Abstract
BACKGROUND: Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in children with congenital heart disease have improved and many children have survived after an in-hospital cardiac arrest. AIM: The purpose of this study is to determine predictors of poor outcome after CPR in critical children undergoing cardiac surgery. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review and data analysis of all CPR records and charts of all postoperative cardiac children who had a cardiac arrest and required resuscitation from 2011 until 2015. Demographic, pre-operative, and postoperative data were reviewed and analyzed. RESULTS: During the study period, 18 postoperative pediatric cardiac patients had CPR. Nine of them had return of spontaneous circulation and survived (50%). On average CPR was required on the 3(rd) postoperative day. Univariate analysis demonstrated that poor outcome was associated with higher lactic acid measured 4-6 hours prior to arrest (p = 0.045; p = 0.02) coupled with higher heart rate (p = 0.031), lower O2 saturation (p = 0.01), and lower core body temperature (p = 0.019) recorded 6 hours before arrest. Nonsurvival required longer resuscitation duration and more epinephrine doses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Higher heart rate, lower core body temperature, lower O2 saturation, and higher lactic acid measured 6 hours before arrest are possible predictors of poorer outcome and mortality following CPR in postoperative cardiac children.