Evaluation of perioperative risk factors in pediatric patients with left ventricle outflow tract obstruction

Introduction
Left ventricular outflow tract obstructions (LVOTO) presents as complex cardiac diseases accompanied by other cardiac anomalies in the pediatric age group. Postoperative complications, especially cardiac, pulmonary, and renal complications, that may develop after pediatric cardiac surgery can become life-threatening. If the perioperative risk factors for these complications are known in pediatric patients with LVOTO, anesthesiologists and surgeons may take precautions to eliminate undesirable outcomes.

Aim
To evaluate the perioperative risk factors that may contribute to the development of postoperative complications in pediatric patients operated on for LVOTO in a pediatric cardiac surgery clinic.

Material and methods
The study retrospectively investigated 58 patients who were operated on for LVOTO in a pediatric cardiac surgery clinic. The patients were divided into two groups, those with and without postoperative complications. Preoperative laboratory test results, anesthesia time, operation time, aortic cross-clamp time, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) time, postoperative inotropes, first postoperative laboratory tests, intraoperative and postoperative complications, mechanical ventilation time, intensive care unit stay, and hospital stay were recorded.

Results
The most common postoperative complications were endocrine complications, followed by hepatic complications. The preoperative lymphocyte count was significantly higher (p < 0.05), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the group with postoperative complications. The postoperative pH, glucose, creatinine, and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and the postoperative calcium level was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group without postoperative complications. Intraoperative platelet transfusion rate was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.05) in the group with postoperative complications.

Conclusions
It is critical to identify predictive factors to prevent postoperative complications in pediatric patients undergoing surgery for LVOTO. Preoperative NLR, intraoperative platelet transfusion, and postoperative calcium, glucose, pH and AST levels may help in the prediction of complications.