Special considerations in the medical and surgical management of the premature infant

Continued improvements in prenatal diagnosis, preoperative stabilization, surgical techniques, and postoperative management strategies have produced improved outcomes and a more aggressive approach to the treatment of congenital heart disease. These improvements are impacting the decision-making algorithms in the premature infant with congenital heart disease dramatically. A further understanding of this topic requires an analysis of the impact of prematurity upon noncardiac organ system maturation, the challenges of diagnosis and monitoring this particular patient population, and finally an understanding of its association with surgical decision making and outcomes.