These data are encouraging for the development of a low-prime, mobile neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation circuit using centrifugal pump technology.

IntroductionLimited evidence suggests that serum alkaline phosphatase activity may decrease after cardiac surgery in adults and children. The importance of this finding is not known. Recent studies, however, have identified a potential role for alkaline phosphatase as modulator of inflammation in multiple settings, including during adult cardiopulmonary bypass. We sought to describe the change in alkaline phosphatase activity after cardiothoracic surgery in infants and to assess for a correlation with intensity and duration of post-operative support, markers of inflammation, and short-term clinical outcomes.MethodsSub-analysis of a prospective observational study on the kinetics of procalcitonin in 70 infants (≤90 days old) undergoing cardiothoracic surgery. Subjects were grouped based on the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and delayed sternal closure. Alkaline phosphatase, procalcitonin, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were obtained pre-operation and on post-operative day 1. Mean change in alkaline phosphatase activity was determined in each surgical group. Generalized linear modeling and logistic regression were employed to assess for associations between post-operative alkaline phosphatase activity and post-operative support, inflammation, and short term outcomes. Primary endpoints were vasoactive-inotropic score at 24 hours and length of intubation. Secondary endpoints included procalcitonin/CRP levels on post-operative day 1, length of hospital stay, and cardiac arrest or death.ResultsMean decrease in alkaline phosphatase was 30 U/L (p = 0.01) in the non-bypass group, 114 U/L (p<0.0001) in the bypass group, and 94 U/L (p<0.0001) in the delayed sternal closure group. On multivariate analysis, each 10 U/L decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity on post-operative day 1 was independently associated with an increase in vasoactive-inotropic score by 0.7 (p<0.0001), intubation time by 6% (p<0.05), hospital stay by 5% (p<0.05), and procalcitonin by 14% (P<0.01), with a trend towards increased odds of cardiac arrest or death (OR 1.3; p = 0.06). Post-operative alkaline phosphatase activity was not associated with CRP (p = 0.7).ConclusionsAlkaline phosphatase activity decreases after cardiothoracic surgery in infants. Low post-operative alkaline phosphatase activity is independently associated with increased procalcitonin, increased vasoactive/inotropic support, prolonged intubation time, and prolonged hospital stay. Alkaline phosphatase may serve as a biomarker and potential modulator of post-operative support and inflammation following cardiothoracic surgery in infants.

Modified ultrafiltration (MUF) is a technique which is commonly used immediately post-cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) for open heart surgery in children. There are many advantages of MUF, but there are also a number of less reported disadvantages. At our institution, after considering all of the available data, a decision was made to no longer perform MUF. The primary motivation being the simplified and miniaturized CPB circuit would reduce hemodilution, decrease our likelihood of reaching our transfusion trigger during CPB and, potentially, improve safety. This study reports the before and after data from this practice change. A total of 160 patients less than 8kg were studied over 38 months and divided into neonatal and pediatric cohorts. Parameters reported in this study include: demographics, hematocrit, blood product transfusion, hemostasis, hemodynamics and outcomes. Although retrospective, our analysis supports an advantage of preventing hemodilution (via circuit miniaturization) versus reversing hemodilution (via MUF) at our institution with the patient population we examined.

Background Rapid-response extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (RR-ECMO) has been implemented at select centers to expedite cannulation for patients placed on ECMO during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR). In 2008, we established such a program and used it for all pediatric veno-arterial ECMO initiations. This study was designed to compare outcomes before and after program implementation. Methods Between 2003 and 2011, 144 pediatric patients were placed on veno-arterial ECMO. Records of patients placed on ECMO before (17 ECPR and 62 non-ECPR) or after (14 ECPR and 51 non-ECPR) RR-ECMO program implementation were retrospectively compared. Results The peak performance of the ECMO team was assessed by measuring ECMO initiation times for the ECPR patient subgroup (n=31). There was a shift towards more ECPR initiations achieved in under 40 minutes (24% pre-RR-ECMO vs. 43% RR-ECMO, P=0.25) and fewer requiring more than 60 minutes (47% pre-RR-ECMO vs. 21% RR-ECMO, P=0.14) after program implementation, although these changes did not reach statistical significance. After multivariable risk-adjustment, RR-ECMO was associated with a 52% reduction in neurologic complications for all patients (adjusted odds ratio, 0.48; confidence interval, 0.23–0.98; P=0.04), but the risk of in-hospital death remained unchanged (adjusted odds ratio, 0.99; confidence interval, 0.50–1.99; P=0.99). Conclusion Implementation of a pediatric RR-ECMO program for veno-arterial ECMO initiation was associated with reduced neurologic complications but not improved survival during the first three years of program implementation. These data suggest that development of a coordinated system for rapid ECMO deployment may benefit both ECPR and non-ECPR patients, but further efforts are required to improve survival.

Transthoracic echocardiography was found to be very accurate at defining the presence or absence of an intramural course in AAOCA. Both MRI and CTA can provide additional information but may not be as accurate as TTE.

BackgroundThe utility of procalcitonin and C-reactive protein (CRP) as infectious biomarkers following infant cardiothoracic surgery is not well defined.MethodsWe designed a prospective cohort study to evaluate procalcitonin and CRP after infant cardiothoracic surgery. Procalcitonin and CRP were drawn pre-operatively and 24/72 hours post-operation or daily in delayed sternal closure patients. Presence of infection within 10 days of surgery, vasoactive-inotropic scores at 24 and 72 hours, and length of intubation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were documented.ResultsProcalcitonin and CRP were elevated at 24 hours. Procalcitonin then decreased while CRP increased in patients undergoing delayed sternal closure or cardiopulmonary bypass. In the delayed sternal closure group, procalcitonin was significantly higher on post-operative days 2–5 in patients who ultimately developed infection. Higher procalcitonin was independently associated with increased vasoactive-inotropic score at 72 hours. CRP did not correlate with infection or post-operative support.ConclusionsProcalcitonin rises after cardiothoracic surgery in infants but decreases by 72 hours while CRP remains elevated. Sternal closure may affect CRP but not procalcitonin. Procalcitonin is independently associated with circulatory support requirements at 72 hours post-operation and development of infection. Procalcitonin may have greater utility as a biomarker in this population.

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