Prolonged Central Venous Desaturation Measured by Continuous Oximetry Is Associated with Adverse Outcomes in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Abstract

We demonstrate that ScvO₂ desaturations by continuous oximetry are associated with major adverse events in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery. The most significant associations with major adverse events are seen in patients with greater than 18 min of central venous saturations less than 40%. Our results support the further investigation of ScvO₂ as a potential target parameter in high-risk pediatric patients to minimize the risk of major adverse events.