Researchers from Johns Hopkins Children's Center in Baltimore studied the risk of cardiac arrest in children receiving spine surgery.
The study analyzed outcomes from 2,600 spinal surgeries performed between 2004 and 2014 at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas. Spine published the findings.
Here are five key observations:
1. Researchers found the majority of pediatric spine surgeries do not pose cardiac arrest risks, but some neuromuscular conditions may increase the risk of cardiac arrest.
2. Of the surgeries studied, less than 0.5 percent of patients experienced cardiac arrest. Of the 11 patients suffering from cardiac arrest during spine surgery, 10 were resuscitated.
3. Children with cerebral palsy, spine bifida, muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular complications, were three times more likely to experience cardiac arrest during spine-straightening surgeries.
4. Of the 11 children experiencing cardiac arrest, six of them had a neuromuscular disorder. Electrolyte imbalances or circulatory problems caused cardiac arrest in eight of the 11 cases.
5. The researchers suggest their study can help surgeons prepare for the potential risks of cardiac arrest in specific patients during spine surgery.
"Our findings underscore the notion that any surgery can escalate from routine to super stressful in a matter of seconds," said Paul Sponseller, MD, MBA, lead investigator and director of pediatric orthopedics at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. "We are hyper-vigilant during all surgeries, but at the same time, knowing which patients are most likely to decompensate is always a good thing."