Preoperative Echocardiographically Derived Mean dP/dTic Predicts Early Post-operative Dysfunction in Children Undergoing Mitral Valve Surgery.

Mean dP/dt is a quantitative measurement of ventricular function that can be obtained noninvasively by echocardiography. In adults with mitral regurgitation (MR), it has been shown to be a more sensitive predictor of postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (EF). The utility of dP/dt in pediatric congenital heart diseases with MR has been underexplored.

Impact of Dexmedetomidine Infusion on Opioid and Benzodiazepine Doses in Ventilated Pediatric Patients in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Introduction: Dexmedetomidine (DEX) is frequently used as an adjunct agent for prolonged sedation in the intensive care unit (ICU), though its effect on concomitant opioids or benzodiazepines infusions is unclear. We explored the impact of DEX on concomitant analgosedation in a cohort of ventilated pediatric patients in a cardiac ICU, with stratification of patients according to duration of ventilation (< 5 versus ≥ 5 days) following DEX initiation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis on ventilated patients receiving a DEX infusion ≥ 24 h and at least one other sedative/analgesic infusion (January 2011-June 2021).