Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocols are utilizing a multidisciplinary approach, reassessing physiology to improve clinical outcomes, reducing length of hospital stay (LOS) stay, resulting in cost reduction. Since its introduction in colorectal surgery. the concept has been utilized in various fields and benefits have been recognized also in adult cardiac surgery. However, ERAS concepts in pediatric cardiac surgery are not yet widely established. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effects of on-table extubation (OTE) after pediatric cardiac surgery compared to the standard approach of delayed extubation (DET) during intensive care treatment. Study Design and Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of all pediatric cardiac surgery cases performed in children below the age of two years using cardiopulmonary bypass at our institution in 2021. Exclusion criteria were emergency and off pump surgeries as well as children already ventilated preoperatively. Results: OTE children were older (267.3 days vs. 126.7 days, p < 0.001), had a higher body weight (7.0 ± 1.6 kg vs. 4.9 ± 1.9 kg, p < 0.001), showed significantly reduced duration of ICU treatment (75.9 ± 56.8 h vs. 217.2 ± 211.4 h, p < 0.001) and LOS (11.1 ± 10.2 days vs. 20.1 ± 23.4 days; p = 0.001) compared to DET group. Furthermore, OTE children had significantly fewer catecholamine dependencies at 12-, 24-, 48-, and 72-h post-surgery, while DET children showed a significantly increased intrafluid shift relative to body weight (109.1 ± 82.0 mL/kg body weight vs. 63.0 ± 63.0 mL/kg body weight, p < 0.001). After propensity score matching considering age, weight, bypass duration, Society of Thoracic Surgeons-European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery Mortality (STATS)-Score, and the outcome variables, including duration of ICU treatment, catecholamine dependencies, and hospital LOS, findings significantly favored the OTE group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that on-table extubation after pediatric cardiac surgery is feasible and in our cohort was associated with a favorable postoperative course.

Background: Children with congenital heart disease require repeated catheterization. Anesthetic management influences the procedure and may influence outcome; however, data and recommendations are lacking for infants. We studied the influence of sedation versus general anesthesia (GA) on adverse events during catheterization for children <2 years old. Methods: We conducted a monocentric, retrospective study of all catheterization procedures (2008–2013). High-severity adverse event (HSAE) rates were compared using propensity-score-adjusted models, including pre- and intra-procedural variables. Results: 803 cases (619 patients) (368 (46%) GA, 435 (54%) sedation) with a mean age of 6.9 ± 6.1 months were studied. The conversion rate (GA after sedation) was 18 (4%). Hospital stay was 4.9 ± 4.0 and 4.1 ± 2.5 (p = 0.01) after GA or sedation, respectively. HSAE occurred in 75 (20%) versus 40 (9%) (p < 0.01) in GA versus sedation procedures, respectively. Risk factors (multivariable analysis) were older patients (p = 0.05), smaller weights (p < 0.01), palliated status (OR 3.2 [1.2–8.9], p = 0.02), two-ventricle physiology (OR 7.3 [2.7–20.2], p < 0.01), cyanosis (OR 4.6 [2.2–9.8], p < 0.01), pulmonary hypertension (OR 5.6 [2.0–15.5], p < 0.01), interventional catheterization (OR 1.8 [1.1–3.2], p = 0.02) and procedure-type risk category 4 (OR 28.9 [1.8–455.1], p = 0.02). Sedation did not increase the events rate and decreased the requirement for hemodynamic support (OR 5.2 [2.2–12.0], p < 0.01). Conclusion: Sedation versus GA for cardiac catheterization in children <2 years old is safe and effective with regard to HSAE. Sedation also decreases the requirement for hemodynamic support. Paradoxical effects (older age and two-ventricle physiology) on risk have been found for this specific age cluster.

Background: Palliative surgery for the treatment of functionally univentricular heart malformations consists of a staged approach to separation of the pulmonary and systemic circulation, including the creation of a superior cavopulmonary connection. Literature on the superior cavopulmonary connection in porcine models lacks information on details of the procedure as well as data on its acute hemodynamic effects. In preliminary experiments, we were unable to reproduce an already published porcine model. Therefore, we used a conduit extension and cardiopulmonary bypass in order to achieve hemodynamic stability and still employ the commonly used straight downward pathway for the superior caval vein onto the right pulmonary artery, as in the human clinical setting. This model of a univentricular circulation utilising the superior cavopulmonary anastomosis is intended to be applied in the setting of unilateral diaphragmatic palsy. Hence, we aim to investigate the effect of unilateral diaphragmatic pacing in a reproducible model of univentricular physiology. Methods: Therefore, we constructed an anastomosis between the superior caval vein and the right pulmonary artery (RPA) in 14 pigs on cardiopulmonary bypass using a 12 mm expanded polytetrafluorethylene interposition graft. Six pigs received a bidirectional cavopulmonary connection with unrestricted atrial septal communication (BDCPC), while eight pigs received a unidirectional cavopulmonary connection (UDCPC) to the excluded RPA. Results: The BDCPC resulted in an impaired cardiopulmonary state (cardiac output dropped from 3.15 ± 0.21 to 2.17 ± 0.19 L/min; p < 0.01), mean arterial pressure plummeted (from 80.8 ± 3.7 to 49.3 ± 7.3 mmHg; p = 0.02), arterial lactate concentration rose (from 0.82 ± 0.09 to 4.36 ± 0.96 mmol/L; p = 0.01), arterial oxygen saturation dropped (from 95.8 ± 1.1 to 60.9 ± 10.4%; p < 0.01), and right ventricular function deteriorated (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion decreased from 12 ± 0.7 to 5 ± 0.7 mm; p < 0.01). In contrast, in the UDCPC group, the cardiopulmonary parameters indicated a stable condition. Conclusions: Consequently, a UDCPC is a more suitable acute model in pigs for a univentricular circulation. The model’s reproducibility may aid in future research on partial cavopulmonary connection.