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Cardiac catheterization can affect clinical outcomes in patients on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) after congenital heart surgery; however, its effect in this group of patients remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and outcome of cardiac catheterization in patients undergoing ECMO after congenital cardiac surgery and determine predictors that influence successful weaning. This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients who underwent cardiac catheterization while on ECMO after congenital heart surgery in two cardiac centers between November 2012 and February 2020. Predictors of successful weaning from ECMO were studied using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Of 123 patients on ECMO support after congenital cardiac surgery, 60 patients underwent 60 cardiac catheterizations (31 diagnostic and 29 interventional). Thirty-four (56.7%) and 22 patients (36.7%) underwent successful decannulation from ECMO support and survived after hospital discharge, respectively. Patients who underwent earlier catheterization (within 24 h of ECMO initiation) had more successful weaning from ECMO and survival compared to others. Patients who underwent an interventional procedure (interventional catheterization or redo cardiac surgery after cardiac catheterization) had better survival than those who underwent only diagnostic catheterization (P = 0.038). Shorter durations of ECMO was the most important predictor of successful weaning from ECMO. Early cardiac catheterization greatly impacts successful weaning from ECMO and survival. Patients with correctable lesions amenable either by catheterization or redo surgery are more likely to survive. Shorter durations of ECMO could have a significant influence on successful weaning from ECMO and survival.

Objective Many studies still dispute the identification of independent risk factors that influence outcome after neonatal cardiac surgery. We present our study to announce the contemporary outcomes and risk profile of neonatal cardiac surgery at our institute. Methods We designed a retrospective study of neonatal patients who underwent surgery for congenital heart diseases between June 2011 and April 2020. Demographic, operative, and postoperative data were collected from medical records and surgical databases. The primary outcome was the operative mortality (in-hospital death) and secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay, intensive care unit stay, duration of mechanical ventilation. Results In total, 1155 cardiac surgeries in children were identified; of these, 136 (11.8%) were performed in neonates. Arterial switch operations (48 cases) were the most frequent procedures. Postoperatively, 11 (8.1%) patients required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and 4 (2.9%) patients had complete heart block. Postoperative in-hospital mortality was 11%. The median postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit stay, and hospital length of stay were 6, 18, and 24 days, respectively. Conclusion The early outcomes of neonatal cardiac surgery are encouraging. The requirement of postoperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support, postoperative intracranial hemorrhage, and acute kidney were identified as independent risk factors of mortality following surgery for congenital heart defects in neonates.

Our aim is to determine the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in children with congenital heart disease (CHD). In addition, we demonstrated the effect of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) on vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and calcium levels. The association between perioperative vitamin D levels and postoperative clinical outcomes has been explored. A prospective observational study was conducted from February 2018 to June 2019 on 69 children undergoing elective surgery for CHD under CPB. Blood samples were collected preoperatively, immediate postoperatively, and 24 h postoperatively. Vitamin D deficiency was present in 34 (49.3%) patients preoperatively and 63 (91.3%) patients immediately postoperative. We identified 42.03% decline of 25(OH)D immediately postoperative. Changes in ionized calcium (iCa) concentrations were accompanied by reciprocal alterations in PTH concentrations. Lower postoperative 25(OH)D was associated with higher maximum vasoactive inotropic score (VIS) in the first 24 h postoperative (r = - 0.259, p = 0.03).Conclusion: Vitamin D deficiency is common in children with CHD and the majority are vitamin D deficient following cardiac surgery with acute decline of serum 25(OH)D after CPB. Lower postoperative vitamin D levels in children undergoing cardiac surgery are associated with the need for increasing the inotropic support.What is Known:• Vitamin D is a pleiotropic hormone, important for calcium homeostasis.• Vitamin D deficiency might affect the outcome in critically ill patients.What is New:• Cardiopulmonary bypass causes acute decline of vitamin D in children.• Lower postoperative vitamin D is associated with higher inotropic support.

Individuals with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) can be simultaneously colonized with MRSA on multiple body sites. Using whole genome sequencing (WGS), the intrahost relatedness of MRSA colonization and infection isolates was investigated. In the context of a prospective case–control study of SSTI, we analyzed colonization and infection isolates from US Army Infantry trainees with purulent infection due to MRSA. At the time of clinical presentation for SSTI, culture swabs were obtained from the infection site, as well as from the patient’s nasal, oral, inguinal, and perianal regions. S. aureus culture and susceptibility was performed by standard methods. DNA from MRSA isolates was extracted and libraries were produced. Sequences were generated on an Illumina MiSeq, sequence reads were assembled, and single nucleotide variant (SNV) data were analyzed. Of 74 trainees with MRSA SSTI, 19 (25.7%) were colonized with MRSA. Ten (52.6%) were colonized on more than one body site. Colonization frequency by anatomic site was as follows: inguinal region (33%), nasal region (30%), perianal region (22%), and oral region (14%). A total of 36 MRSA colonization isolates were characterized. The intrahost median number of SNVs between infection and colonization isolates was 17. Among trainees with recurrent MRSA SSTI, limited intrahost diversity suggests that persistent colonization is a major contributor to recurrence risk. Among military trainees with MRSA SSTI, genomic characterization of infection and colonization isolates revealed a high degree of strain relatedness. Single acquisition events may account for MRSA colonization and infection in this population.

Background Junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET) is a plausible life-undermining tachycardia. It mostly happens more often than not in the initial 24–48 h after surgical adjustment of inherent heart deformities when systolic and diastolic capacity of the heart is weakened. The aim of the study was to determine the overall incidence of JET in pediatric patients post open cardiac surgery, possible preoperative and intraoperative risk factors linked with JET, and the effect of JET on morbidity and mortality. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all pediatric patients, age ranged from 0 to 14 years, who underwent open cardiac surgery between 2011 and 2015 in our institution at King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital at Jeddah city, KSA. JET patients were compared with other patients underwent open cardiac surgery who did not develop JET regarding possible risk factors and outcomes. Results The overall incidence of JET in pediatric post open cardiac surgery was 13.8%. Longer cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time (90.22 ± 37.8 min, 95% CI 0.92–35.6) was independently associated with JET. Multivariate analyses showed that longer aortic cross clamp (ACC) time (64.6 ± 25.9 min, 95%CI 0.32–29.2) increased risk of developing JET. Patients who developed JET had longer time of ventilation, intensive care unit stays, and hospitalization course (p = 0.006, p = 0.028, p = 0.027, respectively). Conclusions Longer surgical procedure demonstrated in this study by longer CPB time and longer ACC time contributed to the overall risk of developing JET. Developing JET was associated with worse outcomes.

Background Acute massive pulmonary embolism is a life threatening emergency that is associated with high mortality rate. Patients presenting with cardiac arrest could be saved by emergency pulmonary embolectomy. Patients and Methods Here we present king Abdulaziz University Hospital [KAUH] experience of 5 cases of massive and one case of submassive pulmonary embolism not amenable to thrombolytic therapy treated in our hospital within 18 month period from May 2012 to October 2013. All patients with massive pulmonary embolism were hemodynamically unstable. Three patients had cardiac arrest related to surgical procedures: one during liposuction, another during fixation of a fracture, and the third 2 h after cesarean section. Emergency pulmonary embolectomy was performed for all. Results We had 2 cases of mortality (33.3%). One died intraoperatively and the other died 15 days postoperatively from complications of thrombosed inferior vena cava IVC filter. Two patients of survivors developed acute renal failure postoperatively and required dialysis. They improved and were discharged in stable condition. Conclusion Surgical pulmonary embolectomy is a rescue operation in high-risk PE. It could save patients with preoperative cardiac arrest. Early diagnosis, interdisciplinary team action, appropriate and emergent treatment strategy are necessary for favorable outcome.