Perioperative prophylactic corticosteroids for cardiac surgery in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Published in: The American heart journal Vol. 266; pp. 159 - 167
• Main Authors: Cheema, Huzaifa Ahmad, Khan, Arsalan Ali, Ahmad, Awab Hussain, Khan, Abdullah Ali, Khalid, Amna, Shahid, Abia, Hermis, Alaa Hamza, Syed, Ali, Bansal, Neha, Yuki, Koichi, Ghelani, Sunil J., Dani, Sourbha S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adrenal Cortex Hormones - therapeutic use; Bias; Cardiac output; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Child; Clinical trials; Corticoids; Corticosteroids; Drug dosages; Heart; Heart surgery; Humans; Hyperglycemia; Insulin; Mechanical ventilation; Meta-analysis; Mortality; Patients; Pediatrics; Reoperation; Steroids; Surgery; Systematic review; Ventilation; Ventilators; United States > US
• ISSN: 0002-8703; 1097-6744; 1097-6744
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ahj.2023.09.006

Perioperative corticosteroids have been used for pediatric cardiac surgery for decades, but the underlying evidence is conflicting. We aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of perioperative prophylactic corticosteroids in pediatric heart surgeries. We searched electronic databases until March 2023 to retrieve all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that administered perioperative prophylactic corticosteroids to children undergoing heart surgery. We used RevMan 5.4 to pool risk ratios (RRs) and mean differences (MDs). A total of 12 RCTs (2,209 patients) were included in our review. Corticosteroids administration was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in all-cause mortality (RR 0.62; 95% CI: 0.37-1.02, I2 = 0%; moderate certainty); however, it was associated with a lower duration of mechanical ventilation (MV) (MD −0.63 days; 95% CI: −1.16 to −0.09 days, I2 = 41%; high certainty). Corticosteroids did not affect the length of ICU and hospital stay but significantly reduced the incidence of postoperative low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.96, I2 = 0%; moderate certainty) and reoperation (RR 0.37; 95% CI: 0.19-0.74, I2 = 0%; moderate certainty). There was no increase in adverse events except a higher risk of hyperglycemia and postoperative insulin use. The use of perioperative corticosteroids in pediatric heart surgeries is associated with a trend toward reduced all-cause mortality without attaining statistical significance. Corticosteroids reduced MV duration, and probably decrease the incidence of LCOS, and reoperations. The choice of corticosteroid agent and dose is highly variable and further larger studies may help determine the ideal agent, dose, and patient population for this prophylactic therapy.