Short- and intermediate-term survival after extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in children with cardiac disease.

Objectives: In children with cardiac disease, common indications for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) include refractory cardiopulmonary resuscitation (E-CPR), failure to separate from cardiopulmonary bypass (OR-ECMO), and low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS-ECMO). Despite established acceptance, ECMO outcomes are suboptimal with a survival between 38% and 55%. We evaluated factors associated with significantly increased survival in cardiac patients requiring ECMO.

Perioperative use of dexmedetomidine is associated with decreased incidence of ventricular and supraventricular tachyarrhythmias after congenital cardiac operations.

Background: Postoperative tachyarrhythmias remain a common complication after congenital cardiac operations. Dexmedetomidine (DEX), an α-2 adrenoreceptor agonist, can have a therapeutic role in supraventricular tachyarrhythmias for cardioversion to sinus rhythm or heart rate control. Whether routine perioperative use of DEX decreases the incidence of supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias was studied.