Chelo, David University of Yaoundé I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Pediatrics, Cameroon , Chelo, David Chantal BIYA Foundation - Mother and Child Center, Cameroon , Ateba Ateba, Nelly S. University of Yaounde I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Paediatrics, Cameroon , Tantchou Tchoumi, Jacques C. St Elisabeth General Hospital - Cardiac Center, Cameroon , Ngo Nonga, Bernadette University Teatching Hospital - Department of Surgery, Cameroon , Mvondo, Charles Mve St Elisabeth General Hospital - Cardiac Center, Cameroon , Kingue, Samuel University of Yaounde I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of cardiology, Cameroon , Abena Obama, Marie T. University of Yaounde I - Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences - Department of Paediatrics, Cameroon

Early Postoperative Arrhythmias after Cardiac Surgery in Children at the Shisong Cardiac Center, Cameroon

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OBJECTIVE. The objectives of this study were to determine the frequency and characteristics of early postoperative arrhythmias, factors associated with their occurrence, and their treatment in children after cardiac surgery. METHODOLOGY. This was a retrospective and analytic study in children operated at the Cardiac Center Shisong (Cameroon) between January 2010 and December 2013. Information on demographic, pre-operative, surgical and post-operative characteristics was extracted from each patient’s medical record. Arrhythmias were classified as sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, atrial flutter, etc... RESULTS. A total of 150 children were recruited. The most common arrhythmias were supra-ventricular tachycardia (35.3%), sinus bradycardia (19.6%) and junctional ectopic tachycardia (15.7%). Arrhythmias appeared mainly in the first 24 hours postoperative (57.4%). Amiodarone was the most commonly used antiarrhythmic drug. After a multivariate logistic regression analysis, weight between 5 and 9 kg (p 0.001) and open heart surgery (p 0.01) were the factors that remained significantly associated with arrhythmias. CONCLUSION. Early postoperative arrhythmias are common after pediatric cardiac surgery and the most common is supra-ventricular tachycardia. Children with weight ranging between 5 and 9 kg and those who undergo an open heart surgery are at risk of developing arrhythmias.

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Arrhythmias , Cardiac Surgery , Early Postoperative period , Pediatrics , Cameroon

Health Sciences an‎d Diseases

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