[Complicaciones relacionadas con el cateterismo cardíaco pediátrico y cardiopatías congénitas].

INTRODUCTION

Congenital heart diseases are the most common congenital abnormalities in newborns with a prevalence of 1%. Therapeutic and diagnostic cardiac catheterization has revolutionized the treatment of these diseases; however, it can be associated with complications.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the incidence and type of complications associated with pediatric cardiac catheterization in a reference center for congenital heart defects.

METHODOLOGY

Retrospective observational study, with analytical intention based on records of cardiac catheterization performed on patients with congenital and acquired heart disease.

RESULTS

2,688 records were included for nine consecutive years. 53.9% were men, 21.3% with ages between 2 and 5 years and 20.3% between 6 months and 2 years. 63.5% of the procedures were elective. The prevalence of complications in the first 24 hours after catheterization was 6.7% (4.2% minor and 2.4% major). Early death occurred in 0.8% of the procedures. Factors associated with complications were age at catheterization <28 days (OR 2.18, 95% CI .28-3.70]), precatheter oxygen saturation <79% (OR 2.15, 95% CI .02-4.53]), use of pre-catheter inotropics (OR 3.00, 95% CI .68-5.33]). The variables included in the model explain 38% of the variance of post-cardiac catheterization complications in patients younger than 18 years.

DISCUSSION

Cardiac catheterization is associated with major and minor complications including death. The associated factors were less than 28 days, lower oxygen saturation and use of pre-catheter inotropics.