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Volume 4 Supplement 4

2nd International Symposium on the Pathophysiology of Cardiopulmonary Bypass. Neurological complications after surgery

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Recognition and prevention of neurological complications in paediatric cardiac surgery

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Advances in surgical and cardiopulmonary bypass techniques mean that it is now possible to definitively repair the vast majority of congenital heart disease in infancy or childhood. Although the majority of survivors do not have obvious cerebral sequelae, there is increasing disquiet about the high incidence of acute neurological events in the immediate postoperative period, as well as the evidence at long-term follow-up that there are subtle cognitive and motor deficits in many.

Some children are more at risk of neurodevelopmental problems, either because of their cardiac (egextensive aortopulmonary collaterals) or cerebrovascular (eg the propensity to large vessel dissection) anatomy or because of genetic predisposition (eg to prothrombotic disorders). The incidence may vary with the surgery (eg the Fontan operation) and the cardiopulmonary bypass technique neccessary to achieve an adequate technical repair (eg low or no flow at deep hypothermia). Recognition of the population at risk will lead to prevention of serious sequelae. Data collected in adults may be misleading, and many paediatric units have developed their own practice, but recent studies in animal models of infant surgery and in children have produced some evidence to guide management to ensure the optimal cerebral as well as cardiac outcome.

Pump flow should be maintained at least 30 ml/kg per min where possible, with inotropic support to maintain blood pressure if necessary. If pump flow must go lower or circulatory arrest is essential, thorough cerebral cooling to deep hypothermic temperatures is mandatory; a pH-stat strategy may make this easier, but an α-stat strategy may be better in those operations that can be performed at moderate hypothermia. There is no evidence that the available pulsatile pumps offer an advantage. Tissue oxygenation may reach critical levels and a high haematocrit and oxygen tension may reduce the risk of significant hypoxia. There is a risk of embolization in children, which can be reduced with membrane oxygenators and careful monitoring; the role of arterial filtration remains controversial. The only protective agent that can be recommended at the present time is methylprednisolone to protect the spinal cord (eg in operations on the aortic arch). Further studies are needed in this important area.

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Kirkham, F.J. Recognition and prevention of neurological complications in paediatric cardiac surgery. Crit Care 4 (Suppl 4), L5 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1186/cc672

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/cc672

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