2156. Impact of Asymptomatic Upper Respiratory Viral Shedding in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgical Patients


 
 
 Intraoperative and postoperative complications associated with symptomatic upper respiratory infections in young children are well-documented; however, asymptomatic upper respiratory viral shedding is frequent and may be prolonged. Necessary pediatric cardiac surgical procedures could be delayed with recognition of asymptomatic viral shedding. This study aimed to assess if a positive preoperative respiratory viral panel PCR (+ RVP) impacted postoperative length of stay in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) or hospital and assessed for an association among + RVP and adverse clinical events.
 
 
 
 Patients < 3 years old presenting to a freestanding children’s hospital for cardiothoracic surgery from March 2018-March 2020 were enrolled. Within 24 hours before surgery, an RVP via nasopharyngeal swab for PCR was collected from subjects. Chart review was completed after hospital discharge. Mean difference between RVP status and length of stay for PICU and hospital was assessed with an independent, two group, sample t-test. Logistic regression was used to test association between RVP status and adverse clinical events (VAP, SSI, prolonged fever, ventilator use, or antibiotics), adjusted by complexity of surgical procedure using the Risk Adjustment in Congenital Heart Surgery-1 (RACHS-1) score.
 
 
 
 There were 95 subjects included, approximately 50% female, 75% Caucasian; 39% had + RVP (Table 1). There was no statistical association between RVP status and length of PICU (p=0.35) or hospital stay (p=0.28) (Table 2). Odds ratio for extubation in the operating room was significantly associated with +RVP, though small sample size and wide confidence intervals limit generalizability of this observation (Table 3). There were no clinically significant associations between RVP status and adverse events. Table 1.Subject DemographicsTable 2.Mean Difference in Length of Stay by RVP StatusTable 3.Odds Ratios of Clinical Adverse Events by RVP status
 
 
 
 This limited, single-center study suggests that preoperative RVPs in pediatric cardiac surgery candidates identified asymptomatic viral shedding in 39%, though provided no detectable clinical benefit. Larger studies are needed to fully explore specific adverse clinical events and individual viral pathogen impacts. Institutional policies requiring preoperative RVP screening for pediatric cardiac surgery should be discouraged.
 
 
 
 Kari Simonsen, MD, MBA, MedImmune: Grant/Research Support|Melinta Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support.
