Preoperative Management of Neonates With Congenital Heart Disease.

Clinicians caring for neonates with congenital heart disease encounter challenges in clinical care as these infants await surgery or are evaluated for further potential interventions. The newborn with heart disease can present with significant pathophysiologic heterogeneity and therefore requires a personalized therapeutic management plan. However, this complex field of neonatal-cardiac hemodynamics can be simplified.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Support in Special Patient Populations-The Bidirectional Glenn and Fontan Circulations.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a support modality used within the pediatric cardiac ICU population as a bridge to recovery or decision in the setting of acute myocardial decompensation, support for combined cardiopulmonary failure or in the setting of refractory cardiopulmonary arrest. Patients with univentricular physiology are at particular risk for decompensation requiring ECMO support. This review will focus upon current evidence and techniques for ECMO support of single ventricle patients who have undergone a stage II bidirectional Glenn procedure or the stage III Fontan procedure.

Hemodynamic effects of ketamine in children with congenital heart disease and/or pulmonary hypertension.

Introduction: Ketamine is a drug often used for procedural sedation or as adjunct agent for general sedation in children with congenital heart disease. In the clinical realm, there is often confusion regarding the effects of ketamine on hemodynamics, particularly pulmonary vascular resistance and systemic vascular resistance. We performed a meta-analysis of studies investigating the effects of ketamine on hemodynamics.

Cardiac morphology for the millennial cardiology fellow: Nomenclature and advances in morphologic imaging.

Cardiology fellows-in-training, both in adult and pediatric hospitals, need structured education in regards to congenital heart disease (CHD) nomenclature. With improved survival of patients with CHD, it is not uncommon for these patients to seek care in multiple adult and pediatric hospitals. A deep understanding of CHD nomenclature would aid in providing accurate medical and surgical care for these patients.