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Updated: Jun 4, 2025
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Published on: January 26, 2024
Outcomes, mortality risk factors, and functional status post-Norwood: A single-center study
Alaa Aljiffry1, Ashley Harriott2, Shayli Patel2
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
Background:
The Norwood operation (NO) for infants with univentricular physiology has high interstage mortality. This study evaluated outcomes and risk factors for mortality following NO.
Methods:
Retrospective single-center study of patients undergoing NO from 2010 to 2020. Analysis used appropriate statistics.
Results:
Of 269 patients undergoing NO, 213 (79.2 %) survived to discharge. Non-survivors had longer bypass times, delayed sternal closure, required nitric oxide, higher vasoactive scores, required post-operative catheterization, Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS), and longer ventilation (p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed moderate-severe atrioventricular valve regurgitation on intraoperative TEE (OR 2.6), requiring nitric oxide (OR 2.63), delayed sternal closure (OR 2.94), post-operative catheterization (OR 10.48), and ECLS (OR 14.54) increased mortality odds (p < 0.05). Multivariable analysis confirmed catheterization (aOR 10.48) and ECLS (aOR 14.54) as significant predictors. Of survivors, 26 (12.3 %) developed new morbidity, 9 (4.2 %) had unfavorable outcomes. Functional status improved from 6.0 to 8.04, mainly in feeding and respiratory domains (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Norwood survival was 79.2 %. Requiring post-operative catheterization and ECLS significantly increased mortality risk. Multicenter evaluation of these modifiable risk factors is needed to improve outcomes in this high-risk population.
