Abstract: Objective · To explore the safety of elective therapeutic cardiac catheterization in congenital heart disease (CHD) children with recent upper respiratory tract infection (URI) (within two weeks), so as to provide guidance for clinical anesthesia management. Methods · A total of 140 CHD children of American Society of Anesthesiologist (ASA) II~III undergoing tracheal intubation general anesthesia for elective therapeutic cardiac catheterization, aged 3 months to 15 years, were divided into URI group and non-URI group according to history of recent URI. The incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs) [i.e. laryngospasm, bronchospasm, breath holding ≥15 s, pulse blood oxygen saturation (SpO2)<95%( ≥10 s),cough, and glossoptosis] and postoperative dysphoria, fever, copious sputum, and vomiting within 24 h after operation were observed and compared. Results · Compared with non-URI group, recent URI increased significantly the overall incidence of PRAEs (any complications of PRAEs) (P0.001),particularly the incidence of SpO2<95% (P0.014) and cough (P0.000). Compared with children aged 4-15 in URI group, the overall incidence of PRAEs (P0.003), SpO2<95% (P0.018), and cough (P0.027) of children younger than 3 years increased significantly. Besides, compared with non-URI group, recent URI increased significantly the incidence of postoperative copious sputum (P0.002). Conclusion · Recent URI increases significantly the incidence of perioperative complications in CHD children undergoing elective therapeutic cardiac catheterization. These complications are short and easily managed, and no serious adverse events occurred in CHD children.

Key words: upper respiratory tract infection (URI), congenital heart disease (CHD), therapeutic cardiac catheterization, perioperative respiratory adverse events (PRAEs), postoperative complications