Positive Pressure Ventilation and Sternal Closure in HLHS

Effect of Positive Pressure Ventilation on Hemodynamics Around Delayed Sternal Closure Following Stage 1 Palliation of the Single Ventricle

This study will examine the cardiopulmonary interactions that occur with increasing ventilator settings (PEEP and PIP) in neonates after stage I palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome before and after sternal closure. Outcome measures include oxygen delivery and cardiac output.

Study Overview

• Status: Withdrawn
• Conditions: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: PEEP and PIP

Detailed Description

The objective of this study is to define the impact of variable levels of PEEP and tidal volume on hemodynamics and lung mechanics around delayed sternal closure after Stage 1 palliation in the single ventricle patient.

The Specific Aims of this work are:

Specific Aim 1: Evaluate hemodynamics and lung mechanics across a range of PEEP (2-12 cm H2O) before and after chest closure, while maintaining consistent ventilation, in infants with single ventricle physiology who undergo delayed sternal closure after Stage 1 palliation surgery.

Specific Aim 2: Evaluate hemodynamics and lung mechanics across a range of tidal volumes (6-15ml/kg) and before and after chest closure, while maintaining consistent ventilation, in infants with single ventricle physiology who undergo delayed sternal closure after Stage 1 palliation surgery.

Hypotheses

1. The effects of PEEP and tidal volume on hemodynamics and lung mechanics will be significantly different before and after sternal closure. We expect that there will be little effect of PEEP or tidal volume when the sternum remains open. Once the sternum is closed, we hypothesize that those with shunted single ventricle physiology will have optimal oxygen delivery and lung mechanics with modest PEEP and tidal volume (U-shaped curves).

Rationale: Delayed sternal closure is commonly used to prevent tissue tamponade and promote favorable hemodynamics in critically ill patients following surgery for congenital heart disease. This technique is frequently employed in shunted single ventricle physiology (i.e.- Norwood patients). While there have been several studies that have shown that sternal closure is associated with temporary hemodynamic changes and stiffer lung mechanics, there have been no prospective studies of the impact of different ventilator strategies on hemodynamics, and lung mechanics before and after sternal closure. Because these patients are generally among the most fragile postoperative patients, it is critical to understand if specific ventilator strategies can help mitigate any negative hemodynamic consequences of chest closure. The purpose of this study is to understand the critical cardiopulmonary interactions that occur with delayed sternal closure in this population, and to determine optimal approaches to mechanical ventilation under these different circumstances.

Cardiopulmonary interactions differ based on the underlying cardiac anatomy and physiology. Most studies of cardiopulmonary interactions following surgery for congenital heart disease have examined the difference between positive and negative pressure ventilation in those with right ventricular restrictive physiology such as after tetralogy of Fallot repair, or after cavopulmonary connection surgery. This work consistently shows improvement in cardiac output and pulmonary blood flow with negative pressure ventilation. It is not practical, however, to maintain negative pressure ventilation when the sternum remains open and it is not even clear that the same cardiopulmonary interactions are at play in the absence of significant elastic recoil forces of the chest wall.

Similarly, while patients with left ventricular dysfunction generally benefit from positive pressure ventilation, there is no data regarding the hemodynamic effects of positive pressure ventilation in left ventricular dysfunction when intrathoracic pressure will not deviate from atmospheric, which is the situation with delayed sternal closure.

Shunted single ventricle physiology is perhaps the most difficult for which to predict the effects of different ventilator strategies before and after sternal closure. The combination of parallel pulmonary and systemic circulations, less than optimal total cardiac output and, most commonly, at least some pulmonary edema make it difficult to predict the ideal ventilator strategy. Studies in this population have focused more on the effects of FiO2 and hyperventilation than on respiratory mechanics and cardiopulmonary interactions. Nevertheless, this work has shown that the occurrence of pulmonary venous desaturation is common following stage 1 Norwood surgery, and it remains unknown if there is risk or benefit from strategies such as lower or higher tidal volumes or lower or higher PEEP on hemodynamics and oxygen delivery.

• Study Type: Observational

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 1X8
      • The Hospital for Sick Children

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: No older than 1 year (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Infants after congenital heart surgery.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. All patients who, following stage 1 palliation for single ventricle physiology, undergo delayed sternal closure are eligible to be included in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. History of pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, or other contraindication to the proposed ventilator manipulations as determined by the responsible CCCU staff physician.
2. Endotracheal tube leak > 15%.
3. Lack of informed consent from parents.
4. Weight less than 2.6kg

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Crossover
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Intervention; Alter PEEP and PIP and measure hemodynamic outcomes.	Device: PEEP and PIP; Changing ventilator settings and measuring oxygen delivery and cardiac output

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Oxygen Delivery calculated from direct measurements of oxygen consumption via respiratory mass spectrometry	Oxygen delivery will be calculated from direct measurements of oxygen consumption via respiratory mass spectrometry and estimates of cardiac output calculated using the Fick equation from measured arterial a venous blood gas samples.	Measurements made 15 minutes after each ventilator change. Total duration of observation is 2.5 hours.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Cardiac Output calculated using the Fick Equation	Cardiac output will be calculated using the Fick Equation from direct measurement of oxygen consumption using respiratory mass spectrometry and arterial and venous blood gas samples.	Measurements made 15 minutes after each ventilator change. Total duration of observation is 2.5 hours.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Steven Schwartz, MD, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: February 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2016
• Study Completion (Anticipated): June 1, 2017

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 5, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 23, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): May 28, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 29, 2018
• Last Verified: April 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Heart Defects, Congenital; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1000047473