Clinical Variables Specific to Timing of Tracheal Extubation Following Pediatric Cardiac Surgery.

Background: The primary objective of this study was to identify specific factors in pediatric cardiac surgical patients when tracheal extubation was performed on the operating table after completion of open-heart surgery (Group-1), postoperatively in the intensive care unit within 6 h (Group-II) or after 6 h (Group-III). The causes of failed extubation, the presence of chromosomal disorders in addition to arterial blood gas analysis parameters at the time of tracheal extubation, and the duration of intensive care unit stay were also evaluated in each group.

Methods: In addition to the three groups, Groups I and II were combined as a "fast-track" extubation group.

The Effect of Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography Probe Placement on the Endotracheal Tube Cuff Pressure in Adult Patients Undergoing On-Pump Cardiac Surgery.

Objectives: The study was directed toward documentation of the effect of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) probe insertion on the endotracheal tube cuff pressure (CP) in adult patients undergoing on-pump coronary bypass surgery. The primary objective of this study was to assess whether CP reaches supranormal pressures during the different stages of intraoperative TEE examination. The secondary objective was to observe the effect of TEE probe placement on the ventilation parameters.

Central Venous Catheter Tip Malposition After Internal Jugular Vein Cannulation in Pediatric Patients With Congenital Heart Disease.

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to identify the incidence of catheter tip malposition as determined by postoperative radiography after central venous cannulation by right and left internal jugular venous routes in pediatric cardiac surgical patients. The secondary objective was to determine the relative risk of malposition between the 2 approaches into specific major thoracic veins other than the right superior vena cava.

Design: A prospective observational study.

Assessment of stress response attenuation with caudal morphine using a surrogate marker during pediatric cardiac surgery.

Background: Measurement of biomarkers representing sympathetic tone and the surgical stress response are helpful for objective comparison of anesthetic protocols.

Aims: The primary aim was to compare changes in chromogranin A levels following pump pediatric cardiac surgery between children who received bolus caudal morphine and those who received a conventional intravenous narcotic-based anesthesia regime. The secondary objectives were to compare hemodynamic responses to skin incision and the magnitude of the rise in blood sugar values between the groups.

Authentication of Radial Versus Femoral Arterial Pressure Waveform-Derived Cardiac Output With Transesophageal Echocardiography-Derived Cardiac Output Measurements in Patients Undergoing On-Pump Coronary Bypass Surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain if arterial waveform-derived cardiac output measurements from radial and femoral cannulation sites were reliable as compared with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)-derived cardiac output (CO) values, and which of the CO measurements derived from radial and the femoral arterial pressure waveforms closely tracked simultaneously measured TEE-derived CO values. This study also aimed to ascertain if cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) would impact the accuracy of arterial pressure-derived CO values from either of the 2 sites.

Design: A prospective observational study.