Advances in postoperative care of pediatric cardiac patients.
OBJECTIVE
The past two decades have seen tremendous technological advances in the care of infants and children with congenital and acquired heart disease. Recent advances in postoperative management have made it possible to support smaller and more fragile infants, extended the capabilities of extracorporeal circulation, and have brought new and innovative monitoring capabilities to the intensive care unit.


RESULTS
We chose to focus our review on four main themes: management of pulmonary hypertension, mechanical support of the myocardium, near infrared spectroscopy, and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia.


CONCLUSIONS
As operative and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques have evolved, early complete repair in neonates and repair of more complex lesions is now possible, creating new challenges for postoperative care in the intensive care unit. Additionally, recognition and management of newly appreciated complications is essential.
Zimmerman
Angela T
AT
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA. zimmeran@ohsu.edu
Ibsen
Laura M
LM