Paediatric anaesthesia
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2011
Mortality as an outcome measure following cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease in the current era.
Mortality following cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease is rare in the current times. In this review article, we explore current mortality rates, factors associated with mortality, and pitfalls in the use of mortality as a measure for assessing outcomes following congenital heart surgery.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2011
ReviewTotal intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in pediatric cardiac anesthesia.
Although inhalational anesthesia with moderate- to high-dose opioid analgesia has been the mainstay of pediatric cardiac anesthesia, the availability of new short-acting drugs, new concepts in pharmacokinetic modeling and computer technology, and advances in surgery and perfusion have made total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) an attractive option. In this article, we review some of the TIVA techniques used in pediatric cardiac anesthesia.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2011
ReviewPediatric pacemakers and ICDs: how to optimize perioperative care.
An increasing number of pediatric patients with permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) require cardiac and noncardiac surgery. It is critical that the anesthesiologist caring for these patients understands the management of the device and the underlying heart disease. Children with these devices are more vulnerable to lead failure and inappropriate shocks compared with the adult population. ⋯ Prior consultation with qualified programmers is recommended to enable timely optimization of the device. Magnets may be used in emergency situations but it is important to appreciate the limitations of magnet use on different models of pacemakers and ICDs. Safe and successful perioperative care is dependent upon a well-organized and coordinated multidisciplinary team approach.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2011
ReviewCerebral oximetry for pediatric anesthesia: why do intelligent clinicians disagree?
Reflectance near-infrared spectroscopy has been used to measure cortical tissue oximetry for more than 30 years. In that time, many centers have adopted the routine use of the cerebral oximeter for children having repair of congenital heart lesions, while some prominent academic centers have resisted routine use of these monitors citing lack of definitive evidence for outcome benefit. ⋯ We discuss the peculiarities of evidentiary review for monitoring devices, and the confounding errors that occur when a monitor is evaluated as a therapeutic intervention. We outline the physiologic basis of cerebral desaturation and the shifts in practice that have occurred with implementation of NIRS monitoring.
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Paediatric anaesthesia · May 2011
ReviewBenefits and risks of red blood cell transfusion in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
As the number of neonates and young infants undergoing cardiac surgery requiring cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) increases, red blood cell (RBC) transfusion will continue to be an integral part of the practice of pediatric cardiac anesthesiology. The decision of when to transfuse RBCs to these patients is complex and influenced by multiple factors such as size, presence of cyanotic heart disease, complexity of the surgical procedure, and the hemostatic alterations induced by CPB. The known benefits of RBC transfusion include an increase in the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood, improved tissue oxygenation, and improved hemostasis. ⋯ However, a growing number of prospective randomized clinical trials are finding an association between RBC transfusion and an increased risk of morbidity and mortality even with the use of leuko-reduced blood. Thus, it is becoming increasingly important that the decision to transfuse RBCs be made with a thorough understanding of the benefit-to-risk ratio. This review addresses the benefits and risks of RBC transfusion, pertinent data acquired in the setting of congenital cardiac surgery and techniques designed to minimize the need for RBC transfusion.