Transthoracic intracardiac catheters in pediatric patients recovering from congenital heart defect surgery: Associated complications and outcomes

Objectives: To characterize transthoracic intracardiac catheter uses and associated morbidities in pediatric patients recovering from congenital heart defect surgery and to identify potential risk factors associated with their use. Design: Prospective data collection and review. Setting: An 18-bed pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in a tertiary care university hospital. Patients: All pediatric patients between October 1, 1996, and September 30, 1997, who were recovering from congenital heart defect surgery and had transthoracic intracardiac catheters in place. Measurements and Main Results: Catheter use, associated morbidity, necessary interventions, and risk factors for complications of catheter use were identified. During this period, 523 catheters (276 right atrial, 155 left atrial, 68 common atrial, and 24 right Ventricular or pulmonary artery catheters) in 351 PICU patients were studied. Mean age was 23.1 +/- 45.1 months (median, 4.98 months); 138 patients (39.3%) were <3 months old. The rate of occurrence of bleeding with catheter removal (mediastinal output in the hour after removal that was more than twice the previous average hourly output) was 36.7%, and bleeding occurred more frequently with left atrial catheters (47%; odds ratio, 2.0; p < .05). However, interventions after catheter removal were required for only 8.3% (42/504) of catheters removed, and hemodynamic compromise occurred with the removal of only 2.6% (13/504) of catheters. Interventions included fluid resuscitation (35 cases), pleural drainage (three cases), catheter wiring for retention (one case), chest tube suctioning (two cases), and surgical removal (one case). Mo associated deaths occurred. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, age <3 months (odds ratio, 4.74), catheter location (left atrial: odds ratio, 4.97; pulmonary artery: odds ratio, 12.48), and platelet count of <50,000 (odds ratio, 8.59) were identified as risk factors associated with a need for intervention after catheter removal (p < .05). Other complications included blood cultures positive for organisms (1.5%), thrombus (0.6%), and catheter nonfunction (10.9%). Prematurity was a risk factor for thrombus and nonfunction. Conclusions: Use of transthoracic intracardiac catheters in pediatric patients is safe. Young infants and pediatric patients with thrombocytopenia or with catheters in the left atrial or pulmonary artery position have a greater need for interventions after catheter removal, warranting added precautions.