Background and Objectives: With the growing population of arterial switch operation survivors, the rate of late complications associated with the operation is growing as well. The aim of this publication is to share our experience and encourage collaboration between congenital cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists in treating late complications after arterial switch operation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of Vilnius University Santaros Clinics Cardiothoracic Surgery Centre arterial switch operation survivors who underwent additional treatment for late neo-pulmonary artery stenosis and aortic arch obstruction between 1989 and 2019 was conducted. Results: Out of 95 arterial switch operation survivors 14 (15%) underwent 36 reinterventions. The majority were treated for neo-pulmonary stenosis. The median time from arterial switch operation to the first reintervention was 1.4 years (interquartile range, 2 months to 2.4 years). 1, 3, 5, and 10 years intervention-free survival in patients treated for neo-pulmonary stenosis and aortic arch obstruction was 98, 94, 94, and 93% vs. 95, 94, 94, and 93%, respectively. There were no complications associated with redo surgical procedures, while eight patients who underwent catheter-based interventional treatment had treatment-related complications, including one death. Conclusions: Both neo-pulmonary stenosis and aortic arch obstruction (new aortic coarctations or aortic recoarctations) tend to develop in the first decade after an arterial switch operation. Surgical and catheter-based interventional treatment with good results is possible even in a small volume center. Close collaboration of the congenital heart team (congenital cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists) in choosing the best treatment option for an individual patient helps to minimize the risk of potential complications.

Background and Objectives: The results of the arterial switch operation in large congenital heart centers are excellent, and the results in small and medium centers are improving. The objective of this article is to share our experience utilizing the international knowledge transfer program to improve early and late arterial switch operation outcomes in our center. Materials and Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent the arterial switch operation in Vilnius University Santaros Clinics Cardiothoracic Surgery Center between 1977–2020 was performed. Results: A total of 127 consecutive arterial switch operations were performed in our center. Surgical mortality during the entire study period was 24.6%. Surgical mortality prior to the program, during the program, and after the program was 88.24%, 41.7%, and 5.81%, respectively (p < 0.0001). The surgical mortality of patients operated on during the last 10 years was 4%. The overall survival estimate for the 97 surviving patients was 96.9%, 94.9%, 93.8%, 93.8%, 93.8%, 93.8% at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years, respectively. Risk factors for early mortality included longer aortic cross-clamp time and operation prior to the knowledge transfer program. The only significant risk factor for late reintervention was concomitant aortic arch obstruction treated at the time of the arterial switch. Conclusions: The surgical treatment of transposition of the great arteries by means of an arterial switch with good results can be possible in low-to-medium volume congenital heart surgery centers. International knowledge transfer programs between high-expertise high-volume congenital heart centers and low-to-medium volume congenital heart centers may help to shorten the learning curve and improve early and late outcomes after an arterial switch. The risk factors for surgical mortality and intervention-free survival in low-volume surgical centers are similar to those in high-volume centers. Late arterial switch-related complications are similar to those among different-sized congenital heart centers.

Virginijus Jakutis1, Kęstutis Versockas1, Asta Rutkauskienė1, Giedrė Nogienė21 Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikų Anesteziologijos,intensyviosios terapijos ir skausmo gydymo centras2 Vilniaus universiteto Širdies chirurgijos centrasEl paštas: Virginijus.Jakutis@santa.lt Įvadas / tikslas Bradiaritmija – viena iš komplikacijų tiek Intensyviosios terapijos skyriuje ankstyvuoju pooperaciniu laikotarpiu, tiek vėliau – praėjus keletui dienų, savaičių ar mėnesių po įgimtų širdies ydų operacijų vaikams. Retai bradiaritmijai gydyti tenka taikyti nuolatinę elektrinę širdies stimuliaciją. Tikslas – apžvelgti, kaip dažnai, po kokių operacijų ir kada tenka taikyti nuolatinę elektrinę širdies stimuliaciją, ir gautus duomenis palyginti su kitų klinikų duomenimis. Ligoniai ir metodai Retrospektyviai ištirti 2582 ligoniai, sergantys įgimta širdies yda, kuriems 1994–2006 metais Vilniaus universiteto ligoninės Santariškių klinikose buvo atliktos įgimtos širdies ydos korekcijos operacijos. Rezultatai 33 (1,3%) ligoniams, kurių amžiaus vidurkis ketveri metai (nuo 5 parų iki 15,5 metų, mediana 2,6 metų), implantuotas nuolatinis elektrinis širdies stimuliatorius. Iš 250 ligonių, kuriems atlikta skilvelių pertvaros defekto plastikos operacija, 15 atvejų (6,0%) reikėjo nuolatinės elektrinės širdies stimuliacijos. Po atliktų atrioventrikulinės komunikacijos korekcijos 87 operacijų nuolatinės elektrinės širdies stimuliacijos reikėjo trims ligoniams (3,4%); po Senningo operacijos šešiems iš 14 ligonių (42,5%); po Rastelli operacijos dviem iš 12 ligonių (16,7%); po Fallot tetrados radikalios korekcijos operacijos – dviem ligoniams. Išvados Nuolatinė elektrinė širdies stimuliacija dažniausiai buvo reikalinga po skilvelių pertvaros defekto ir stambiųjų kraujagyslių transpozicijos intraprieširdinės korekcijos operacijų.Gauti duomenys sutampa su kitų klinikų duomenimis. Pagrindiniai žodžiai: atrioventrikulinė blokada, įgimta širdies yda, širdies elektrinė stimuliacija

Introduction: To establish the efficacy of ultrasound (US) combined with urine biomarkers in differentiating patients who require surgical management from those who do not, avoiding invasive investigations.Materials and Methods: From February 2019 to February 2021, all pediatric patients who presented with hydronephrosis were selected for the study. All renal units (RU) were evaluated by US, and fresh frozen voided urine samples were collected at the time of inclusion. Hydronephrosis grade was evaluated by the Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) and an alternative grading system (AGS). Patients who had high-grade hydronephrosis on US were referred to renal scan (RS) or intervention, when there was an increase of dilatation in subsequent follow-up images. Fresh frozen urine from the control group with no history of renal diseases and no renal anomalies on US was collected. We compared differences of US parameters combined with urine biomarkers between surgically and non-surgically managed patients and between the groups of patients when they were stratified by different RS findings and analyzed whether urinary biomarkers give any additional value to US. Instead of the anterior–posterior diameter (APD), we used its ratio with mid-parenchymal thickness. The additional efficacy of biomarkers to US was calculated when the US component was derived to a cumulative APD/mid-parenchymal ratio.Results: Sixty-four patients with hydronephrosis were prospectively included in the study accounting for a total of 81 patient visits and 162 RUs evaluated. A control group of 26 patients was collected. The mean age at inclusion in the hydronephrosis group was 43.7(±45.5) months, and a mean age in a control group was 61.2(±41.3) months. The cumulative APD/mid-parenchymal ratio combined with urinary albumin, β2 microglobulin (β2-M), and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin may have a better performance in the prediction of surgical intervention than the cumulative APD/mid-parenchymal ratio alone (p = 0.1). The best performance to detect the increased tissue transit time and obstructive curve on RS was demonstrated by the β2-M creatinine ratio. An increased cumulative APD/mid-parenchymal ratio with biomarkers together had a fairly good sensitivity and specificity for detection of DRF &lt; 40%.Conclusions: According to our data, the APD/mid-parenchymal ratio alone has good efficacy in prediction of surgery and abnormal RS findings especially when combined with urine biomarkers.

Straipsnyje pasakojame apie kompleksinës Taussig ir Bingo anomalijos esant aortos koarktacijai ir hipoplastiðkam aortos lankui vienmomentá chirurginá gydymà, pirmàkart atliktà Lietuvoje. 2007 m. vasario 8 d. Vilniaus universiteto ligoninës Santariðkiø klinikø Ðirdies chirurgijos centre operuotas 2 mënesiø 4,2 kg svorio kûdikis, kurio klinikinë diagnozë buvo: dvigubas iðtekëjimas ið deðiniojo skilvelio, Taussig ir Bingo anomalija, skilveliø pertvaros defektas, aortos koarktacija ir aortos lanko hipoplazija, plautinë hipertenzija, lëtinë hipoksemija, lëtinis ðirdies nepakankamumas. Atlikta vienmomentë iðtaisanti visas ydas chirurginë korekcija -aortos koarktacijos ir hipoplastiðko aortos lanko plastika, stambiøjø arterijø apkeitimo (Jatene) operacija ir skilveliø pertvaros defekto plastika. Operacija pavyko sëkmingai, kûdikis iðleistas á namus stabilios bûklës 26 parà po operacijos. Pagrindiniai þodþiai: dvigubas iðtekëjimas ið deðiniojo skilvelio, Taussig ir Bingo anomalija, aortos lanko hipoplazija, Jatene operacija