The ulnar artery: A site suitable for arterial cannulation in pediatric patients.

Background: Historically, the ulnar artery has rarely been considered for arterial cannulation as it is less easily palpated than the radial artery. With the current routine use of ultrasound in pediatric patients, the ulnar is as accessible as the radial and could be viewed as an equivalent site for cannulation.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to compare ulnar and radial artery suitability for arterial cannulation in pediatric patients using 2-dimensional ultrasound.

Applying Conflict Management Strategies to the Pediatric Operating Room.

Effective communication is essential in today's health care environment, and poor communication can lead to conflict among health care providers. Differences in cultures and beliefs can further incite conflict among health care team members, families, and patients. Pediatric patient care has a higher potential for conflict because decision-making responsibilities are shared among patients, parents/guardians, and clinicians.

Inferior Vena Cava Thrombus in a Postpartum Patient With Fontan Physiology: A Case Report.

Women with complex congenital heart disease, such as those with single-ventricle physiology, are surviving into adulthood and becoming pregnant. Because of their complex physiology, common peripartum complications pose unique risks. We describe a patient with a single ventricle who underwent an external vascular conduit, nonfenestrated Fontan procedure in childhood and then presented during the postpartum period with extensive thrombosis in her lower extremity deep venous system and inferior vena cava.

Perioperative management of a neurosurgical patient with a meningioma and recent coronary artery stent.

Patients who undergo placement of a drug-eluting coronary artery stent are prescribed dual antiplatelet therapy for one year. Early cessation of this therapy is a risk factor for a major adverse cardiac event, especially in high-risk patients. The perioperative physician team must evaluate the risk of surgical bleeding relative to the thrombotic risk during the perioperative period in patients taking dual antiplatelet therapy who must undergo intracranial neurosurgery.

Segmental wall-motion abnormalities after an arterial switch operation indicate ischemia.

We prospectively studied 29 consecutive neonates undergoing an arterial switch operation to determine if segmental wall motion abnormalities (SWMA) represented myocardial ischemia. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram was recorded at baseline and twice after cardiopulmonary bypass. Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) levels were measured before sternal incision and 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h after removal of the aortic cross-clamp.

Extracellular potassium concentrations in red blood cell suspensions after irradiation and washing.

Background: Extracellular potassium concentration [K(+)e] increases with duration of red blood cell storage. Sometimes red blood cells (RBC) are washed before transfusion to infants to reduce [K(+)e] of these components. AABB standards permit storage of washed RBCs at 4 degrees C for 24 hours.

Effect of enalaprilat on postoperative hypertension after surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta.

Objective: Hypertension in pediatric patients after surgical repair of coarctation of the aorta can be difficult to control and may lead to morbidity. The renin-angiotensin system mediates at least part of this hypertension. Enalaprilat, the only intravenous angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, is used to treat hypertension in pediatric patients in other settings.