This study aims to assess the frequency of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) following congenital heart surgery and risk factors associated with this clinical syndrome. Charts of all patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease in a single institution over a five-year period were analyzed retrospectively. The presence of SIRS was evaluated based on the criteria of the International Pediatric Sepsis Consensus Conference. Of the 246 patients included in the study 22 (8.9%) had clinical parameters indicating SIRS. The patients in the SIRS group had significantly longer cardiopulmonary bypass time (105.14 ± 27.27 vs. 66.86 ± 26.64 min; p < 0.01), aortic cross clamp time (69.36 ± 21.52 vs. 44.30 ± 24.27 min; p < 0.01), higher postoperative alanine aminotransferase (1419.00 ± 3260.99 vs. 81.95 ± 808.61 U/L; p < 0.01) and aspartate aminotransferase (2137.14 ± 4905.40 vs. 171.33 ± 1303.21 U/L; p < 0.01), white blood cell counts (20,827 ± 3603 vs. 12,242 ± 3782/µL; p < 0.01) and lower body surface area (0.52 ± 0.32 vs. 0.71 ± 0.36 m(2) ; p < 0.05) compared to patients in the no-SIRS group. Binary logistic regression revealed cardiopulmonary bypass time (OR: 1.05, p < 0.05), low body weight (<10 kg) (OR: 2.44; p < 0.05), and preoperative diagnosis of right to left shunt congenital heart disease (OR: 8.06; p < 0.01) as independent predictors of SIRS. SIRS was also found to be a strong independent predictor of mortality (OR: 10.13, p < 0.01). SIRS after congenital heart surgery is associated with increased mortality. Independent risk factors for SIRS in the patient population of the study were cardiopulmonary bypass time, body weight below 10 kg and preoperative diagnosis of right to left shunt congenital heart disease.

Background The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of COVID‐19 outbreak on congenital cardiac surgery practice in a single center. Methods The first case of COVID‐19 in our country was seen on March 11th, 2020. The patients operated between March 11th, 2019‐and March 10th, 2020 were taken as the pre‐COVID group, and those operated between March 11th and May 11th, 2020 were taken as the COVID group. The data was retrospectively collected, and the two periods were compared. Results Monthly average number of cases which was 52 patients/month (626 patients in 12 months) before COVID decreased to 35 patients/month (70 patients in 2 months) during COVID periods (P < .01). During the pre‐COVID period the median postoperative length of hospital stay was 3 (IQR: 1‐5) days. During the COVID period, this decreased to 1 (IQR: 1‐3) day (P < .01). During the pre‐COVID period, the hospital expenses of 17% (8/47) of the foreign nationals were covered by their homeland. The remaining 83% (39/47) were paid from the asylum seekers’ fund. The proportion of foreign nationals operated significantly decreased during the COVID period ([7%; 47/632 vs 1%; 1/70]; P = .04). No significant difference was observed in terms of STAT mortality scores and categories and postoperative results of the operations performed between the two periods. Conclusions Congenital cardiac surgery practice can be safely maintained with restricted case volume during the pandemic period. It is alarming that patients in the deprived areas cannot access pediatric cardiac surgery and possibly other health services because of closure of the borders between countries.

Tracheostomy is one of the most frequent interventions for ICU patients. The current trend in performing a tracheostomy is a percutaneous approach because of its popularity and significant advantages. In this study, certain indications of surgical tracheostomy (ST) are suggested and furthermore, ST is compared with percutaneous tracheostomy (PT). We performed a U-shaped ST in 121 patients and PT in 85 patients between March 2003 and December 2006. All of the STs were opened U-shaped in the operating room. In this technique; instead of removing the tracheal ring, it was used to create a flap. The tracheal flap was hung with a suture from middle of the 2nd or the 3rd cartilage rings, as a guide. Also, the PT procedure "Griggs dilatation technique" was performed in the ICU. PT and ST had similar complication rates: 4.1% for ST [bleeding in 2 patients, stenosis in 2, and stomal infection in 1] versus 3.6% for PT [bleeding in 2 patients, and pneomothorax in 1] (p = 0.08). No significant difference was found regarding mean operation time between ST [12 min (9-18)] and PT [8 min (6-16)] (p = 0.09) Staff utilization and cost seem like the major advantages of PT. However, our surgical technique has similar complication rates with PT and moreover, using ST still remains favorable for select patients with thyroid hyperplasia, short neck, tracheaomalacia, obesity, neck operation history and for children.

Background The aim of this study was to analyze the results of pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) performed simultaneously with additional cardiac procedures in a single tertiary-level center. Methods Data of patients who underwent PEA with additional cardiac procedures for chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) in our clinic were retrospectively reviewed using patient records. Results Between March 2011 and April 2019, 56 patients underwent PEA with additional cardiac surgery. The most common additional procedure was coronary artery bypass grafting (21 patients; 38%). The median intensive care unit and hospital stays were 4 (3–6) days and 10 (8–14) days. Mortality was recorded in six patients (11%). In multivariate analysis, only preoperative pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) (p = 0.02; odds ratio [OR]: 1.003) and cardiopulmonary bypass duration (p = 0.02; OR: 1.028) were associated with mortality. When the cutoff value of 1000 dyn.s.cm⁻⁵ was taken in the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, preoperative PVR predicted mortality with 83% sensitivity and 94% specificity (area under curve = 0.89; p < 0.01). Conclusion PEA for CTEPH may be performed safely with other cardiac operations. This type of surgery is a complex procedure that should be performed only in expert centers. Patients with high preoperative PVR are at increased risk of perioperative complications. Study conception and design: Hasan Erdem, Oktay Korun, Bedrettin Yildizeli. Acquisition of data: Hasan Erdem, Oktay Korun, Mehmed Yanartaş, Serpil Taş, Benay Erden, Onur Yerlikhan, Atakan Erkilinç, Cihangir Kaymaz, Hasan Sunar, Bedrettin Yildizeli. Analysis and interpretation of data: Oktay Korun, Bedrettin Yildizeli. Drafting of manuscript: Hasan Erdem, Oktay Korun, Bedrettin Yildizeli. Critical revision: Hasan Erdem, Oktay Korun, Mehmed Yanartaş, Serpil Taş, Benay Erden, Onur Yerlikhan, Atakan Erkilinç, Cihangir Kaymaz, Hasan Sunar, Bedrettin Yildizeli. Herewith we all declare that we agree to all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.