and had a lower body weight (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in types of congenital heart disease between the 2 groups (p < 0.001). Preoperative body temperature and heart rate of infants in the pneumonia group were higher than those in the control group (p < 0.001). The cardiopulmonary bypass time in the pneumonia group was significantly longer than that of the control group (p = 0.001). Perioperative major complications were not significantly different between the 2 groups. The postoperative ventilator-assisted time, duration of intensive care unit stay, and length of hospital stay were longer in the pneumonia group (p < 0.001). Only 1 patient in the control group died of severe low cardiac output syndrome.

CONCLUSION

The authors conclude that in the presented cases, no mortality or major morbidity was observed related to the practice of performing surgery in infants with signs of persistent pneumonia. The authors conclude that it is likely to be safe and effective for infants to receive cardiac surgery for left-to-right shunt congenital heart disease in the presence of persistent pneumonia.

Clinical utility of the ventricular septal defect diameter to aorta root diameter ratio to predict early childhood developmental defects or lung infections in patients with perimembranous ventricular septal defect

BACKGROUND

Ventricular septal defect (VSD) is the most frequent type of congenital heart disease. Conventional methods to evaluate VSD size and severity are both invasive and cumbersome to perform. We investigated whether the ratio between the diameter of the defect and the aortic root diameter (DVSD/DAR) would accurately reflect the degree of shunted blood and the severity of VSD in children with perimembranous VSD.

METHODS

We recruited 987 children with perimembranous VSD (pmVSD) and used color Doppler echocardiography to calculate DVSD/DAR. 987 healthy children were recruited as control group. The pmVSD group was further stratified into four groups according to age (1 to 4 y) and again into four groups according to the DVSD/DAR ratio: children whose DVSD/DAR was 1/5 to <1/4, 1/4 to <1/3, 1/3 to 1/5, or 1/2 to <2/3 were assigned to groups A, B, C, and D, respectively. Height, weight, infection scores and systemic-pulmonary circulation ratio (QP/QS ratio) were compared among groups A, B, C and D. Then the relationship between the DVSD/DAR ratio and height, weight, QP/QS ratio, infection score were analysed by linear regression analysis.

RESULTS

Compared to age-matched children without VSD (the controls), the mean height and weight of children in the pmVSD group were lower, and heights and weights were negatively correlated with the DVSD/DAR ratio. This ratio was significantly reduced in groups C and D compared to control group (both P<0.05). Infection scores of groups A and B were significantly higher only in the one-year-old subgroup, but were significantly higher in groups C and D for all ages compared to the control group (both P<0.05). QP/QS ratio of group C and D were higher than group A and group B (all P<0.05). Moreover, QP/QS ratio of group D for all ages were more than 2. In addition, linear regression analysis revealed that the DVSD/DAR ratio negatively correlated with height and weight and positively correlated with the QP/QS ratio and infection score.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that the DVSD/DAR ratio accurately reflects the growth and pulmonary infection rates in children with pmVSD. This ratio, therefore, may be a useful additional reference index to predict the consequences of pmVSD.

Outcome of infants with unrepaired heart disease admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit: single-center developing country perspective

OBJECTIVE

Congenital heart disease (CHD) has an incidence of ∼0.8-1%. Outcome of previously diagnosed CHD patients awaiting surgery (either correction or palliation) in a developing country setting is unknown. We strive to determine the outcome of patients with CHD awaiting surgery who present to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) setting with an acute illness.

DESIGN

Retrospective cross-sectional chart review.

SETTING

Pediatric intensive care unit of The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

PATIENT

Medical records of infants (1-12 months) with CHD awaiting surgery presenting to the PICU with an acute illness between January 2009 and June 2012 were included. Newly diagnosed CHD patients, those not requiring PICU admission, and those transferred to another hospital were excluded.

RESULTS

A total of 34 infants met the inclusion criteria. Median age at presentation was 5 months. Seventy-four percent of the infants had CHD lesion characterized by increased pulmonary blood flow (shunt lesions). Though none of the patients met the strict criteria for sepsis or pneumonia, 74% were admitted with a diagnosis of pneumonia or sepsis. Only 15% of patient had congestive heart failure as an admitting diagnosis. Oxygen therapy was given to 94% of these patients. Fifty-nine percent of these patients expired during the admission, 95% of those expired had multiorgan dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

Patients with CHD awaiting surgery and who admitted to the PICU with acute illness are at high risk for mortality. Stringent criteria to diagnose pneumonia or sepsis should be used in these patients.

Recurrent lower respiratory tract infections in children: a practical approach to diagnosis

Many children are affected by recurrent lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs), but the majority of them do not suffer from serious lung or extrapulmonary disease. The challenge for clinicians is to distinguish the recurrent RTIs with self-limiting or minor problems from those with underlying disease. The aim of this review is to describe a practical approach to children with recurrent LRTIs that limits unnecessary, expensive and time-consuming investigations. The children can be divided into three groups on the basis of their personal and family history and clinical findings: 1) otherwise healthy children who do not need further investigations; 2) those with risk factors for respiratory infections for whom a wait-and-see approach can be recommended; and 3) those in whom further investigations are mandatory. However, regardless of the origin of the recurrent LRTIs, it is important to remember that prevention by means of vaccines against respiratory pathogens (i.e. type b Haemophilus influenzae, pertussis, pneumococcal and influenza vaccines) can play a key role.

Pulmonary artery banding: still a valuable option in developing countries?

OBJECTIVE

We examined whether the socio-economic circumstances of a developing country justify pulmonary artery banding (PAB) for the deferral of perceived high-risk patients requiring biventricular repair.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort analysis was done on 143 consecutive patients with ventricular anatomy suitable for a biventricular repair, who had a pulmonary artery band applied between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2007 as they were considered too high a risk to undergo corrective surgery. The goal in all patients was to lower their risk of definitive surgery by improving their clinical condition. The minimum follow-up period was 2 years with the closing date for data collection being 31 January 2010. The mean weight and age at PAB was 5.34 ± 2.94 kg and 9.9 ± 17.3 months. The endpoints of the study were mortality, interval hospital readmission, growth pattern post-banding, whether or not definitive correction was achieved, and the current follow-up status of uncorrected patients.

RESULTS

The hospital mortality was 8% (n = 12), the inter-stage mortality 21% (n = 30), and the total mortality 29% (n = 42). Positive growth was not shown in 50% following the banding procedure. The mean number of inter-current hospital admissions was 1.5 ± 2 times per patient. At the termination of data collection, after a mean interval of 24.5 ± 14.3 months, debanding and full correction was achieved in 43% (n = 62). In addition to the 29% (n = 42) that were confirmed to be dead, an additional 28% (n = 39) were not corrected and of these almost half were regarded as lost to follow-up. Thus, of the entire cohort of patients, 57% (n = 81) have not achieved definitive correction at the termination of data collection.

CONCLUSION

A strategy of deferring biventricular repair by the application of a pulmonary artery band is ineffective under Third World conditions largely due to lack of patient compliance. This study shows that the overall mortality in the inter-stage period following PAB is high prior to definitive correction. Less than half of patients will eventually be repaired in a reasonable time frame and patient follow-up is unreliable. We conclude that consideration should be given to early definitive repair even in perceived high-risk cases.

Eisenmenger ventricular septal defect: classification, morphology, and indications for surgery

This study aimed to examine the definition and indications for surgery, to elucidate the morphologic substrate of aortic regurgitation, and to extrapolate the pathologic mechanisms of subpulmonary stenosis in Eisenmenger ventricular septal defect (EVSD). The study enrolled 160 patients. Preoperative respiratory symptoms and poor growth were present in 41 patients (26%), and 21 patients (13%) required mechanical ventilation. Perimembranous ventricular septal defect (pVSD) had been diagnosed previously for 136 of the patients (85%) at other institutions. Of the 160 patients, 51 (32%) had muscular posteroinferior rims. Aortic regurgitation was experienced by 36 patients (23%), found to be mild in 31 cases (19%) and moderate in 5 cases (3%). None of the patients had severe regurgitation. No aortic valvuloplasty was performed. The significant risk factors for aortic regurgitation were subpulmonary stenosis (p = 0.001) and a muscular posteroinferior rim (p = 0.000). Subpulmonary stenosis was seen in 57 patients (35%), found to be mild to moderate in 42 cases (26%) and severe in 15 cases (9%). Adequacy of the stenosis band was repaired through the tricuspid valve for 57 of these patients. The definition of EVSD should identify it as a subgroup different from pVSD, and it should be closed as soon as it is identified in developing countries. Aortic regurgitation occurs rarely, and aortic valvoplasty should be performed if it exceeds a moderate level. The subpulmonary stenosis can be repaired through the tricuspid valve.

What determines nutritional recovery in malnourished children after correction of congenital heart defects?

BACKGROUND

Malnutrition is common in children with congenital heart disease (CHD), especially in developing countries.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of corrective intervention on the nutritional status of children with CHD and identify factors associated with suboptimal recovery.

METHODS

Consecutive patients with CHD in a tertiary center in South India were evaluated for nutritional status before and 2 years after corrective intervention. Anthropometry was performed at presentation and every 6 months for 2 years, and z scores were compared. Malnutrition was defined as a weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight/height z score <-2. Determinants of malnutrition were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis model.

RESULTS

Of 476 patients undergoing corrective intervention (surgical: 344; catheter-based: 132) z scores of less than -2 for weight for age, height for age, and weight/height were recorded in 59%, 26.3%, and 55.9% of patients, respectively, at presentation. On follow-up (425 patients [92.5% of survivors; 20.63 +/- 13.1 months of age]), z scores for weight for age and weight/height improved significantly from the baseline (weight: -1.42 +/- 1.03 vs -2.19 +/- 1.16; P < .001; weight/height: -1.15 +/- 1.25 vs -2.09 +/- 1.3; P < .001). Height-for-age z scores were not significantly different. Malnutrition persisted in 116 (27.3%) patients on follow-up and was associated with a birth weight of <or=2.5 kg, nutritional status at presentation, and height of parents and not with type of cardiac lesion, dietary intake, or socioeconomic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

This study from South India demonstrates severe malnutrition in over half of the patients with CHD and is not always reversed by corrective surgery or intervention. Persistent malnutrition after corrective intervention is predicted by nutritional status at presentation, birth weight, and parental anthropometry.

Pediatric cardiac surgery in developing countries

Pediatric cardiac surgery in developing countries is a major challenge. It is a challenge to employ evolving methods to cater to the surgical needs of a very large number of children with congenital heart defects while dealing with severe budgetary constraints, finding funding to maintain the program, and maintaining quality in the backdrop of constant turnover of trained medical, nursing, and other paramedical personnel. Choosing the best procedure to achieve maximum palliation at lower cost and, when possible, giving priority for one-stage corrective procedures, albeit at a higher risk, calls for practice modifications. Despite improved infrastructure and surgical skills in recent years, in some developing countries, logistics, affordability, late presentation, nutritional issues, staffing, and unfavorable economics continue to negatively influence the overall results compared to those of developed nations.

Somatic growth after ventricular septal defect in malnourished infants

OBJECTIVE

To assess somatic growth after ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair in severely malnourished infants.

STUDY DESIGN

Ninety consecutive infants (age at surgery: 7.2 +/- 3.2 months) were followed after VSD closure at a referral center in southern India to evaluate somatic growth.

RESULTS

At surgery, 44% and 30% of patients had weight and height Z score <-3, respectively. On follow-up (age 5.4 +/- 0.8 years), despite a significant improvement from baseline (Z score -1.8 +/- 1.2 vs -2.8 +/- 1.3, P <.001), weight was significantly lower compared with healthy Indian children, particularly for boys. Height Z score improved significantly only in girls (-0.8 +/- 1.3 vs -1.8+/-2.1, P = .01). Weight, height, and combined weight and height Z scores (failure to thrive) of <-2 were observed in 42%, 27%, and 18 % of patients, respectively. On multivariate analysis, weight Z score <-2 on follow-up was predicted by weight Z score at surgery and male sex, height Z score <-2 by maternal height and male sex, and failure to thrive by maternal height and caloric intake.

CONCLUSIONS

There is suboptimal recovery of somatic growth after repair of VSD in severely malnourished infants. Preoperative malnutrition affected only weight on follow-up, whereas height recovery and failure to thrive were influenced by constitutional factors.