Gastrointestinal complications associated with the surgical treatment of heart disease in children

Lee P. Ferguson, Tarriyo Gandiya, Christos Kaselas, Jigna Sheth, Asif Hasan, Hany Os Gabra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE:
The gastrointestinal system is prone to complications following heart surgery. We sought to determine the incidence and factors associated with gastrointestinal complication after cardiac surgery in children.

METHODS:
A retrospective review of patients aged <16years that underwent cardiac surgery between 2009 and 2013. Primary outcome was occurrence of gastrointestinal complication within 30days. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify variables related to occurrence of gastrointestinal complication. Patients with gastrointestinal complication were matched with controls and postoperative lengths of stay compared.

RESULTS:
Eight hundred eighty-one children underwent 1120 cardiac surgical procedures. At time of operation, 18% were neonates and 39% were infants. Cardiopulmonary bypass was used in 79%. Of 1120 procedures, 31 (2.8% [95% CI 2.0-3.9%]) had gastrointestinal complication. Necrotizing enterocolitis accounted for 61% of complications. Of patients with gastrointestinal complication, 87% survived to hospital discharge. Gastrointestinal complication was associated with preoperative co-morbidity (OR 2.2 [95% CI 1.02-4.8]) and univentricular disease (OR 2.5 [95% CI 1.1-5.5]). Neonates had the highest risk of gastrointestinal complication. Patients with gastrointestinal complications had longer hospital stays than controls (median difference, 13days [95% CI 3-43]).

CONCLUSIONS:
Serious gastrointestinal complications are uncommon but associated with longer hospital stay. Neonates with univentricular disease and preoperative comorbidity are at highest risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)414-419
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Pediatric Surgery
Volume52
Issue number3
Early online date2 Dec 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2017

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