title: Early postoperative outcomes following surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defects: is down syndrome a risk factor?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of Down syndrome on the early postoperative outcomes of children undergoing complete atrioventricular septal defect repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single tertiary pediatric cardiac center.
  
  
  METHODS
  All children admitted to PICU following biventricular surgical repair of complete atrioventricular septal defect from January 2004 to December 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  None.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 107 children, 67 with Down syndrome, were included. Children with Down syndrome were operated earlier: 4 months (interquartile range, 3.5-6.6) versus 5.7 months (3-8.4) for Down syndrome and non-Down syndrome groups, respectively (p < 0.01). There was no early postoperative mortality. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of dysplastic atrioventricular valve between the two groups. Two children (2.9%) from Down syndrome and three children (7.5%) from non-Down syndrome group required early reoperation (p = 0.3). Junctional ectopic tachycardia was the most common arrhythmia, and the prevalence of junctional ectopic tachycardia was similar between the two groups (9% and 10% in Down syndrome and non-Down syndrome, respectively, p = 1). One patient from each group required insertion of permanent pacemaker for complete heart block. Children with Down syndrome had significantly higher prevalence of noncardiac complications, that is, pneumothorax, pleural effusions, and infections (p < 0.01), than children without Down syndrome. There was a trend for longer duration of mechanical ventilation in children with Down syndrome (41 hr [20-61 hr] vs 27.5 hr [15-62 hr], p = 0.2). However, there was no difference in duration of PICU stay between the two groups (2 d [1.3-3 d] vs 2 d [1-3 d], p = 0.9, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study, we found no difference in the prevalence of atrioventricular valve dysplasia between children with and without Down syndrome undergoing complete atrioventricular septal defect repair. This finding contrasts with previously published data, and further confirmatory studies are required. Although clinical outcomes were similar, children with Down syndrome had a significantly higher prevalence of noncardiac complications in the early postoperative period than children without Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: All authors: Department of Pediatrics, Royal Brompton Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ajay R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Desai
authors.forename: Ricardo G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: George A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Comitis
authors.forename: Shreesha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maiya
authors.forename: Deepan B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Vyas
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vaz Silva
authors.forename: Babulal
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sethia
authors.forename: Zdenek
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Slavik
authors.forename: Joan M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Larovere
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000209:etiology; D006343:Heart Septal Defects / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D012086:Reoperation; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013613:Tachycardia, Ectopic Junctional / Q000209:etiology