Key Points
Î Pediatric patients and especially patients with congenital heart disease
(CHD) are at increased risk for adverse events and cardiac arrest during
surgery.
Î Adverse events related to pediatric cardiac catheterization have been
reported in 4%–10% of procedures.
Î Common complications in children undergoing sedation or general
anesthesia include airway events (laryngospasm, bronchospasm, apnea
and aspiration), cardiovascular events (hypotension, arrhythmias and
cardiac arrest) and postoperative issues such as nausea and vomiting,
emergence agitation, hypoxemia and apnea.
Î Several diagnoses merit mention due to their increased risks for
complications during cardiac catheterization.
Abbreviations
CHD, congenital heart disease; ECMO, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation; ICU, intensive
care unit; iNO, inhaled nitric oxide; MAC, monitored anesthesia care; PCCCL, pediatric
congenital cardiac catheterization laboratory; RV, right ventricular; TEE, transesophageal
echocardiography
