[Complications during anaesthesia for diagnostic and interventional cardiac procedures in children with congenital heart defects].
BACKGROUND
Cardiac catheterisation, while enabling dynamic evaluation of the cardiovascular system, is also commonly performed for interventional procedures in all age groups. The aim of this study was to analyse the incidence and spectrum of complications occurring during general anaesthesia in children undergoing cardiac catheterisation.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 1622 consecutive patients, anaesthetised for 817 diagnostic, and 805 interventional cardiac procedures. Data on patient- and procedure-related variables affecting the risk of complications was collected. We analysed the influence of age, physical status, type of heart defect, type of procedure, and anaesthetic protocol on the incidence of complications.


RESULTS
Serious complications occurred in 5 patients undergoing diagnostic procedures and in 24 undergoing interventional procedures, with infants being the most affected (21 cases). The most frequent complication was acute heart failure related to the catheterisation. In 2 cases, pneumothorax followed central venous catheter insertion. There were 14 cardiac arrests requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation, resulting in three deaths.


CONCLUSIONS
The results show that diagnostic cardiac catheterisation and interventional procedures are associated with a low risk of complications (1.78%) and a low mortality rate (0.18%).
Swiatnicka-Lucińska
Małgorzata
M
Zaktad Anestezjologii i Intensywnej Opieki Medycznej Instytutu Centrum Zdrowia Matki Polki w Łodzi. pl100@poczta.onet.pl
Markiewicz
Michał
M
Moszura
Tomasz
T
Krajewski
Wojciech
W
D000367:Age Factors; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000379:methods*; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D016887:Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies