Bis-Guided Titration of Anesthetic Depth as a Means of Improving Perioperative Outcomes in Surgical Correction of Congenital Heart Defects in Children

Background

Surgical correction of congenital heart defects (CHD) in early childhood is performed under conditions in which conventional clinical signs of anesthetic depth are distorted by the underlying cardiac pathology, cardiopulmonary bypass and vasoactive support, while the developing brain remains vulnerable to both insufficient and excessive anesthetic exposure. Objective, processed-EEG guidance of anesthetic titration may therefore be a practical means of improving the safety of pediatric cardiac anesthesia.