Research Article: Perioperative mortality and 1-year neurodevelopmental outcome after cardiac surgery prior to 6 weeks of age, requiring perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in the first year of life
Abstract:
Complex congenital heart disease (CHD), neonatal cardiac surgery, and perioperative extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are risk factors for increased perioperative mortality and morbidity, including impaired neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes. We investigated perioperative mortality and the independent impact of ECMO on 1-year ND outcomes after cardiac surgery in infants younger than 6 weeks.
Using data from the Swiss Outcome Registry for Children with severe CHD (Swiss ORCHID), we assessed the impact of perioperative ECMO on 1-year mortality and ND outcomes using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Third Edition (BSID III) and language composite scores (LCSs), cognitive composite scores (CCSs), and motor composite scores (MCSs) while controlling for known risk factors.
The 1-year mortality rate among 240 patients who underwent surgery between 1 January 2020 and 30 May 2024 was 5.8%. Perioperative ECMO was used in 34 patients (14.2%). Mortality among patients with perioperative ECMO (ECMO group) was higher (29.4% in the ECMO group vs. 1.9% in the non-ECMO group, p <?0.001) and was more frequently associated with univentricular CHD ( p =?0.005). The mean BSID III CCS ( ? =?13.942, SE?=?3.736, p =?<0.001) and MCS ( ? =??15.913, SE?=?4.325, p =<0.001) were significantly lower in the ECMO group compared to the non-ECMO group in simple linear regression analyses. Multiple linear regression showed a negative impact of ECMO on CCS ( p <?0.05); MCS was influenced by longer hospital stay ( p <?0.01), and lower socioeconomic status ( p <?0.05).
Perioperative ECMO might be associated with higher perioperative mortality and morbidity, including lower BSID III ND scores in infants with CHD.
clinicaltrials.gov , NCT05996211.
Introduction:
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is widely used in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) for perioperative cardiorespiratory support ( 1 – 4 ). While ECMO is potentially lifesaving, its use and duration are limited by a high rate of neurological complications, including impaired neurodevelopmental (ND) outcomes ( 3 – 7 ). Therefore, perioperative ECMO is considered a risk factor for impaired ND outcomes in infants requiring surgery for severe CHD ( 8 ). In addition to ECMO, other…
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