The Year in Review: Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Disease 2023

Abstract

This review highlights published literature in 2023 that is related to the anesthetic management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Though not inclusive of all topics, 31 articles are discussed and four primary themes emerged: transfusion and hemostasis, outcomes and risk assessment, monitoring, and pharmacology.

A Year of Changes: The End of the Pandemic Marks the Beginning of New Priorities

“…The previous year also revealed exciting publications relevant to anesthesia provided to children and adults with congenital heart disease (CHD), summarized in our current edition by Wadle et al 28 Like last year's literature on adult cardiac surgery, retrospective studies focused on the association between perioperative transfusions and worse clinical outcomes in pediatric and adult CHD surgery. 29,30 The first documented Norwood procedure performed without the transfusion of blood products, as reported by Bohuta et al, marked a significant milestone in blood conversation techniques.…”