Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2021 Jan 31; 9(B):137-143. 137 Scientifc Foundation SPIROSKI, Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021 Jan 31; 9(B):137-143. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.5581 eISSN: 1857-9655 Category: B - Clinical Sciences Section: Cardiology Neurological Sequelae Following Pediatric Cardiac Interventions Hala Mounir Agha 1 , Mai Mahmoud Hussien 2 *, Marian Y Girgis 3 , Omneya Gamal Eldin Affy 3 , Mervat Ahmed Haroun 3 1 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology Division, Specialized Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University; 2 Department of Pediatrics, National institute of neuromotor system, General organization of Teaching hospitals and Institutes; 3 Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Neurology Division, Specialized Pediatric Hospital, Cairo University Abstract PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to assess neurological sequelae within 30 days of surgical or cardiac catheter interventions in infants and children. METHOD: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated all patients who developed neurological problems after cardiac interventions either by surgery or by catheter by clinical evaluation, brain imaging, and electrophysiological studies. RESULTS: Among 1200 procedures were performed; 895 (74.6%) were cardiac catheterizations either diagnostic or intervention, 167 (13.9%) were open-heart surgery, and 138 (11.5%) were closed heart surgery. The overall incidence of post-procedure neurological dysfunction in the studied population was 3.4%. The diferences between the three groups were statistically signifcant (p < 0.0001(. In our series, the neurological complications were in the form of disturbed conscious level in 2/41 (4.9%), impaired motor function in 11/41 (26.8%), impaired mental functions in 6/41(14.6%), hyperrefexia in 27/41 (65.9%), and seizures in 38/41 (92.7%). The most common presentation of seizures was in the form of focal fts 21/41 (51.2%), followed by generalized fts in 15/41(36.6%) and then myoclonic fts 2/41 (4.9%). CONCLUSION: Seizures are the most common complication following cardiac interventions in pediatric age and the highest percentage following open heart surgery. Edited by: https://publons.com/researcher/391987/ mirko-spiroski/ Citation: Agha HM, Hussien MM, Girgis MY, Affy OGE, Mervat Ahmed Haroun. Neurological Sequelae Following Pediatric Cardiac Interventions. Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2021 Jan 31; 9(B):137-143. https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.5581 Keywords: Congenital heart; Neurological insult; Open surgery; Closed surgery; Catheterization *Correspondence: Mai Mahmoud Hussien, Department of Pediatrics, National institute of neuromotor system, General organization of Teaching hospitals and Institutes. E-mail: mhussien1001@gmail.com Received: 19-Nov-2020 Revised: 22-Dec-2020 Accepted: 21-Jan-2021 Copyright: © 2020 Hala Mounir Agha, Mai Mahmoud Hussien, Marian Y Girgis, Omneya Gamal Eldin Affy, Mervat Ahmed Haroun Funding: This research did not receive any fnancial support Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. Open Access: This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) Introduction Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are one of the most common congenital defects being responsible for multitude of complications despite the recent surgical and interventional techniques improvements [1]. The mortality rate is increased in complex conditions associated with heart failure, respiratory failure, or shock. Indeed, the mortality rate reported by several centers is around 6% in children compared to 3% in adults [2]. Recent evidence suggests that recent therapeutic interventions aimed at minimizing progressive organ function deterioration, especially the brain, might be as well helpful in reducing in-hospital mortality and improving neurological outcome as well as quality of life after cardiac arrest insults [3]. Circulatory arrest during cardiac surgery is often associated with a great risk of postoperative neurological defcit with strokes in adults and seizures in children being the most common neurological complication after a cardiac surgery [4]. Early-onset seizures are common manifestation in children aficted with arterial ischemic strokes, yet their clinical features and outcomes have been understudied [5]. Recently, there have been several retrospective reports suggesting an increase in seizures frequency post-cardiopulmonary bypass entailing increased patient morbidity [6]. A longstanding concern about cerebral injury potential in infants after heart surgery had been raised. The post-operative cognitive function evaluation of such patients has consistently demonstrated neurological impairment defcits, the etiology of which appears to be multifactorial and a growing need for better understanding is warranted. Variety of techniques had been used to gain insight into early neurological injury. Those techniques included electroencephalography brain isoenzymes and cerebral metabolism measurements. Brain imaging studies can also play a key role in mapping the extent and nature of the neurological insult [7]. The aim of this current work is to identify neurological complications within 30 days following pediatric cardiac interventions may it be through surgery or catheterization. Patients and Methods This study was a cross-section analytical study conducted at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, in the period from January