A higher diastolic blood pressure and a lower Qp/Qs ratio were associated with a more stable and efficient circulation in patients with a right ventricular to pulmonary artery conduit. More intensive ventilatory support was necessary during the first postoperative days. We did not note any adverse effects of the ventriculotomy on ventricular performance.

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In neonates with vasodilatory shock after cardiopulmonary bypass AVP is a potent agent to increase blood pressure when traditional vasopressors are failing.

In our small study, postoperative cardiac index over time was similar in patients with prophylactically administered levosimendan and patients with prophylactically given milrinone. We observed an increase in cardiac output and cardiac index over time in the levosimendan group, whereas cardiac output and cardiac index remained stable in the milrinone group. This pilot study has primarily served to obtain experience using the new drug levosimendan in neonates and infants and to initiate further multicenter trials in pediatric patients.

In this premature neonate with postoperative low cardiac output syndrome due to failing myocardial function, levosimendan was a potent inotropic agent.

In our patient population, early mortality was higher for infants weighing less than 2.5 kg. However, within the low-weight group, lower weight at surgery or history of prematurity was not associated with a higher mortality or bad neurological outcome.

The milk of two tropical species of Eared seals (Otariidae) was analysed. In the Galapagos fur seal (Arclocephalus galapagoensis), milk fat content decreased and calcium content increased with age of the young (Table 1), while protein content (12%) and potassium content (167 mg%) remained more or less constant. Fat content was 32% during the perinatal attendance period, later decreasing to 25%, while calcium increased from 57 to 70 mg%. The fewer samples of Galapagos sea lion (Zalophus californianus wollebaeki) milk contained on average 17% fat and 9% protein. Fat content in the milk of different otariid seal species correlates best with the average duration of maternal foraging trips and less with the weaning age of young (Fig. 1).

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