Preoperative Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW) and Postoperative Outcomes in Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Surgery: A Single-Center Cross-sectional Study

Background: Red cell distribution width (RDW) has recently been introduced as an important factor in assessing the prognosis of chronic diseases. Objectives: The present study was performed to assess the relationship between RDW and cardiac function before and after congenital heart disease (CHD) surgery in children. Methods: Seventy-six children with CHD requiring surgery admitted to Modarres Hospital pediatric cardiology ward were enrolled in this cross-sectional descriptive study. Blood samples were taken for RDW determination. Two-dimensional, M-mode, Doppler flow velocity, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were applied to evaluate cardiac function by echocardiography on the day following the operation. Results: There was no relationship between preoperative RDW levels and early postoperative heart function, except for increased aortic velocity time integral (VTI) and mitral valve systolic velocity (MV S’) noted in patients with higher RDW percentages. Additionally, patients with higher RDW showed a longer intra-operative pump time and mean intensive care unit (ICU) stay. Conclusions: Higher RDW levels may predict a longer duration of surgery and ICU stay in pediatric cardiac surgery; however, it has no relationship with cardiac function in the early postoperative period.