title: QTc Prolongation after Ventricular Septal Defect Repair in Infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prolonging of the corrected QT interval (QTc) has been reported after cardiac surgery in some studies. However, there have not been many studies on infant open cardiac surgery for ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair. This study was performed to define the changes in QTc and to find related post-surgery factors in this patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 2008 to 2012, 154 infants underwent VSD repair at the Severance Cardiovascular Hospital. This study includes 105 of these cases. QTc was measured in these patients retrospectively. Demographic data and peri-procedural data, such as Aristotle score, cross-clamp time and bypass time, were analyzed. The exclusion criteria included multiple and small VSDs that underwent direct closure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean post-operative QTc was increased compared to the pre-operative measurements (from 413.6±2.3 to 444.9±2.5, p<0.001). In multiple linear regression, the comprehensive Aristotle score was associated with increasing QTc (p=0.047). The incidence of transient arrhythmia, such as atrial tachycardia, junctional ectopic tachycardia, premature atrial contraction, or premature ventricular contraction, was associated with QTc prolongation (p=0.005). Prolonged QTc was also associated with cross-clamp time (p=0.008) and low weight (p=0.042). Total length of stay at the intensive care unit and intubation time after surgery were not associated with QTc prolongation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prolonged QTc could be seen after VSD repair in infants. This phenomenon was associated with peri-procedural factors such as the Aristotle score and cross-clamp time. Patients with QTc prolongation after cardiac surgery had an increased tendency towards arrhythmogenicity in the post-operative period.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Woo
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Saet Byul
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jo Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Han Ki
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Ju
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Congenital Heart Disease Center, Severance Cardiovascular Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Kyun
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: Electrocardiography; Infant; Ventricular septal defect