Associations Between Unplanned Cardiac Reinterventions and Outcomes After Pediatric Cardiac Operations

Background: After pediatric heart operations, we sought to determine the incidence of unplanned cardiac reinterventions during the same hospitalization, assess risk factors for these reinterventions, and explore associations between reinterventions and outcomes. We hypothesized that younger patients undergoing more complex operations would be at greater risk for unplanned cardiac reinterventions and that operative mortality and postoperative length of stay (PLOS) would be greater in patients who undergo reintervention than in those who do not. Methods: Patients aged 18 years or younger in The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database (January 2010 to June 2015) were included. We used multivariable regression to evaluate risk factors for unplanned cardiac reintervention (operation or therapeutic catheterization) and associations of reintervention with operative mortality and PLOS. Results: Of 84,404 patients (117 centers), 21% were neonates and 36% infants. An unplanned cardiac reintervention was performed in 5.4% of patients, including 11.8% of neonates, 5.2% of infants, and 2.8% of children. Independent risk factors for unplanned reintervention included presence of noncardiac anomalies/genetic syndromes, nonwhite race, younger age, lower weight among neonates and infants, prior cardiothoracic operations, preoperative mechanical ventilation, other Society of Thoracic Surgeons preoperative risk factors, and higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons–European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery Mortality Category (adjusted p < 0.001 for all). Unplanned reintervention was a risk factor for operative mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 5.3; 95% confidence interval, 4.8 to 5.8; p < 0.001) and longer PLOS (adjusted relative risk, 2.3; 95% confidence interval, 2.2 to 2.4; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Unplanned cardiac reinterventions are not rare, particularly in neonates, and are independently associated with operative mortality and increased PLOS. Patients at greater risk may be identified preoperatively, presenting opportunities for quality improvement.