Postoperative cardiac arrest in children with congenital heart abnormalities

The exact survival rates and markers of survival after postoperative cardiac arrest in children with congenital heart abnormalities are unknown. In this one-year study, we identified children younger than seven years of age with postoperative cardiac arrest in our pediatric cardiac intensive care unit database. Parameters from perioperative, pre-arrest, and resuscitation periods were analyzed for these patients. Comparisons were made between survivors and non-survivors after cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Fisher's exact, Student's t, and chi-square tests were used to analyze data. Of 529 evaluated children who underwent corrective heart surgery, 59 (11%) sustained a documented cardiac arrest. Of these, 22 (37%) survived and regained their vital signs. Perioperative parameters (age, weight, and duration of cardiopulmonary bypass pumping), ventricular physiology, oxygen saturation, and bicarbonate concentration did not influence the outcome of CPR. Greater use of inotropic agents was not associated with higher mortality. A significant relationship was seen between having history of cardiac arrest and CPR success (P < 0.001). CPR had undesirable outcomes in patients with hemodynamic dysfunction (i.e. low mean arterial blood pressure). Patients with univentricular physiology or history of cardiac arrest are not prone to a higher risk of mortality following arrest.