RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Risk factors of early postoperative cardiac arrhythmia after pediatric cardiac surgery JF Saudi Medical Journal JO Saudi Med J FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City SP 1111 OP 1119 DO 10.15537/smj.2022.43.10.20220275 VO 43 IS 10 A1 Alotaibi, Rahaf K. A1 Saleem, Abdulmuti S. A1 Alsharef, Fai F. A1 Alnemer, Zainab A. A1 Saber, Yazan M. A1 Abdelmohsen, Gaser A. A1 Bahaidarah, Saud A. YR 2022 UL http://smj.org.sa/content/43/10/1111.abstract AB Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of arrhythmia in the early postoperative period and to identify its risk factors among pediatric patients following cardiac surgery at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2015-2020.Methods: Out of 1242 patients, a total of 821 aged <18 years who underwent cardiac surgery were included in this retrospective cohort carried out in June 2021 at KAUH, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Information retrieved from the hospital medical records had patients’ demographics, types of arrhythmias, hemodynamic stability, electrolyte disturbances, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and aortic cross-clamp (AXC) durations. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with postoperative arrhythmia.Results: Of the 821 patients, 140 (17.1%) developed arrhythmia postoperatively. The most common arrhythmias were junctional ectopic tachycardia (JET, 51.4%), atrioventricular block (27.1%), and supraventricular tachycardia (10%). The majority of cases occurred on the first day postoperatively (79.3%). Patients with postoperative arrhythmias had a more prolonged CPB (p=0.0001) and AXC (p=0.005) time, electrolytes disturbances (p=0.021), and hemodynamic instability (p=0.0001) than other patients.Conclusion: Postoperative arrhythmia, especially JET, is common after pediatric cardiac surgery. Prolonged cardiopulmonary bypass, prolonged aortic cross-clamping, electrolytes disturbances, and hemodynamic instability are possible risk factors for postoperative cardiac arrhythmias.