Risk Factors for Peri-Procedural Arterial Ischaemic Stroke in Children with Cardiac Disease

Abstract

Improved survival of children with congenital heart disease has led to increasing focus on neurodevelopmental outcome, as close to half of the infants undergoing cardiac surgery are affected by neurodevelopmental disability. Stroke is particularly important as it frequently results in permanent neurologic sequelae. The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for peri-procedural arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) in children with cardiac disease. A retrospective case–control analysis of children aged <18 years with radiologically confirmed AIS following a cardiac procedure admitted to the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne between 1993 and 2010. Each case was matched with two controls..