Impact of Viral PCR Positive Nasal Swabs (Non Covid-19) on Outcomes Following Cardiac Surgery

Viral bronchiolitis is a relative contraindication to elective pediatric cardiac surgery. Nasopharyngeal swab utilizing polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening for viruses known to cause bronchiolitis are commonly available. The objective of this study was to evaluate clinical outcomes in patients with nasopharyngeal viral PCR positive findings at the time of cardiac surgery. Retrospective review from January 2013 to May 2019 for patients with virus detected by PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs at the time of cardiac surgery. Single ventricle and two ventricle patients were compared to control group of age and procedure matched patients viral negative at the time of surgery. Outcome measures included OR extubation, reintubation, hospital length of stay, and mortality. For two ventricle patients (n = 81; control group = 165), there was no statistical difference in any outcome variable (OR extubation 74% vs 72%; p = 0.9; reintubation 9% vs 11% vs; p = 0.7; hospital length of stay 5 days (1–46) vs 4 days (2–131); p = 0.4; mortality 2 vs 1; p = 0.3). For single ventricle patients, there was no statistical difference in any outcome variable (OR extubation 81% vs 76%; p = 0.6; reintubation 14% vs 21% vs; p = 0.5; hospital length of stay 9.5 days (3–116) vs 15 days (2–241); p = 0.1; mortality 0 vs 3; (p = 0.6)). PCR is a sensitive test that fails to predict which patients will proceed to have a clinically significant infection. Viral bronchiolitis remains a relative risk factor for cardiac surgery; presence of detectable virus via nasopharyngeal swab with limited clinical symptoms may not be a contraindication to cardiac surgery.