Which neonates should have a pre-operative echocardiography? Findings from a national survey and a retrospective tertiary single-centre analysis in the United Kingdom.

Purpose: The detection of congenital heart disease (CHD) before neonatal surgery is crucial for anaesthetic and perioperative management. There are no established criteria for pre-operative echocardiography in neonates. We aimed to survey current practice in the United Kingdom and evaluate the reliability of antenatal screening and postnatal clinical assessment in detecting CHD before surgery.

Outcome of noncardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease performed outside a cardiac center.

Objective: The objective of this study was to review the outcome of children with congenital heart disease (CHD) undergoing noncardiac surgery requiring general anesthesia (GA) in a tertiary pediatric center between January 2010 and December 2012.

Study Design: A retrospective case note review of children <16years of age with confirmed CHD undergoing a surgical or interventional procedure requiring GA was performed. Patients were categorized into three risk groups according to White and Peyton's anesthetic risk classification of children with CHD undergoing noncardiac surgery [Critical Care and Pain 2012;12:17-22].