Risk of seizures in survivors of newborn heart surgery using deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Objective: To identify pre- and intraoperative variables associated with postoperative acute neurologic events (ANEs), including seizures and coma, in newborn survivors of congenital heart surgery undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA), and to risk-stratify this population on the basis of preoperative risk variables for the purpose of designing future neuroprotection trials.

Methods: Survivors of newborn heart surgery who were enrolled in a neuroprotection trial provided a comprehensive database for the evaluation of pre- and intraoperative variables that influence the postoperative occurrence of ANEs (seizures or coma). Patients with hypoplastic heart syndrome were excluded.