Outcome following anaesthesia in infancy in the Nordic countries: Subgroup analysis of the NECTARINE study.

Eleven Nordic centers recruited 447 infants (66% males, 37.3% born preterm, and 45% had congenital anomalies) undergoing anesthesia for 530 surgical or non-surgical procedures at 25-60 weeks postmenstrual age. Perioperative critical events triggered interventions in 228/530 (43%) cases. Hypotension (12.6%) or hypoxaemia (11.7%) were more common in younger patients and those with co-morbidities. Hypo/hypercapnia occurred in 1.5%/4.7% of cases. More than 2 attempts for intubation were required in 13 (2.9%) infants (max 3 attempts). Distribution of ASA-Physical Status Scores was similar to the total European cohort (40% was ASA > 2). A total of 236/530 (44.5%) patients were admitted to the postoperative intensive care unit. Thirty-day morbidity (complications in 87/447 = 19.5%) and mortality (8/447, 1.8%) did not differ from the overall European cohort. Hospital re-admissions were significant up to 90 days (98/447=21.9%) CONCLUSIONS: In Nordic countries, anaesthesia in young infant children is resource-demanding, and perioperative critical events and co-morbidities are common. Thirty-day morbidity and mortality data in the Nordic countries did not differ from the overall European cohort.