A subset of patients who develop post-surgical heart block have recovery of atrioventricular node function. Factors predicting recovery are not understood. We investigated our centre’s incidence of post-surgical heart block and examine factors associated with recovery of atrioventricular node function.

We conducted a single-centre retrospective study of patients 0 – 21 years who underwent cardiac surgery between January 2010 and December 2019 and experienced post-operative heart block. Data including patient and clinical characteristics and operative variables were collected and analysed.

Of 6333 surgical hospitalisations, 128 (2%) patients developed post-operative heart block. Of the 128 patients, 90 (70%) had return of atrioventricular node function, and 38 (30%) had pacemaker placement. Of the 38 patients who underwent pacemaker placement, 6 (15.8%) had recovery of atrioventricular node function noted on long-term follow-up. Median time from onset of heart block to late atrioventricular node recovery was 13 days (Interquartile range: 5 – 117). Patients with single-ventricle physiology (p = 0.04), greater weight (p = 0.03), and shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time (p = 0.015) were more likely to have recovery. The use of post-operative steroids was similar between all groups (p = 0.445). Infectious or wound complications were similar between pacemaker groups (p = 1).

Two per cent of patients who underwent congenital cardiac surgery developed post-operative heart block, and 0.6% underwent pacemaker placement. Early recovery of atrioventricular node was associated with greater weight at the time of surgery, single-ventricle physiology, and shorter cardiopulmonary bypass time. Late recovery of atrioventricular node conduction following pacemaker placement occurred in 15.8% of patients.