Work

Clinical outcomes following surgical intervention for critical congenital heart disease in neonates: a retrospective study in China

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: This study aims to examine the incidence and clinical outcomes of critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in neonates in China, with a specific focus on prognostic indicators following surgical intervention. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on neonates who underwent surgical correction of congenital heart disease (CHD) involving cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) at a single tertiary care hospital between January 2022 and December 2024. Documented variables included patient weight, type of cardiac anomaly, duration of CPB, aortic cross-clamp time, and systemic circulation duration. Prognostic indicators, length of hospital stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation in the intensive care unit (ICU) were also recorded. RESULTS: A total of 234 neonates underwent cardiac surgery with CPB during the study period. The cohort comprised 146 males and 88 females, with a mean weight of 3.64 ± 3.43 kg and a mean age of 12.10 ± 7.77 days. The mean duration of CPB time was 159.19 ± 67.51 min, mean cross-clamp duration was 95.53 ± 44.20 min, and mean bypass duration was 37.54 ± 28.98 min. The mean length of hospital stay was 25.43 ± 13.61 days, and the mean mechanical ventilation duration was 3.64 ± 2.71 days. Among the patients, 139 were diagnosed with cyanotic CHD, and 95 with acyanotic CHD. Emergency procedures were performed in 39 cases, while 195 cases underwent elective surgery. Radical surgery was performed in 215 cases, single-stage palliation in 4 cases, and intrapartum surgery in 15 cases. 222 neonates were discharged following recovery, and 12 deaths were recorded. CONCLUSION: In China, CCHD remains prevalent among newborns, posing a significant threat to their lives. With advancements in surgical and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques, the treatment system for these critically ill newborns is being progressively refined. This has led to continuously improving success rates and an increasingly diverse range of treatment options available.

Source: BMC Pediatrics

DOI: 10.1186/s12887-025-06447-1