Dynamic, data-driven predictors of perioperative mortality risks in preterm/early-term neonates with CHD undergoing cardiac surgery in the first 24 months of life are limited.

To identify risk factors of mortality in the first 24 months of life for pre/early-term neonates with CHD.

Retrospective cohort study of patients <39 weeks of gestation undergoing cardiac surgery within 24 months of life from 2013–2020 at a tertiary care centre. Independent risk factors of mortality within 24 months of life were determined by multivariable Cox regression analysis.

Among the 205 neonates, 33 (16.1%) died within 24 months. Multivariable analysis revealed that high-frequency ventilation (hazard ratio = 5.15; 95% confidence interval): 2.51, 10.6; p < 0.001), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (hazard ratio = 5.77; 95% confidence interval: 2.67, 12.5; p < 0.001), and CHD with a palliated circulation (hazard ratio = 6.07; 95% confidence interval: 2.84, 13; p < 0.001) were significant independent risk factors of mortality at any time during the index hospitalisation or the first 24 months of life.

Identifying and re-evaluating risk factors of mortality for preterm/early-term neonates with CHD at any time during the index hospitalisation or the first 24 months of life may guide resource allocation and therapeutic interventions.

Trial registration number and date of registration: IRB P00028833 5/2/2018. Retrospectively registered.

Children with left aortic arch and aberrant right subclavian artery may present with either respiratory or swallowing symptoms beyond the classically described solid-food dysphagia. We describe the clinical features and outcomes of children undergoing surgical repair of an aberrant right subclavian artery.

This was a retrospective review of children undergoing repair of an aberrant right subclavian artery between 2017 and 2022. Primary outcome was symptom improvement. Pre- and post-operative questionnaires were used to assess dysphagia (PEDI-EAT-10) and respiratory symptoms (PEDI-TBM-7). Paired t-test and Fisher’s exact test were used to analyse symptom resolution. Secondary outcomes included perioperative outcomes, complications, and length of stay.

Twenty children, median age 2 years (IQR 1–11), were included. All presented with swallowing symptoms, and 14 (70%) also experienced respiratory symptoms. Statistically significant improvements in symptoms were reported for both respiratory and swallowing symptoms. Paired (pre- and post-op) PEDI-EAT-10 and PEDI-TBM-7 scores were obtained for nine patients, resulting in mean (± SD) scores decreasing (improvement in symptoms) from 19.9 (± 9.3) to 2.4 (± 2.5) p = 0.001, and 8.7 (± 4.7) to 2.8 (± 4.0) p = 0.006, respectively. Reoperation was required in one patient due to persistent dysphagia from an oesophageal stricture. Other complications included lymphatic drainage (n = 4) and transient left vocal cord hypomobility (n = 1).

Children with a left aortic arch with aberrant right subclavian artery can present with oesophageal and respiratory symptoms beyond solid food dysphagia. A thorough multidisciplinary evaluation is imperative to identify patients who can benefit from surgical repair, which appears to be safe and effective.

Identify risk factors for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in pediatric intensive care settings in an era with high focus on prevention measures.

Matched, case–control study.

Quaternary children’s hospital.

Cases had a CLABSI during an intensive care unit (ICU) stay between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2020. Controls were matched 4:1 by ICU and admission date and did not develop a CLABSI.

Multivariable, mixed-effects logistic regression.

129 cases were matched to 516 controls. Central venous catheter (CVC) maintenance bundle compliance was >70%. Independent CLABSI risk factors included administration of continuous non-opioid sedative (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.96, 95% CI [1.16, 7.52], P = 0.023), number of days with one or more CVC in place (aOR 1.42 per 10 days [1.16, 1.74], P = 0.001), and the combination of a chronic CVC with administration of parenteral nutrition (aOR 4.82 [1.38, 16.9], P = 0.014). Variables independently associated with lower odds of CLABSI included CVC location in an upper extremity (aOR 0.16 [0.05, 0.55], P = 0.004); non-tunneled CVC (aOR 0.17 [0.04, 0.63], P = 0.008); presence of an endotracheal tube (aOR 0.21 [0.08, 0.6], P = 0.004), Foley catheter (aOR 0.3 [0.13, 0.68], P = 0.004); transport to radiology (aOR 0.31 [0.1, 0.94], P = 0.039); continuous neuromuscular blockade (aOR 0.29 [0.1, 0.86], P = 0.025); and administration of histamine H2 blocking medications (aOR 0.17 [0.06, 0.48], P = 0.001).

Pediatric intensive care patients with chronic CVCs receiving parenteral nutrition, those on non-opioid sedative infusions, and those with more central line days are at increased risk for CLABSI despite current prevention measures.

Patients with Fontan physiology require non-cardiac surgery. Our objectives were to characterise perioperative outcomes of patients with Fontan physiology undergoing non-cardiac surgery and to identify characteristics which predict discharge on the same day.

Children and young adults with Fontan physiology who underwent a non-cardiac surgery or an imaging study under anaesthesia between 2013 and 2019 at a single-centre academic children’s hospital were reviewed in a retrospective observational study. Continuous variables were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test, and categorical variables were analysed using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. Multivariable logistic regression analysis results are presented by adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals and p values.

182 patients underwent 344 non-cardiac procedures with anaesthesia. The median age was 11 years (IQR 5.2–18), 56.4% were male. General anaesthesia was administered in 289 (84%). 125 patients (36.3%) were discharged on the same day. On multivariable analysis, independent predictors that reduced the odds of same-day discharge included the chronic condition index (OR 0.91 per additional chronic condition, 95% CI 0.76–0.98, p = 0.022), undergoing a major surgical procedure (OR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05–0.64, p = 0.009), the use of intraoperative inotropes (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25–0.94, p = 0.031), and preoperative admission (OR = 0.24, 95% CI: 0.1–0.57, p = 0.001).

In a contemporary cohort of paediatric and young adults with Fontan physiology, 36.3% were able to be discharged on the same day of their non-cardiac procedure. Well selected patients with Fontan physiology can undergo anaesthesia without complications and be discharged same day.

Post-operative nausea and vomiting is frequent after congenital cardiac surgery.

We sought to determine factors associated to severe post-operative vomiting after congenital cardiac surgery and the effect on post-operative outcomes.

Patients > 30 days of age who underwent elective cardiac surgical repair as part of an enhanced recovery after congenital cardiac surgery programme were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics and perioperative factors were compared by univariate analysis for patients with severe post-operative vomiting, defined as three events or more, and for patients with no-or-mild post-operative vomiting. All variables with a p-value < 0.1 were included in a multivariable model, and major post-operative outcomes were compared using regression analysis.

From 1 October, 2018 to 30 September, 2019, 430 consecutive patients were included. The median age was 4.8 years (interquartile range 1.2–12.6). Twenty-one per cent of patients (91/430) experienced severe post-operative vomiting. Total intraoperative opioids > 5.0 mg/kg of oral morphine equivalent (adjusted odds ratio 1.72) and post-operative inotropes infusion(s) (adjusted odds ratio 1.64) were identified as independent predictors of severe post-operative vomiting after surgery. Patients suffering from severe post-operative vomiting had increased pulmonary complications (adjusted odds ratio 5.18) and longer post-operative hospitalisation (adjusted coefficient, 0.89).

Greater cumulative intraoperative opioids are associated with severe post-operative vomiting after congenital cardiac surgery. Multimodal pain strategies targeting the reduction of intraoperative opioids should be considered during congenital cardiac surgery to enhance recovery after surgery.

To evaluate the discriminative ability of hyperlactataemia for early morbidity and mortality in neonates with CHD following cardiac surgery.

Retrospective, observational study of neonates who underwent cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass at a tertiary care children’s hospital from June 2015 to June 2019. The primary predictor was lactate. The primary composite outcome was defined as ≥1 of the following: cardiac arrest or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation within 72 hours or 30-day mortality post-operatively. The secondary outcome was the presence of major residual lesions, according to the Technical Performance Score.

Of 432 neonates, 28 (6.5%) sustained the composite outcome. On univariate analysis, peak lactate within 48 hours, increase in lactate from ICU admission through 12 hours, and single ventricle physiology were significantly associated with the composite outcome. The peak lactate occurred at a median of 2.9 hours (interquartile range: 1, 35) before the event. Through multi-variable analysis, a multi-variable risk algorithm was created. Predicted probabilities demonstrated an increasing risk based on single ventricle status and delta lactate, ranging from 1.8% (95% CI: 0.9, 3.9) to 52.4% (95% CI: 32.4, 71.7). The model had good discriminative ability for the composite outcome on receiver operating characteristic analysis (area under the curve = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.89). Moreover, a peak lactate of 7.3 mmol/l or greater was significantly associated with the presence of a major residual lesion (odds ratios: 5.16, 95% CI: 3.01, 8.87).

We present a simple, two-variable model, including delta lactate in the immediate post-operative period and single ventricle status, to prognosticate the risk of early morbidity and mortality in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery for potential intervention.