ObjectivesTo analyze risk factors for chylothorax in infants after congenital heart surgery and the efficacy of median chain triglyceride diet (MCT). To develop our therapeutic pathway for the management of chylothorax.Patients and methodsRetrospective review of the institutional surgical database and patient charts including detailed perioperative informations between 1/2000 and 10/2006. Data analyzing with an elimination regression analysis.ResultsTwenty six out of 282 patients had chylothorax (=9.2%). Secondary chest closure, low body weight, small size, longer cardiopulmonary bypass (242 ± 30 versus 129 ± 5 min) and x-clamp times (111 ± 15 versus 62 ± 3 min) were significantly associated with chylothorax (p < 0.05). One patient was cured with total parenteral nutrition (TPN) and one without any treatment. 24 patients received MCT-diet alone, which was successful in 17 patients within 10 days. After conversion to regular alimentation within one week only one chylothorax relapsed. Out of 7 patients primarily not responsive to MCT-diet, 2 were successfully treated by lysis of a caval vein thrombosis, 2 by TPN + pleurodesis + supradiaphragmatic thoracic duct ligation, one by octreotide treatment, and two patients finally died.ConclusionsChylothorax may appear due to injury of the thoracic duct, due to venous or lymphatic congestion, central vein thrombosis, or diffuse injury of mediastinal lymphatic tissue in association with secondary chest closure. Application of MCT alone was effective in 71%, and more invasive treatments like TPN should not be used in primary routine. After resolution of chylothorax, MCT-diet can be converted to regular milk formula within one week and with very low risk of relapse.

Background The storage time of packed red blood cells (pRBC) is an indicator of change in the product's pH, potassium, and lactate levels. Blood–gas analysis is a readily available bedside tool on every intensive care ward to measure these factors prior to application, thus facilitating a calculated decision on a transfusion's quantity and duration.Our first goal is to assess the impact of storage time on pH, potassium, and lactate levels in pRBC. The influence of those parameters in the transfused children will then be evaluated. Methods In this retrospective study, we conducted blood–gas analyses of pRBC units before they were administered over 4 hours to neonates, infants, and children in our pediatric cardiac intensive care ward. All patients underwent regular blood–gas analyses themselves, before and after transfusion. Results We observed a highly significant correlation between the storage time of pRBC units and a drop in pH, as well as an increase in potassium and lactate of stored red cells (p< 0.0001). Median age of recipients with a complete blood–gas dataset was 0.1 (interquartile range [IQR] = 0.0–0.7) years; median pRBC storage duration was 6 (IQR = 5–8) days. Further analyses showed no statistically significant effect on children's blood gases within 4 hours after transfusion, even after stratifying for pRBC storage time ≤7 days and >7 days. Conclusion Stored red blood cells show a rapid decrease in pH and increase in potassium and lactate. Slow transfusion of these units had no adverse effects on the recipients' pH, potassium, and lactate levels.

Background: The charity organization Kinderherzen retten e.V. (KHR) enables humanitarian congenital heart surgery for pediatric patients from low- and middle-income countries at the University Heart Center Freiburg, Germany. The aim of this study was to assess periprocedural and mid-term outcomes of these patients for evaluation of KHR sustainability. Methods: Part one of the study comprised retrospective medical chart analyses of the periprocedural course of all KHR-treated children from 2008 to 2017, and part two a prospective evaluation of their mid-term outcome, assessed by questionnaires concerning survival, medical history, mental and physical development, and socioeconomic situation. Results: Of the 100 consecutively presented children from 20 countries (median age 3.25 years), 3 patients were not invasively treatable, 89 underwent cardiovascular surgery, and 8 received a catheter intervention only. There were no periprocedural deaths. Median postoperative duration of mechanical ventilation, intensive care stay, and total hospital stay was 7 (interquartile range [IQR] 4-21) hours, 2 (IQR 1-3) days, and 12 (IQR 10-16) days, respectively. Mid-term postoperative follow-up demonstrated a 5-year survival probability of 94.4%. The majority of patients received continued medical care in their home country (86.2% of patients), were in good mental and physical condition (96.5% and 94.7% of patients, respectively), and able to engage in age-appropriate education/employment (98.3% of patients). Conclusions: Cardiac, neurodevelopmental, and socioeconomic outcomes of patients treated via KHR was satisfactory. Thorough pre-visit evaluation and close contact with local physicians are crucial when providing this high-quality, sustainable, and viable therapeutic option for these patients.