The preoperative use of the IABP in high-risk patients undergoing cardiac surgery did not affect cerebral hemodynamics and was not associated with a higher incidence of neurological complications.
We report similar methylprednisolone plasma concentrations as earlier studies performed in children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, and we confirmed the large interindividual variability in achieved methylprednisolone plasma concentrations with weight-based methylprednisolone administration. A larger volume of distribution and a lower clearance of methylprednisolone for neonates were suggested. The half-life of methylprednisolone in our study was calculated to be longer than 6 h for neonates, 4.7 h for infants, 3.6 h for preschool children and 4.7 h for school children. The possible influence of treatment of pulmonary hypertension with sildenafil and temperature needs to be investigated further.
