title: Management of the pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patient.
abstract: Optimal management of the postoperative pediatric cardiac surgical patient requires a thorough understanding of patient anatomy, physiology, surgical repair or palliation, and clinical condition. This necessitates a dedicated team of clinicians including skilled nurses, physicians, and respiratory therapists specialized in the care of patients who have complex congenital heart disease. This article provides an overview of the multisystemic risk factors and consequences associated with cadiopulmonary bypass and cardiac surgery. An evaluation of cardiac hemodynamics and a review of major organ systems are included. Essential assessment information and interventional strategies for managing the pediatric postoperative cardiac surgery patient are detailed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. dorothy.beke@childrens.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Dorothy M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Beke
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Braudis
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lincoln
mesh_terms: D000698:Analgesia / Q000451:nursing; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000451:nursing*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000451:nursing; D003422:Critical Care / Q000379:methods*; D004750:Enteral Nutrition / Q000451:nursing; D005334:Fever / Q000209:etiology; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000209:etiology; D007035:Hypothermia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000451:nursing; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010371:Pediatric Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014883:Water-Electrolyte Imbalance / Q000209:etiology