[Risk factors for surgery of congenital heart disease in adults: twenty-two years of experience. Who should operate them?]

Abstract

Objective: To assess the association between mortality in surgery of congenital heart disease in adults, and factors related to patients and operations.

Method: Descriptive study of operations performed by specialized surgeons in congenital heart surgery (238), adult acquired surgery (117), and specialty residents (108). The association of mortality with surgical risk and complexity, specialization of surgeon, cardiopulmonary by-pass and aortic cross clamping was assessed fitting logistic regression models.

Results: A total of 463 operations were included (442 with cardiopulmonary by-pass) in the study performed between 1991 and 2012. Median age at surgery: 34; 52.8% were women. First surgery: 295, reoperation: 168. Median score of Aristotle was 6.8, with significantly higher complexity since 2001, after restructuring the Unit. Overall hospital mortality was 3.9%. Mortality was significantly associated to number of previous surgeries (OR: 5.02; 95%CI: 1.44-17.52), operations by acquired heart disease surgeons (OR: 3.53; 95%CI: 1.14-10.98), higher Aristotle (OR: 1,64; 95%CI: 1.18-2.29), and high cardiopulmonary by-pass time (OR: 1.13; 95%CI: 1.07-1.19).

Conclusions: Surgery of congenital heart disease in adults has been performed with low mortality. High complexity interventions, prolonged cardiopulmonary by-pass times and multiple reoperations were associated to higher mortality. Participation of cardiac surgeons specialized in congenital heart disease is associated with better outcomes.

Keywords: Adultos; Adults; Cardiac surgery; Cardiopatías congénitas; Cirugía cardíaca; Congenital heart defects; España; Factores de riesgo; Mortalidad; Mortality; Risk factors.