Background: Idiopathic bile acid malabsorption is a poorly recognized cause of chronic diarrhoea. The SeHCAT (75Selenium HomotauroCholic Acid Test) can accurately diagnose this condition. Aim: To identify patients with idiopathic bile acid malabsorption, to describe their clinical features, both qualitatively and quantitatively, and to assess the response to cholestyramine. Method: Idiopathic bile acid malabsorption was considered in all patients complaining of chronic diarrhoea. They were included in the study if their SeHCATs were positive (< 15% retention) and secondary causes of bile acid malabsorption were excluded. The response to therapy with cholestyramine was assessed. Results: Nine patients were diagnosed with idiopathic bile acid malabsorption (median SeHCAT retention 8%, range 3–12.6). Their median daily faecal weight was 285 g (range 85–676) and median faecal fat output was 17 mmol/24 h (range 8.3–38.8). Six patients had an immediate response to cholestyramine. There was a marked reduction in stool frequency (median stool frequency pre‐treatment 5/day vs. 2/day post‐treatment, P = 0.03). Five patients had large volume diarrhoea (faecal weight > 200 g/day) and three had steatorrhoea. Conclusions: Idiopathic bile acid malabsorption, once suspected, especially by documenting true ‘large volume’ watery diarrhoea or steatorrhoea, is easily diagnosed and response to therapy is often very good. There is often a previous history of gastrointestinal infection and this condition should be considered in patients with chronic diarrhoea of undetermined origin, especially before they are labelled as having irritable bowel syndrome.

Objectives: Although surgical repair of an anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery has low operative mortality, longer-term risk of ischemia and aortic regurgitation remains concerning. We routinely perform aortic commissure resuspension after unroofing and sought to evaluate the outcomes with regard to aortic valve competence, symptoms, and signs of ischemia with this approach. Methods: Twenty-six consecutive patients who received the unroofing procedure for anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery (10 left; 16 right) between 2004 and 2016 were reviewed. In addition to complete unroofing of the intramural coronary, patients early in the cohort (n ¼ 9) received unroofing only, and aortic commissural resuspension was performed routinely in the subsequent patients (n ¼ 17). Outcomes between commissural resuspension versus no commissural resuspension were compared. The occurrence of mild and greater aortic regurgitation was assessed using a time-to-event analysis after varying lengths of time. Commissural resuspension was considered as the predictor, and the groups were compared using a log-rank test. Results: There was no operative mortality. One patient in the no commissural resuspension group died 10 years later of prosthetic aortic valve endocarditis (aortic valve replacement 7 years after unroofing). The follow-up duration was 6.9 years (4.9-9.1) and 3.7 years (2.1-4.3) in the no commissural resuspension and commissural resuspension groups, respectively (P ¼ .001). Available postoperative exercise stress test data (n ¼ 14) revealed that 50% had an endurance level at the 25th percentile or greater for age. After a median follow-up of 1.9 years (3 months to 10.6 years), no patient in the commissural resuspension group had aortic regurgitation, whereas 6 of 9 patients (67%) in the no commissural resuspension group had stable but mild or greater aortic regurgitation. Time-to-event analysis with the primary event of occurrence of mild or greater aortic regurgitation showed significantly higher freedom from the occurrence of aortic regurgitation in the commissural resuspension group (P ¼ .035). Conclusions: Surgical repair of an anomalous aortic origin of the coronary artery can be performed with excellent early and midterm outcomes. Routine commissural resuspension of the aortic valve may lead to a lower rate of aortic valve regurgitation without increasing the risk of ischemia.

Background. The intra-extracardiac (IE) Fontan modification has advantages over the lateral tunnel modification. A direct comparison of IE to the extracardiac (EC) modification so far has not been done. This study compared IE to EC Fontan with respect to early postoperative outcomes.Methods. We retrospectively compared outcomes of the Fontan operation using the IE or EC conduit modification between January 2012 and December 2016. IE and EC groups were compared using univariate and multivariable regression analysis. To eliminate the confounding effects of fenestration, repeat intergroup comparison was performed after excluding nonfenestrated patients.Results. There were 81 patients grouped according to Fontan modification into the IE group (n [ 43) or EC group (n [ 38). The Fontan was fenestrated in 100% of the IE group but in only 55% of the EC group (p < 0.001). Cardiopulmonary bypass time was shorter for the IE group (74 vs 103, p < 0.001) The IE patients had median

Background: We have previously reported use of cryopreserved valve femoral vein homograft (FVH) conduits for biventricular repairs in infants needing right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) reconstruction. This study aims to compare FVH conduits with aortic (A) and pulmonary (P) homografts with regards to intermediate-and long-term outcomes.Methods: Retrospective review was conducted of all infants between 2004 and 2016 who underwent biventricular repair with RVOT reconstruction using homograft conduits. Patients were divided into A, P, and FVH groups based upon type of conduit received (N ¼ 57 [A ¼ 13; P ¼ 21, FVH ¼ 23]). Groups were compared using univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses. The Nelson-Aalen estimator of cumulative hazard and Kaplan-Meier curves were used to identify differences in freedom from catheter reintervention and reoperation.Results: The 2 groups were comparable except for greater incidence of delayed sternal closure and longer hospital length of stay in the FVH group. The followup was longer for A and P groups compared with the FVH group (P<.001). Multivariable Cox regression, adjusting for difference in the length of follow-up, revealed comparable freedom from overall reintervention between the groups. Younger age at implantation was the only independent predictor of overall reintervention (hazard ratio per day younger age, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.11; P ¼ .002). Nelson-Aalen cumulative hazard analysis revealed greater freedom from percutaneous reintervention with use of FVH. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed comparable freedom from reoperation for all three conduits.Conclusions: Valved femoral vein homograft conduits are comparable with aortic and pulmonary homografts for RVOT reconstruction in infants undergoing biventricular repairs.

Background Pericardial adhesions in infants and small children following cardiac surgery can impede access to the epicardium. We previously described minimally invasive epicardial lead placement under direct visualization in an infant porcine model using a single subxiphoid incision. The objective of this study was to assess the acute feasibility of this approach in the presence of postoperative pericardial adhesions. Methods Adhesion group piglets underwent left thoracotomy with pericardiotomy followed by a recovery period to develop pericardial adhesions. Control group piglets did not undergo surgery. Both groups underwent minimally invasive epicardial lead placement using a 2‐channel access port (PeriPath) inserted through a 1 cm subxiphoid incision. Under direct thoracoscopic visualization, pericardial access was obtained with a 7‐French sheath, and a pacing lead was affixed against the ventricular epicardium. Sensed R‐wave amplitudes, lead impedances and capture thresholds were measured. Results Eight piglets underwent successful pericardiectomy and developed adhesions after a median recovery time of 45 days. Epicardial lead placement was successful in adhesion (9.5 ± 2.7 kg, n = 8) and control (5.6 ± 1.5 kg, n = 7) piglets. There were no acute complications. There were no significant differences in capture thresholds or sensing between groups. Procedure times in the adhesion group were longer than in controls, and while lead impedances were significantly higher in the adhesion group, all were within normal range. Conclusions Pericardial adhesions do not preclude minimally invasive placement of epicardial leads in an infant porcine model. This minimally invasive approach could potentially be applied to pediatric patients with prior cardiac surgery.