Pediatric cardiac postoperative care.
The Heart Institute of the University of São Paulo, Medical School is a referral center for the treatment of congenital heart diseases of neonates and infants. In the recent years, the excellent surgical results obtained in our institution may be in part due to modern anesthetic care and to postoperative care based on well-structured protocols. The purpose of this article is to review unique aspects of neonate cardiovascular physiology, the impact of extracorporeal circulation on postoperative evolution, and the prescription for pharmacological support of acute cardiac dysfunction based on our cardiac unit protocols. The main causes of low cardiac output after surgical correction of heart congenital disease are reviewed, and methods of treatment and support are proposed as derived from the relevant literature and our protocols.
Anesthesia and Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Heart Institute, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo.
José Otávio Costa
JO
Auler
Alessandra Costa
AC
Barreto
Solange Coppola
SC
Gimenez
Deipara Monteiro
DM
Abellan
D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011182:Postoperative Care