Objective To investigate the efficacy of leaflet augmentation technique to repair the recurrent mitral valve (MV) regurgitation after mitral repair in children. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of children who underwent redo MV repair for recurrent regurgitation after initial MV repair, using a leaflet augmentation technique combined with a standardized repair strategy at Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, from 2018 to 2022. The pathological features of the MV, key intraoperative procedures, and short- to mid-term follow-up outcomes were analyzed. Results A total of 24 patients (12 male, 12 female) were included, with a median age of 37.6 (range, 16.5–120.0) months. The mean interval from the initial surgery was (24.9±17.0) months. All children had severe mitral regurgitation preoperatively. The cardiopulmonary bypass time was (150.1±49.5) min, and the aortic cross-clamp time was (94.0±24.2) min. There were no early postoperative deaths. During a mean follow-up of (20.3±9.1) months, 3 (12.5%) patients developed moderate or severe mitral regurgitation (2 severe, 1 moderate). One (4.2%) patient died during follow-up, and one (4.2%) patient underwent a second MV reoperation. The left ventricular end-diastolic diameter was significantly reduced postoperatively compared to preoperatively [ (43.5±8.6) mm vs. (35.8±7.8)mm, P<0.001]. Conclusion The leaflet augmentation technique combined with a standardized repair strategy can achieve satisfactory short- to mid-term outcomes for the redo mitral repair after previous MV repair. It can be considered a safe and feasible technical option for cases with complex valvular lesions and severe pathological changes.

Two pediatric heart failure patients were treated with pulmonary artery banding(PAB)at Fuwai Hospital,from December 2021 to January 2022.In the first case,an 8-month-old patient presented with left ventricular non-compaction cardiomyopathy(LVNC),left ventricular systolic dysfunction,ventricular septal defect,and atrial septal defect.The second case was a 4-month-old patient with LVNC,left ventricular systolic dysfunction,and coarctation of the aorta.After PAB,the left ventricular function and shape of both patients were significantly improved,without serious surgery-related complications.In these individual cases of pediatric heart failure,pulmonary artery banding exhibited a more satisfactory efficacy and safety compared to pharmacological treatment,especially for those with unsatisfactory medication results.Future clinical data are needed to promote the rational and broader application of this therapeutic option for indicated patients.

Objectives:This study aims to investigate optimal surgical management strategies for pediatric patients diagnosed with volume-overloaded mitral regurgitation. Methods:A comprehensive retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 110 pediatric patients who underwent primary mitral valve repair for volume-overloaded mitral regurgitation at Fuwai Hospital between April 2020 and March 2022.The cohort,with an average age of(14.5±15.1)months and 38.2%males,was divided into standardized group for patients receiving 3-step standardized mitral valvuloplasty(n=69)and annuloplasty group for patients undergoing annuloplasty only(n=41).After propensity score matching,a total of 38 pairs of patients were included,comparing the primary endpoint(functional mitral failure and postoperative heart failure)between the two groups. Results:Over a median follow-up of 26.3(19.8,32.9)months,and with a median echocardiographic follow-up of 11.9(7.5,14.8)months,no death was recorded.Among the cases,one patient(0.8%)necessitated unplanned reoperation;and seven patients(6.4%)experienced a recurrence of moderate-severe mitral regurgitation as observed through echocardiography beyond 6 months post-surgery.Additionally,nine patients developed heart failure at one month post-discharge.Above events were similar between the two groups.Following propensity score matching,patients in the standardized group demonstrated significantly longer cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times compared to the annuloplasty group(both P＜0.05),other outcomes were similar between the two groups.Subgroup analysis based on age indicated that infants(＜1 year old)in the standardized group exhibited a significantly lower incidence of major endpoint events compared to the annuloplasty group.Additionally,postoperative echocardiography in annuloplasty group indicated that Z score of left ventricular end diastolic diameter was still greater than 2 during the latest follow-up. Conclusions:Patients with volume-overloaded mitral regurgitation in the standardized group exhibited comparable perioperative recovery and postoperative outcomes as in the annuloplasty group.For pediatric patients suffering from volume-overloaded mitral regurgitation,particularly those under one year of age,the standardized surgical approach exhibited reduced rates of heart failure and major endpoint events,and this strategy is more suitable for this patient group.

Objective:To study the clinical features and drug resistance profile of neonatal sepsis caused by different species of Klebsiella.Methods:From January 2009 to December 2018, cryopreserved Klebsiella strains from blood culture of neonatal sepsis cases in NICU of our hospital were reactivated. Molecular identification and antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed. Clinical features, laboratory tests, drug resistance profile and prognosis of these patients were analyzed retrospectively.Results:A total of 29 strains of Klebsiella were reactivated. Molecular identification assigned 22 cases (75.9%) into Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kpn) group and 7 cases (24.1%) into Klebsiella quasipneumoniae (Kqu) group. Gestational age and birth weight of Kpn group were higher than Kqu group [(33.1±3.2) weeks vs. (30.6±0.9) weeks, (1 847±677) g vs. (1 416±121) g] ( P<0.05). Abdominal distension was more common in Kqu group than Kpn group [42.9% (3/7) vs. 4.5% (1/22), P<0.05]. No significant differences existed in the laboratory tests including white blood cell count, platelet count, hypersensitive C-reactive protein and procalcitonin between the two groups ( P>0.05). Kpn was 100.0% sensitive to Cefazolin-Tazobactam and Amikacinto and less sensitive to Imipenem and Cefperazone-Sulbactam, Meropenem and Ertapenem. Kqu was generally more sensitive than Kpn and the sensitivity of Kqu to Imipenem was 100.0%. No significant differences existed of the prognosis between the two groups ( P>0.05). Conclusions:Kpn is the main pathogen of neonatal Klebsiella sepsis. Kqu sepsis is more common in neonates with smaller gestational age and lower birth weight. Abdominal distention is common presenting symptom in Kpn sepsis and sensitive antibiotics should be used early.

Objective    To evaluate the mid- and long-term outcomes of different surgical techniques for subaortic stenosis. Methods    The clinical data of 75 patients with subaortic stenosis who underwent surgery in our hospital from January 2008 to January 2018 were retrospectively analyzed, including 48 males and 27 females, with a median age of 72 (48, 132) months and mean weight of 21.35±15.82 kg. There were 40 (53.3%) patients combined with aortic regurgitation; 38 (50.7%) patients were the first time and 37 patients were the second time to receive the operation. According to the surgical techniques, 75 patients were divided into two groups: a group A (40 patients with simple subaortic membrane resection) and a group B (35 patients with subaortic membrane and muscle resection or modified Konno procedure). Results    Two (2.67%) patients died in hospital. There was one late death in the group B. The average preoperative and postoperative pressure gradient of all patients was 69.96±42.02 mm Hg and 7.44±12.45 mm Hg, respectively. All patients were followed up for 51 (12, 120) months. Pressure gradient at follow-up in the group A and the group B was 8.83±14.52 mm Hg and 5.86±9.53 mm Hg, respectively with no statistical difference (P=0.294). Four patients in the group A and 2 patients in the group B needed reintervention. However, there was no statistical difference in the long-term reintervention rate between the two groups (P=0.480). Conclusion    For the different degree of lesions in the left ventricular outflow tract, our management strategy is feasible. Although there is no statistical difference between two the groups in the long-term reintervention rate after simple valvular membrane resection, prolonged follow-up is necessary to examine the long-term outcomes of different surgical techniques.

Objective    To analyze the results of surgical treatment of severe aortic stenosis in infants. Methods    From August 2012 to December 2019, 28 infants undergoing aortic valvuloplasty in our hospital were selected, including 22 males and 6 females, aged 62.00 (47.00, 82.50) d. The baseline characteristics of the patients, postoperative complications and follow-up results were analyzed. Results    Twenty (71.43%) patients had bicuspid aortic valves. Five (17.86%) patients had heart failure and two (7.14%) patients used prostaglandin before surgeries. Postoperative mechanical ventilation time was 25.00 (17.00, 62.75) h, ICU stay was 3.50 (2.00, 8.50) d and postoperative hospital stay was 10.00 (7.00, 16.50) d. Four (14.29%) patients got delayed recovery (ICU stay>14 d). One (3.57%) perioperative death was observed. The follow-up time was 55.00 (43.25, 82.25) months. No death was found during follow-up. Four (14.81%) patients underwent a second operation, including three (11.11%) patients with severe aortic stenosis, and one (3.70%) patient with severe regurgitation. Conclusion    Infants with severe aortic stenosis are seriously ill and have a long postoperative recovery time, requiring early surgery. The postoperative follow-up results are satisfactory.

Objective    To report the short-term outcomes of a standardized, simplified and reproducible strategy of mitral valvuloplasty (MVP), which was focused on leaflet foldoplasty and anatomic anomalies of congenital mitral regurgitation (MR). Methods    Consecutive 74 patients who underwent MVP by our standardized strategy in our institution from 2016 to 2018 were included retrospectively. There were 30 males and 44 females with a median age of 18.5 (6-146) months and weight of 15.4 (7-51) kg. Results    Anatomic anomalies of MR included: (1) subvalvular apparatus: 72 (97.3%) patients with mal-connected chordae tendineae, 31 (41.9%) with absent chordae tendineae and 14 (18.9%) with fused or dysplastic papillary muscle; (2) leaflet: 10 (13.5%) patients with cleft of anterior leaflet, 61 (82.4%) with leaflet prolapse including 56 (91.8%) with anterior leaflet prolapse; (3) annulus: 71 (95.9%) patients with annular dilatation. Leaflet foldoplasty was performed in 61 (82.4%) patients with leaflet prolapse. All patients were successfully discharged and 4 (5.4%) patients were with moderate MR. The follow-up time was 22.0 (9.1-41.8) months. During the follow-up period, 3 patients had moderate MR and 1 patient had reoperation for severe MR. All patients were in normal cardiac function with a mean left ventricular ejection fraction of 66.0%±6.1%. In addition, the mean left ventricular end-diastolic dimension was 31.8±6.0 mm, which was significant smaller than that before the operation (t=6.090, P<0.000 1). Conclusion    The standardized leaflet foldoplasty with resection of mal-connected chordae tendineae and posterior annuloplasty technique is safe and feasible with favorable short-term outcomes in MR patients.

Objective    To explore the appropriate method of biventricular repair and analyze the risk factors for reoperation, by summarizing the 15-year treatment experience of biventricular repair for double outlet right ventricle with non-committed ventricular septal defect (DORVncVSD). Methods    Clinical data of 162 consecutive patients with DORVncVSD who had biventricular repair from 2005 to 2019 in our center were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into two groups according to the path of intracardiac tunnel: 110 patients with ventricular septal defect rerouted to the aorta were recruited into a group A (75 males and 35 females aged 3.6±3.2 years); 52 patients with ventricular septal defect rerouted to the pulmonary artery were into a group B (30 males and 22 females aged 2.8±2.7 years). In order to establish a smooth intracardiac tunnel, enlargement of VSD, the resection of conus muscle and the transfer of tricuspid tendon or papillary muscle, etc were performed at the same time. Results    In the patients with biventricular repair, there were 9 (5.6%) early deaths and 6 (3.7%) early intracardiac baffle obstructions. During the follow-up of 7.5±7.0 years, and 8 (4.9%) late deaths occurred. The 1-year, 5-year, 10-year and 15-year survival rates of the group A were 92.7%, 91.1%, 91.1%, 85.4%, respectively and those of the group B were 92.2%, 85.2%, 85.2%, 85.2%, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant (P=0.560). The follow-up results showed that 10 (6.2%) patients had late-onset intracardiac tunnel obstruction, and 8 patients underwent reoperation. There were more late-onset intracardiac tunnel obstruction patients and overall intracardiac tunnel obstruction patients in the group A than those in the group B (9 patients vs. 1 patient, P=0.017; 15 patients vs. 1 patient, P=0.001). No significant difference of early mortality and late mortality was noted for the group A (P=0.386) and the group B (P=0.223). Also it was noted that performing tricuspid valve operation at the same time in the group A had a significant impact to reduce the occurrence rate of intracardiac obstruction (1/46 vs. 15/64, P=0.004), without any tricuspid regurgitation or stenosis. The reoperation rate of patients with Rastelli after right ventricular outflow tract lesions was significantly higher than that of REV surgery and double root replacement surgery (5/14 vs. 0/38, P<0.001). Conclusion    The effect of biventricular repair for DORVncVSD is satisfactory. And concomitant tricuspid procedures can help reduce the occurrence of intracardiac obstructions. Reconstruction of right ventricular outflow tract with biological valved conduit is a risk factor for reoperation.

Objective    To explore the operative strategy after palliative shunt for correcting congenitally corrected transposition of great artery (cTGA) patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO) and cardiac malpostion. Methods    We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 54 patients with onsecutive cTGA with LVOTO and cardiac malpositon from June 2011 to May 2019. The patients were devided into two groups. There were 24 patients (16 males and 8 females at mean age of 5.4±2.2 years) who underwent one and a half ventricle repair as a one and half ventricle group. And there were 30 patients (19 males and 11 females at age of 8.6±6.2 years) who underwent one ventricle repair operation as a one ventricle group. Follow-up data were collected by telephone interviews. Results    There was no statistical difference in systemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation and systemic ventricular ejection fraction between the two groups (P>0.05). Compared with one and a half ventricle group, the cardiopulmonary bypass time (CPB) time, mechanical ventilation time and intensive care unit stay were significant shorter than those in the one ventricle group (P<0.05), but prolonged pleural effusions developed more frequently in the one ventricle repair group (P<0.05). There was no in-hospital death but 1 follow-up death in each group. The follow-up time was 49 (17-38) months in the one and half ventricle group at follow-up rate of 93.9%, and 47 (12-85) months at follow-up rate at 90.9% in the one ventricle group. One and a half ventricle group had better systemic ventricular ejection fraction (EF) than that in the one ventricle repair group. And the rate of heart function (NYHA) class Ⅲ and class Ⅳ in one and a half ventricle group was lower than that in the ventricle group. No significant difference of survival and freedom from re-intervention probability between the two groups was found. Conclusion    For patients of correction of cTGA with LVOTO and cardiac malposition after palliative shunt, the one-and-a-half ventricular repair procedure is ideal operative strategy.

Objective    To summarize the clinical outcomes and experience of surgical treatment for patients with complete atrioventricular septal defect (CAVSD) above the optimal age for surgery. Methods    We retrospectively reviewed clinical data of 163 simple type CAVSD patients less than 7 years who underwent operations in Fuwai Hospital from 2002 to 2013. The patients were divided into a normal group (n=84, including 37 males and 16 females with an average age of 7.6±2.7 months) and an over-age group (n=79, including 30 males and 49 females with an average age of 34.6±19.6 months) according to whether the age was more than 1 year. Results    The average aortic cross clamp time (88.3±24.4 min vs. 106.1±35.4 min, P<0.001) and cardiopulmonary bypass time (123.6±31.1 min vs. 142.6±47.1 min, P=0.003) were statistically different between the two groups. During the follow-up period (the normal group 53.3±43.9 months, the over-age group 57.2±48.2 months), there was no statistical difference in all-cause mortality (10.7% vs. 8.9%, P=0.691), the incidence of moderate or severe left atrioventricular valve regurgitation (16.7% vs. 21.5%, P=0.430) and reintervention rate (3.6% vs. 0.0%, P=0.266) between the two groups. No left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and complete atrioventricular block occurred in both groups. Conclusion    For CAVSD children above the optimal age, rational surgical treatments can also achieve satisfying results.