Predicting Factors of Surgical Mortality in Children and Adolescents Undergoing Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot

Background: In tetralogy of Fallot, correction surgery is a priority choice, seeing that it is desirable to minimize pulmonary hypoflow and severe hypoxemia, which result in hypoxemic crises, with sudden worsening of cyanosis, tachypnea, and, in some cases, loss of consciousness, seizures, and even death. Objective: To evaluate the predicting factors of surgical mortality in children and adolescents undergoing correction of tetralogy of Fallot. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study carried out by consulting all surgical records of the Child and Adolescent Cardiology Service of the Brazilian National Institute of Cardiology , during the period from 2007 to 2010. Results with p values < 0.05 were considered significant . Results: The study evaluated 93 medical records. In relation to the characteristics of the population at the time of surgery, the median age was 3.69 (2.13 to 5.79) years, and 58.06% (n = 54) were male. White was the most common skin color, accounting for 55.43% (n = 51) of cases. In relation to assessment of nutritional status, median weight was 13.25 (10.10 to 17.60) kg, and body mass index was 14.49 (13.44 to 16.28) kg/m2. Down syndrome was present in 11.83% (n = 11) of the patients. All patients underwent correction surgery (n = 93, 100%). Prior cyanotic crisis was found in 53.85% (n = 49) with p = 0.013; surgical procedure duration was 218.83 ± 60.63 minutes, with p = 0.003, and lactate was 1.88 ± 1.33 mg/dL during the immediate postoperative period, with p = 0.009. Regarding the outcome of surgical death, it was found in 15.05% (n = 14) of patients. Mean follow-up lasted 5.68 ± 3.76 years. Conclusions: According to the factors analyzed, the duration of the surgical procedure, prior cyanotic crisis, and blood lactate level may be relevant to surgical mortality.