Association of plasma dilution with cardiopulmonary bypass-associated bleeding and morbidity.

Objective: To investigate the relationship of cardiopulmonary bypass-associated plasma dilution with blood product transfusion and postoperative morbidity.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Single academic medical center.

Anesthetic management for the pediatric patient undergoing deep hypothermic circulatory arrest.

Early definitive repair of complex congenital heart defects is now advocated. For the completion of many of these repairs, the use of deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) is an absolute necessity. Unfortunately, there is undeniable neurologic morbidity, as well as other complications associated with DHCA.