Risk factors for death or mechanical ventilation time after bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis in a developing country

Background Glenn procedure is performed for patients with cyanotic CHD and univentricular physiology and has a survival rate above 90%. Aim To evaluate the risk factors associated with a poor outcome after Glenn procedure. Methods The data for this retrospective analysis were collected from a regional Brazilian registry of congenital heart surgeries (ASSIST initiative) from 2014 to 2019. Data from 97 patients who underwent the Glenn procedure were considered. The primary outcomes were prolonged mechanical ventilation (>24 hours post-operatively) or in-hospital death, alone and combined. Results The overall in-hospital mortality was 13.4% (n = 13). Prolonged mechanical ventilation occurred in 52% (n = 51) of the patients. Our analysis found that risk factors for death or prolonged post-operative mechanical ventilation were cardiopulmonary bypass duration and post-operative lactate, whereas weight-for-age z-score and age at surgery were risk factors for prolonged mechanical ventilation. Cardiopulmonary bypass duration increased (adjusted odds ratio: 1.02; 95 % CI: 1.01, 1.03) and age at surgery decreased (adjusted odds ratio: 0.96; 95 % CI: 0.93, 0.99) the odds of the combined outcome. Conclusions Age at surgery, post-operative lactate, and low-weight-for-age z-score are associated with prolonged mechanical ventilation and death following the Glenn procedure.