Abstract
Although the safety of paediatric heart surgery has been established, neurologic injuries are still a major source of comorbidity and mortality. The intra-uterine hypoxic milieu coupled with abnormal circulation poses threat to the developing brain. Neurologic injuries vary depending on the level and extent of injury as well as the aetiology, which may be multifactorial. Radiologic signs are late. Various biochemical markers and neuromonitoring modalities enable prediction of neuronal damage. Neuroprotection strategies in these children aim at skilful preoperative assessment, optimal cardiopulmonary bypass strategies, early detection and correction of metabolic parameters. In view of the complex mechanisms and multiple factors involved in neurologic insults, a thorough understanding of pathophysiology and meticulous attention to the details is required to prevent the same.
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Talwar, S., Nair, V.V., Choudhary, S.K. et al. Neurological injury in paediatric cardiac surgery. Indian J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 33, 15–28 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-016-0481-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12055-016-0481-y