Monitoring of the health of children with aortic coarctation in the postoperative period

Abstract

Purpose - to improve the observation of children after surgical treatment of the aortic coarctation.

Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of 87 case histories of patients with aortic coarctation in the preoperative period was performed; 44 patients underwent daily blood pressure monitoring, nitric oxide levels in 61 children were determined in the postoperative period; histological examination of 15 coarctated aortic sites was performed; quality of life was assessed in 56 patients with aortic coarctation after surgical treatment.

Results. According to daily blood pressure monitoring, an inadequate increase in blood pressure during physical and mental activity was obtained; a violation of the circadian rhythm of blood pressure with insufficient decrease in systolic and diastolic or excessive decrease in diastolic pressure was detected. The results of the assessment of blood pressure variability revealed a significant difference in the standard deviation of the mean daily diastolic blood pressure (62.5 (55; 75)), daily diastolic blood pressure (72.5 (57; 78.5)), and an increase in the circadian systolic blood pressure index (16 (11.5; 17)). The level of nitric oxide in the blood of a group of patients with arterial hypertension was 4.18±0.86 μmol/l (M±SD - mean ± standard deviation). in the control group - 5.51±0.69 μmol/l. Thus, a significant decrease in nitric oxide in the group with arterial hypertension was established (t=-5.45; p<0.001). It was also diagnosed that in the group of patients with stable arterial hypertension, the level of nitric oxide was 3.74±0.79 μmol/l, and in the subgroup of patients with labile hypertension - 4.44±0.80 μmol/l, the subgroups in the content of nitric oxide significantly differed from each other (t=2.91; p<0.01), as well as from the values of the control group: with stable arterial hypertension (t=-6.72; p<0.001) and labile arterial hypertension (t=-4.41; p<0.001). The dependence of the level of nitric oxide in serum on the time of the postoperative period and the type of arterial hypertension was established. The histological features of area of narrowing in the form of foci of necrosis of cells and fibers, areas of hypo- and anelastosis, the presence of newly formed vessels of capillary type were identified and studied. The main factors in reducing the quality of life of patients with coarctation of the aorta in the postoperative period are the presence of arterial hypertension, restriction of physical activity, parents’ оverprotection.

Conclusions. Based on the data obtained, an individual observation card of a patient with aortic coarctation was created. A set of clinical, instrumental and laboratory signs that may be a leading role in the occurrence and course of arterial hypertension in children (concomitant cardiovascular and somatic pathologies, initial level of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, level of the final product of nitric oxide in serum, structural features of the aortic wall) has been determined. An original method of examination of patients with aortic coarctation in the postoperative period was proposed.

The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of all participating institutions. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies.

No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.