The most common complications in intensive care unit department after cardiac surgery in children

Abstract

Introduction: Having regard all the progress in the field of pediatrics, nowadays heart surgery can be performed with excellent outcomes. Serious complications can cause high morbidity and mortality rates. This study has been performed in order to determine the incidence of morbidity and mortality. Methods: During 2013-2015, the retrospective study was performed with 65 patients undergoing surgery for congenital heart disease which was reviewed for incidence of complications. We used the database of University Clinic for Children's Diseases and University Clinic of Pediatric Surgery in Skopje. Results: 33 children with complications, have been divided into 2 groups cardiac and extra cardiac complications with mean age of 6,5 ± 0,35 (rang 0,5 - 108 months). The first group included SVT (6,25 %), AV-block (6,25 %), pacing (6,25 %) and pericarditis (9,3 %). In the extra cardiac complications, the most common was bleeding (12,5 %), renal failure (9,3 %), chylothorax (9,3 %), seizures (9,3 %), reintubation after surgery (15.6 %), sepsis (12,5 %) and severe pneumonia (6,25 %). The duration of CPB was 68,32 ± 31,9 minutes, the duration of MV was 2,04 ± 2,42 days, and ICU stay was 3,90 ± 3,45. The incidence of mortality was 9,2 % whereby the most common was sepsis, reoperations for previous lung chronic diseases and renal failure. Conclusion: Prolonged duration of CPB, duration of MV and ICU stay, are significant risk factors for the increased number of cardiac and extra cardiac complications. It is necessary to apply the measures and careful monitoring of patients to minimize these effects.