Stage I Norwood: optimal technical performance improves outcomes irrespective of preoperative physiologic status or case complexity.
OBJECTIVE
Interplay of baseline physiologic status, case complexity, technical performance, and outcomes in high-acuity operations has been poorly defined. This study explored these interactions to determine whether a technically optimal operation can mitigate effects of baseline physiology and high case-complexity on outcomes for the stage I Norwood procedure.


METHODS
Technical performance was categorized as optimal, adequate, or inadequate from adequacy of the anatomic repair of the stage I subprocedures according to anatomic areas where intervention is performed. Physiological illness severity statuses in preoperative and postoperative periods were determined with Pediatric Risk of Mortality III system, which uses 17 physiologic variables. Case complexity was calculated with Aristotle comprehensive system. All patients undergoing stage I procedure from January 2004 to December 2007 were retrospectively studied.


RESULTS
One hundred thirty-five procedures were included. Five were excluded from the technical performance assessment because of inadequate postoperative data. Eighty-one (62.3%), 26 (20%), and 23 (17.7%), respectively, were scored as optimal, adequate, and inadequate. Overall hospital mortality was 14.1%. Inadequate technical performance, high-complexity Aristotle comprehensive scores, and high preoperative illness severity scores correlated with significantly higher hospital mortality, longer stay, and greater frequency of major postoperative complications. In subgroup analysis of patients with optimal technical performance, outcomes were favorable irrespective of high or low preoperative physiologic illness severity or case complexity.


CONCLUSIONS
In stage I Norwood procedures, optimal technical performance attenuated effects of poor preoperative physiologic status and high case complexity, with reduced hospital mortality. Inadequate technical performance resulted in poor outcomes regardless of preoperative status.
Karamichalis
John M
JM
Department of Cardiac Surgery, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, Mass; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Thiagarajan
Ravi R
RR
Liu
Hua
H
Mamic
Petra
P
Gauvreau
Kimberlee
K
Bacha
Emile A
EA
D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome