Pediatric cardiac surgery : current status and recent advances

Major modifications have been recently observed in the field ofpediatric cardiac surgery: 1/ neonates and infants are predominantlyinvolved (they currently represent 70% to 75% of the activity in adepartment of pediatric cardiac surgery). 2/ major improvementshave been implemented in the preoperative, intraoperative andpostoperative management: preoperative diagnosis, interventionalcardiology, extracorporeal circulation, postoperative care. 3/ newsurgical techniques have been designed; they provide more anatomicalrepair and improve long term results. 4/ the importance of aperinatal multidisciplinary approach has been demonstrated. Pediatriccardiac surgery has become a true surgical subspeciality andshould be integrated in reference centers including prenatal diagnosiscenter, high-level maternity department and medico-surgicalpediatric cardiology unit.