Objective Children with congenital heart disease (CHD) and genetic disorders (GD) are felt to be at higher risk for postoperative complications compared to children with CHD alone. The aim of the present study was to determine the differences in post bypass complications between these two groups.

Methods Between 2004 to 2006, 160 infants (<1 year) undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery for CHD were prospectively enrolled. Pre- and perioperative course and complications were collected and compared between infants with and without underlying GD. Univariate analysis was followed by a regression analysis to control for potential confounders (e.g., severity of CHD).

Results We enrolled 111 children with CHD alone (63 males; 48 females) and 49 children with CHD and GD (20 males, 29 females). The majority of infants with GD had trisomy 21 (n = 24), 5 had microdeletion 22q11 and 20 had other genetic defects. Children with CHD and GD were born with a lower gestational age (median 38+3 vs. 39+1; p = 0.004) and a lower birth weight (median 2808 g vs. 3170 g; p = 0.0009). No significant differences regarding mortality, pulmonary arterial hypertension, chylothorax, thrombosis, re-intubation, cardiac rhythm disturbances, diaphragmatic paralysis, sepsis, seizures or renal insufficiency was found between the two groups. However, in the regression analysis, GD was an independent risk factor for renal insufficiency (p = 0.01).

Conclusions Overall, infants with CHD and GD were not at increased risk for postoperative complications compared to infants with CHD alone except for renal insufficiency.