Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society
A Section of the the Society for Pediatric Anesthesia

Congenital Cardiac Anesthesia Society

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Poll of the Month Archives



April 2025

At your institution, do you transport premature infants on high-frequency ventilation to the cardiac catheterization lab for PDA closure?

  • A. Yes – ( 11 votes )
  • B. No – ( 113 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 13 votes )

Total Answers 137

Total Votes 137


March 2025

At your institution, is it standard practice to administer an anticoagulant for central line thrombosis prophylaxis?

  • A. Yes – ( 49 votes )
  • B. No – ( 59 votes )
  • C. Somtimes – ( 16 votes )

Total Answers 124

Total Votes 124


February 2025

In your institution, what is the primary surgical strategy used after birth for neonates with HLHS with a severely hypoplastic left ventricle, weighing at least 3.5 kg, and no other significant comorbidities?

  • A. Hybrid procedure – ( 19 votes )
  • B. Stage 1 Norwood procedure – ( 122 votes )
  • C. Cardiac transplantation – ( 1 vote )
  • D. Other – ( 1 vote )

Total Answers 143

Total Votes 143


January 2025

At your institution, is it standard of practice to exchange a tracheostomy tube for either an oral or nasal endotracheal tube for surgical procedures approached through sternotomy incision?

  • A. Yes – ( 105 votes )
  • B. No – ( 22 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 18 votes )

Total Answers 145

Total Votes 145


December 2024

In your institution, how often are femoral arterial lines placed in NICU patients weighing less than 2kg?

  • A. Never – ( 55 votes )
  • B. Always – ( 8 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 82 votes )

Total Answers 145

Total Votes 145


November 2024

At your institution, who provides the anesthetic care of a Fontan patient with optimal Fontan hemodynamics who is undergoing non-cardiac surgery?

  • A. A pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist – ( 62 votes )
  • B. A general pediatric anesthesiologist – ( 58 votes )
  • C. Either a general pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist or a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist – ( 45 votes )

Total Answers 165

Total Votes 165


October 2024

At your institution, if you have academic or nonclinical time, how is it funded?

  • A. Pay/Salary differential – ( 20 votes )
  • B. Departmental or hospital supported – ( 50 votes )
  • C. ACGME – ( 1 vote )
  • D. Federal grants – ( 1 vote )
  • E. Foundation grant – ( 1 vote )
  • F. Industry grant – ( 1 vote )

Total Answers 74

Total Votes 74


September 2024

At your institution, what percent of your FTE is protected for academic or nonclinical purposes (ie 5% equals 1 day a month for 1.0 FTE)?

  • A. 0 – ( 44 votes )
  • B. 5% – ( 10 votes )
  • C. 10-15% – ( 8 votes )
  • D. 15-20% – ( 8 votes )
  • E. >20% – ( 7 votes )

Total Answers 77

Total Votes 77


August 2024

At your institution, how often do you lower the heart rate for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac computed tomography angiography?

  • A. Always – ( 11 votes )
  • B. Sometimes – ( 59 votes )
  • C. Never – ( 75 votes )

Total Answers 145

Total Votes 145


July 2024

At your institution, are breath holds required for pediatric patients who require general anesthesia for cardiac magnetic resonance imaging?

  • A. Always – ( 69 votes )
  • B. Never – ( 13 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 44 votes )

Total Answers 126

Total Votes 126


June 2024

At your institution, what medication do you use to treat vasoplegia that is unresponsive to vasopressin, epinephrine, and norepinephrine?

A.  Methylene Blue ( 84 votes)
B.  Angiotensin ( 5 votes )
C.  Hydroxycobalamin ( 3 votes )
D.  Calcium infusion ( 15 votes )
E.  Other ( 5 votes )

Total Answers 112

Total Votes 112


May 2024

At your institution, is it standard of practice to use transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) to visualize the tip and guide the placement of central venous catheters in patients undergoing cardiac surgery?

  • A. Yes – ( 16 votes )
  • B. No – ( 129 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 14 votes )

Total Answers 159

Total Votes 159


April 2024

At your institution, is it standard practice to order a complete blood count and metabolic panel for children who will be presenting from home for cardiac surgery?

  • A. Yes – ( 134 votes )
  • B. No – ( 8 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 14 votes )

Total Answers 156

Total Votes 156


March 2024

At your institution, what is the standard anti-arrhythmic given to treat postoperative junctional ectopic tachycardia?

  • A. Amiodarone – ( 139 votes )
  • B. Procainamide – ( 20 votes )
  • C. Digoxin – ( 4 votes )
  • D. Sotalol – ( 4 votes )
  • E. Ivabradine – ( 3 votes )
  • F. Other – ( 3 votes )

Total Answers 173

Total Votes 173


February 2024

At your institution is it routine practice to use near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) monitoring during noncardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease?

  • A. Yes – ( 34 votes )
  • B. No – ( 97 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 40 votes )

Total Answers 171

Total Votes 171


January 2024

At your institution, how often is an uncuffed endotracheal tube exchanged for a cuffed endotracheal tube prior to interventional and/or diagnostic procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory?

  • A. Always – ( 33 votes )
  • B. Never – ( 29 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 85 votes )

Total Answers 147

Total Votes 147


December 2023

At your institution, what is the first-line antihypertensive agent used in neonates after cardiac surgery?

  • A. Sodium nitroprusside – ( 68 votes )
  • B. Nicardipine – ( 55 votes )
  • C. Esmolol – ( 3 votes )
  • D. Nitroglycerine – ( 15 votes )
  • E.  Other ( 10 votes )

Total Answers 151

Total Votes 151


November 2023

At your institution, what is the most common depth of anesthesia for sedated transthoracic echocardiography provided by the anesthesia care team or anesthesiologist?

  • A. Minimal sedation/Anxiolysis – ( 43 votes )
  • B. Moderate sedation – ( 44 votes )
  • C. Deep sedation – ( 29 votes )
  • D. General anesthesia (with or without an invasive airway) – ( 59 votes )

Total Answers 175

Total Votes 175


October 2023

At your institution, are patients routinely discharged home on the same day after an interventional cardiac catheterization?

  • A. Yes – ( 34 votes )
  • B. No – ( 41 votes )
  • C. Sometimes (on a case by case basis) – ( 61 votes )

Total Answers 136

Total Votes 136


September 2023

At your institution, what is the standard practice for sedating pediatric patients after cardiac catheterization procedures to facilitate bed rest in the post-anesthesia care unit?

  • A. Dexmedetomidine infusion – ( 70 votes )
  • B. Intermittent boluses of dexmedetomidine – ( 30 votes )
  • C. Intermittent doses of opioids – ( 11 votes )
  • D. Intermittent doses of benzodiazepines – ( 6 votes )
  • E. Any combination of the above medications – ( 34 votes )
  • F. Other – ( 14 votes )

Total Answers 165

Total Votes 165


August 2023

At your institution, is it standard practice to transfuse platelets to neonatal patients during cardiopulmonary bypass?

  • A.  Yes – ( 54 votes )
  • B.  No – ( 122 votes )
  • C.  Sometimes – ( 23 votes )

Total Answers 199

Total Votes 199


July 2023

At your institution, when do you discontinue the antifibrinolytic infusion for cardiopulmonary bypass cases?

  • A. At the end of cardiopulmonary bypass. – ( 10 votes )
  • B. At the end of the procedure. – ( 85 votes )
  • C. In the intensive care unit. – ( 29 votes )
  • D. Antifibrinolytic infusion is not routinely utilized. – ( 13 votes )

Total Answers 137

Total Votes 137


June 2023

In your institution, is pediatric cardiac anesthesia fellowship training required to provide anesthetic care for pediatric patients undergoing procedures with cardiopulmonary bypass?

  • A. Yes – ( 93 votes )
  • B. No – ( 78 votes )

Total Answers 171

Total Votes 171


May 2023

In your current practice, do you nasally intubate patients palliated with a Fontan who are on aspirin or other anticoagulants for dental rehabilitation procedures?

  • A. Always – ( 28 votes )
  • B. Never – ( 63 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 44 votes )

Total Answers 135

Total Votes 135


April 2023

At your institution, what is the current protocol for Covid testing patients undergoing elective cardiopulmonary bypass procedures?

  • A. Testing all patients – ( 46 votes )
  • B. Testing only symptomatic patients – ( 60 votes )
  • C. Not testing any patients – ( 18 votes )

Total Answers 124

Total Votes 124


March 2023

In your current practice, which of the following sites do you routinely monitor tissue oxygenation with near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass? (Select all that apply)

  • A. Cerebral – unilateral – ( 72 votes )
  • B. Cerebral – bilateral – ( 105 votes )
  • C. Liver – ( 4 votes )
  • D. Renal – unilateral – ( 93 votes )
  • E. Renal – bilateral – ( 1 vote )
  • F. Other site – ( 2 votes )
  • G. NIRS is not routinely used during cardiopulmonary bypass cases. – ( 1 vote )

Total Answers 278

Total Votes 169


February 2023

At your institution, what is the first-line antihypertensive medication used for blood pressure control after aortic coarctation repair?

  • a. Nicardipine – ( 82 votes )
  • b. Nitroprusside – ( 68 votes )
  • c. Esmolol – ( 17 votes )
  • d. Labetalol – ( 10 votes )
  • e. Nitroglycerin – ( 13 votes )
  • f. Other – ( 9 votes )

Total Answers 199

Total Votes 199


January 2023

At your institution, are intubated cardiac patients routinely transported to and from procedural locations on a transport ventilator?

  • A. Always – ( 31 votes )
  • B. Never – ( 56 votes )
  • C. Sometimes – ( 94 votes )

Total Answers 181

Total Votes 181


December 2022

In your practice, a teenager undergoing an electrophysiology study with ablation receives which of the following anesthetic techniques:

  • A. General anesthesia with inhalational agents – ( 69 votes )
  • B. General anesthesia with Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) – ( 56 votes )
  • C. General anesthesia with combination of inhalational and IV agents – ( 86 votes )
  • D. Monitored Anesthesia Care – ( 22 votes )

Total Answers 233

Total Votes 233


November 2022

At your institution, what is the standard route of tracheal intubation for neonates and infants undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass?

A. Nasal – ( 92 votes )
B. Oral – ( 98 votes )
C. Either nasal or oral (no standard route) – ( 16 votes )

Total Answers 206

Total Votes 206


October 2022

As a Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist, what is the MOST important working condition of a job to you?

A.  Compensation (including salary, bonus, and benefits) – (24 votes)
B.  Workload and Work Schedule (Time expected to be on the job working – clinical, academic, or administrative) – (29 votes)
C.  Work-Life Balance (level of prioritization between personal and professional activities and the level to which activities related to work are present at home) – (45 votes)
D.  Occupational Stress (ongoing or progressive stress experienced due to responsibilities, conditions, environment, or other pressures of the workplace) – (11 votes)
E.  Work Health/Hygiene (elements related to mental wellbeing, health and hygiene that increase the quality or value of academic and clinical work) – (3 votes)

Total Answers 112

Total Votes 112


September 2022

At your institution, where do you place the central line(s) for the Bidirectional Glenn operation?

A.)  Internal jugular vein only – (73 votes)
B.)  Femoral vein only – (33 votes)
C.)  Internal jugular vein and femoral vein – (55 votes)
D.)  Intracardiac only – (14 votes)
E.)  Other – (5 votes)

Total Answers 180

Total Votes 180


August 2022

In your institution, how often is a processed-EEG used for monitoring the depth of anesthesia in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass?

A.) Always – ( 8 votes )
B.) Sometimes – ( 24 votes )
C.) Never – ( 55 votes )

Total Answers 87

Total Votes 87


July 2022

In your institution, how often is a peritoneal dialysis catheter inserted into neonates following complex repair requiring cardiopulmonary bypass?

A.)  Always – ( 28 votes )
B.)  Sometimes – ( 58 votes )
C.)  Never – ( 30 votes )

Total Answers 116

Total Votes 116


June 2022

At your hospital, which viscoelastic test is available during cardiac cases requiring cardiopulmonary bypass to help determine blood product transfusion needs?

A.) TEG 5000 – ( 34 votes )
B.) TEG 6S – ( 19 votes )
C.) ROTEM – ( 43 votes )
D.) Quantra – ( 1 vote )
E.)  Sonoclot – ( 0 votes )
F.)  Other – ( 2 votes )
G.) None – ( 32 votes )

Total Answers 131

Total Votes 131


May 2022

Does your hospital have a peer support program for physicians following adverse events? Select all that apply

A) Yes – we have a hospital-based peer support program – ( 40 votes )
B) Yes – we have a cardiac specific peer support program – ( 1 vote )
C) No – ( 60 votes )

Total Answers 101

Total Votes 97


April 2022

How often do you use manometry to verify venous placement of a central line performed with ultrasound guidance?

A) Always – ( 24 votes )
B) Sometimes – ( 31 votes )
C) Never – ( 74 votes )

Total Answers 129

Total Votes 129


March 2022

At your institution, what is the most common initial non-intravenous pharmacologic prophylaxis against shunt thrombosis in patients with a modified Blalock Taussig shunt? (Select all that apply if combination therapy)

A) Aspirin – ( 125 votes )
B) Plavix – ( 10 votes )
C) Lovenox – ( 16 votes )
D) Other – ( 6 votes )

Total Answers 157

Total Votes 139


February 2022

At your hospital, what is the minimum time that Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) are held prior to elective surgery?

A)  12 hours – ( 53 votes )
B)  24 hours – ( 75 votes)
C)  48 hours  – ( 6 votes )
D)  Not routinely held – ( 36 votes )

Total Answers 169

Total Votes 169


January 2022

At your institution, is a nitroglycerin infusion used routinely during a neonatal arterial switch operation?

A) Always – ( 30 votes )
B) Never – ( 83 votes )
C) Sometimes – ( 48 votes )

Total Answers 161

Total Votes 161


December 2021

At your institution, how often are in-line filters used in infusion tubing during the anesthetic care of congenital cardiac patients?

A)  Always – ( 56 votes )
B)  Sometimes – ( 36 votes )
C)  Never – ( 52 votes )

Total Answers 144

Total Votes 144


November 2021

In your routine practice, do you replete potassium in the cardiac operating room?

A)  Yes. If K+ < 3.0 mmol/L – ( 47 votes )
B)  Yes. If K+ < 2.5 mmol/L –  ( 26 votes )
C)  Occasionally, but only if the patient is experiencing significant ectopy or arrhythmias – ( 35 votes )
D)  Never – ( 21 votes )

Total Answers 129

Total Votes 129


October 2021

At your institution, where are routine delayed sternal closures done after surgery for neonatal/infant cardiac surgery such as a Norwood or arterial switch operation?

A)  In the cardiac operating room – ( 21 votes )
B)  At bedside in the ICU – ( 112 votes )
C)  Depends on the patient – ( 31 votes )

Total Answers 164

Total Votes 164


September 2021

At your institution, which of the following regional or neuraxial techniques are you or the surgical team utilizing routinely in your pediatric cardiac surgical patients? (Choose all that apply)

A)  Single shot caudal injection with opioid – ( 20 votes )
B)  Single shot spinal injection with opioid – ( 3 votes )
C)  Erector spinae plane block – ( 43 votes )
D)  Paravertebral block – ( 9 votes )
E)  Serratus anterior plane block – ( 3 votes )
F)  Pectoralis I (PEC I) nerve block I/Pectoralis II (PEC II) nerve block – ( 9 votes )
G)  Pecto-Intercostal Fascial (PIF) block/Transversus Thoracic Muscle Plane (TTMP ) block – ( 7 votes )
H)  Thoracic Epidural Catheter – ( 17 votes )
I)  Parasternal nerve blocks – ( 10 votes )
J)  Intercostal nerve blocks – ( 12 votes )

Total Answers  133

Total Votes  85


August 2021

Does your institution have a formal pediatric Patient Blood Management (PBM) program consisting of a multidisciplinary team that oversees implementation of blood management protocols, such as pre-operative anemia guidelines?

A)  Yes – ( 27 votes )
B)  No – ( 74 votes )

Total Answers  101

Total Votes  101


July 2021

At your hospital, when are formal transesophageal echocardiograph readings performed for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass?

A)  Pre-bypass only – ( 0 votes )
B)  Pre-bypass and Post-bypass – ( 149 votes )
C)  Post-bypass only – ( 22 votes )
D) Not performed – ( 9 votes )

Total Answers 180

Total Votes 180


June 2021

At your hospital, does the perfusion team target different PaO2 ranges while on cardiopulmonary bypass for cyanotic versus non-cyanotic infants and children undergoing cardiac surgery?

A)  Yes – ( 30 votes )
B)  No – ( 57 votes )

Total Answers  87

Total Votes  87


May 2021

Seizures have been observed to occur in 8% of neonates after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and the majority are subclinical. Is continuous electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring used perioperatively at your institution in neonatal cardiac surgical patients?

A)  Yes, routinely used in all neonates intraoperatively and postoperatively.- ( 7 votes )
B)  Yes, routinely used in all neonates postoperatively. – ( 12 votes )
C) Yes, routinely used in all neonates postoperatively but only if requiring continuous neuromuscular blockade. – ( 1 vote )
D)  Yes, but only if the patient exhibits symptoms of a seizure or new neurologic deficit. – ( 40 votes )
E)  No, continuous EEG is never utilized. – ( 23 votes )

Total Answers 83

Total Votes 83


April 2021

For webinars presented by the CCAS throughout the year, when are you most likely to participate in these lectures based on US Eastern Standard Time? Please select all that apply.

A)  Weekday evenings (6-8PM) – ( 73 votes )
B)  Saturday morning (10-Noon) – ( 64 votes )
C)  Saturday afternoon (1-3PM) – ( 12 votes )
D)  Saturday afternoon (3-5PM) – ( 16 votes )
E)  Sunday morning (10-Noon) – ( 28 votes )

Total Answers  193

Total Votes  152


March 2021

At your hospital, does the blood bank have the ability to concentrate platelets for use in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery?

A)  Yes – ( 91 votes )
B)  No – ( 106 votes )

Total Answers  197

Total Votes  197


February 2021

For pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery at your institution, which patients are tested for COVID-19 preoperatively?

A)  All patients – ( 191 votes )
B)  Only symptomatic patients – ( 16 votes )
C)  No testing is routinely performed – ( 8 votes )

Total Answers  215

Total Votes  215


January 2021

If your institution is testing patients for coronavirus, do neonates who will be undergoing anesthesia for cardiac surgery or cardiac catheterization lab procedures get tested for coronavirus preoperatively?

A)  No – ( 23 votes )
B)  Only after 48 hours of birth, considered negative until then  – ( 19 votes )
C)  Always – ( 125 votes )

Total Answers  167

Total Votes  167


December 2020

For pediatric cardiac patients undergoing an anesthetic, what is your current practice for the minimal acceptable NPO time for clear liquids before induction:

A)  One hour – ( 68 votes )
B)  Two hours – ( 202 votes )
C)  3 hours or more – ( 15 votes )

Total Answers  285

Total Votes  285


November 2020

In comparison to before the COVID-19 pandemic, the pediatric cardiac surgical case volume at my institution during the COVID-19 pandemic has:

A)  Increased – ( 20 votes )
B)  Decreased – ( 68 votes )
C)  Stayed the same – ( 73 votes )

Total Answers  161

Total Votes  161


October 2020

At your institution, compared to a pediatric anesthesiologist working in the non-cardiac operating rooms, the base salary of a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist is:

A)  Lower – ( 12 votes )
B)  The Same – ( 185 votes )
C)  Higher – ( 91 votes )

Total Answers  288

Total Votes  288


September 2020

At your institution, at what level of glucose (mg/dL) do you routinely begin to treat intraoperative hyperglycemia for pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass?

A)  140 – ( 6 votes )
B)  200 – ( 68 votes )
C)  300 – ( 67 votes )
D)  400 or greater  – ( 18 votes )
E)  Intraoperative hyperglycemia is not routinely treated at my institution. – ( 59 votes )

Total Answers  218

Total Votes  218


August 2020

In your current practice, do you use a single-shot caudal or epidural anesthetic technique for pediatric patients undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass?

A)  Always – ( 5 votes )
B)  Sometimes – ( 37 votes )
C)  Never – ( 190 votes )

Total Answers  232

Total Votes  232


July 2020

What is your preferred topic for the 2021 CCAS program?

A)  Regional Anesthesia for Cardiac Procedures – ( 58 votes )
B)  Point of Care Ultrasound in Congenital Heart Disease – ( 51 votes )
C)  Cath Lab Interventions in Neonates – ( 38 votes )
D)  Adult Congenital Heart Disease – ( 29 votes )

Total Answers  176

Total Votes  176


June 2020

At your hospital, do you routinely use a cerebral oximeter during cases in the interventional cardiac catheterization lab?

A)  Always – ( 14 votes )
B)  Sometimes – greater than 50% of the time – ( 10 votes )
C)  Sometimes – less than 50% of the time – ( 91 votes )
D)  Never – ( 97 votes )

Total Answers  212

Total Votes  212


May 2020

What is the top priority for congenital cardiac anesthesia research?

A)  Neurologic Outcomes – ( 92 votes )
B)  Bleeding and Transfusion – ( 27 votes )
C)  Big Data and Outcomes – ( 44 votes )
D)  Regional and Pain – ( 7 votes )

Total Answers  170

Total Votes  170


April 2020

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines have been published recommending rapid sequence induction (RSI) for patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 in order to avoid potential aerosolization of the virus with manual ventilation. At your hospital, are you performing an RSI for pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing general anesthesia?

A)  Yes – for all patients (asymptomatic and suspected/confirmed COVID-19) – ( 44 votes )
B)  Yes – but only for patients with suspected/confirmed COVID-19 – ( 90 votes )
C)  No – not unless clinically indicated or an emergency – ( 79 votes )

Total Answers  213

Total Votes  213


March 2020

In a 4-day-old with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, would you use an umbilical venous catheter that has been confirmed to be in the proper position at the junction of the inferior vena cava and right atrium as central venous access during the case?

A)  Always – ( 63 votes )
B)  Sometimes – ( 111 votes )
C)  Never – ( 54 votes )

Total Answers  228

Total Votes  228


February 2020

At your institution, what type of vascular access is preferred for vasoactive infusions in a 3 kg full term neonate undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass?

A)  Intracardiac line – ( 39 votes )
B)  PICC line – ( 9 votes )
C)  Femoral Central venous line – ( 43 votes )
D)  Internal Jugular Central venous line – ( 165 votes )
E)  Other – ( 7 votes )

Total Answers  263

Total Votes  263


January 2020

In pediatric patients with a cavopulmonary anastomosis undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, where is your first choice for placement of the central line?

A)  Internal Jugular Vein – ( 138 votes )
B)  Femoral Vein – ( 80 votes )
C)  Other  – ( 11 votes )

Total Answers  229

Total Votes  229


December 2019

In pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, what is your first line of treatment for heparin resistance in order to achieve proper anticoagulation for bypass?

A)  Additional Heparin Dose – ( 106 votes )
B)  Fresh Frozen Plasma – ( 119 votes )
C)  Antithrombin III Concentrate (Thrombate) – ( 56 votes )
D)  Other  – ( 6 votes )

Total Answers  287

Total Votes  287


November 2019

In neonates with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass, do you check an antithrombin III level with pre-operative labs at your hospital?

A)  Always – ( 18 votes )
B)  Never – ( 126 votes )
C)  Sometimes – ( 53 votes )

Total Answers  197

Total Votes  197


October 2019

Do you use social media? Choose ALL that apply.

A)  Facebook  – ( 112 votes )
B)  Twitter – ( 30 votes )
C)  LinkedIn – ( 47 votes )
D)  None – ( 74 votes )

Total Answers  263

Total Votes  263


September 2019

At your institution, are prothrombin complex concentrates, such as KCentra, used to manage bleeding after cardiopulmonary bypass for congenital heart surgery?

A)  Always – ( 5 votes )
B)  Never – ( 127 votes )
C)  Sometimes – ( 100 votes )

Total Answers  232

Total Votes  232


August 2019

At your institution, are dexmedetomidine infusions used for sedation in the PACU following cardiac catheterization?

A)  Always – ( 11 votes )
B)  Sometimes – ( 118 votes )
C)  Never  – ( 98 votes )

Total Answers  227

Total Votes  227


July 2019

In your current practice, who provides coverage in the cardiac catheterization lab?

A)  Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist – ( 146 votes )
B)  Pediatric Anesthesiologist – ( 18 votes )
C)  Both A and B – ( 99 votes )

Total Answers  263

Total Votes  263


June 2019

In your current practice, do you use an ultrasound during the initial attempt to place arterial lines in pediatric patients?

A)  Always – ( 73 votes )
B)  Never  – ( 25 votes )
C)  Sometimes  – ( 103 votes )

Total Answers  201

Total Votes  201


May 2019

In your current practice, do you use an ultrasound during the initial attempt to place central venous lines in pediatric patients?

A)  Always – ( 245 votes )
B)  Never  – ( 10 votes )
C)  Sometimes – ( 32 votes )

Total Answers  287

Total Votes  287


April 2019

At your institution, who performs PDA ligations/occlusions for neonates and infants >2.5 kg?

A)  Congenital Cardiac Surgery  – ( 244 votes )
B)  Pediatric General Surgery – ( 32 votes )

Total Answers  276

Total Votes  276


March 2019

At your institution, for neonates undergoing aortic coarctation repair of a left sided arch through a thoracotomy incision, where do you place the arterial line for the procedure?

A)  Right radial artery only – ( 158 votes )
B)  Femoral artery only – ( 11 votes )
C)  Both right radial and femoral arteries – ( 71 votes )

Total Answers  240

Total Votes  240


February 2019

In your current practice, for pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass, what type of access do you use to administer protamine?

A)  Peripheral IV – ( 91 votes )
B)  Central Line – ( 77 votes )

Total Answers  168

Total Votes  168


January 2019

At your institution, external defibrillation (R2) pads are placed on the patient in the following CPB cases:

A)  All cases – ( 30 votes )
B)  Redo cases – ( 185 votes )
C)  Case-by-case basis – ( 23 votes )

Total Answers  238

Total Votes  238


December 2018

For pediatric patients with congenital heart disease undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass surgery, which antifibrinolytic medication is used at your hospital?

A)  Aprotinin – ( 3 votes )
B)  Tranexamic acid – ( 172 votes )
C)  Aminocaproic Acid – ( 46 votes )
D)  No antifibrinolytic medications are used – ( 11 votes )

Total Answers  232

Total Votes  232


November 2018

After you fail at placing a radial arterial line, you attempt placing a catheter in:

A)  The ulnar artery on the opposite side – ( 7 votes )
B)  The ulnar artery on the same side if there is a documented radial pulse on ultrasound – ( 40 votes )
C)  The radial artery on the opposite side – ( 239 votes )

Total Answers  286

Total Votes  286


October 2018

For an 8yo with a normal airway and an uneventful intraoperative course undergoing a cardiac catheterization procedure, would you extubate the patient under a deep plane of anesthesia in an effort to avoid bleeding at catheter insertion sites?

A)  Always – ( 124 votes )
B)  Never – ( 41 votes )
C)  Sometimes  – ( 98 votes )

Total Answers  263

Total Votes  263


September 2018

After coming off cardiopulmonary bypass, the TEE probe is:

A)  Routinely removed when the cardiologist is done with the exam – ( 80 votes )
B)  Routinely kept in place until chest closure – ( 93 votes )
C)  Kept in place only in specific concerning cases  – ( 64 votes )

Total Answers  237

Total Votes  237


August 2018

In neonates undergoing cardiac surgery, do you use an ICU-type ventilator in the operating room?

A)  Never – ( 52 votes )
B)  Always – ( 10 votes )
C)  Only if the neonate is inadequately ventilating on the anesthesia machine ventilator – ( 154 votes )

Total Answers  216

Total Votes  216


July 2018

At your institution, delayed chest closure is performed:

A)  In the operating room – ( 68 votes )
B)  At the bedside in the ICU and managed by the intensivist – ( 76 votes )
C)  At the bedside in the ICU and managed by the anesthesiologist – ( 123 votes )

Total Answers  267

Total Votes  267


June 2018

Question: In neonates with congenital heart disease scheduled for cardiac repair, in your current practice do you perform nasal intubations as long as there is not an immediate contraindication?

A)  Always – ( 70 votes )
B)  Sometimes  – ( 52 votes )
C)  Never – ( 134 votes )

Total Answers  256

Total Votes  256


May 2018

In patients with congenital heart disease scheduled for noncardiac surgery, do you hold the dose of diuretic medications the morning of surgery?

A)  Always – ( 73 votes )
B)  Sometimes – ( 151 votes )
C)  Never – ( 66 votes )

Total Answers  290

Total Votes  290


April 2018

What is your practice for infants undergoing a pre-Glenn hemodynamic catheterization?

A)  Natural airway, with or without nasal cannula – ( 13 votes )
B)  LMA, spontaneous ventilation – ( 26 votes )
C)  ETT, spontaneous ventilation – ( 28 votes )
D)  ETT, controlled ventilation – ( 198 votes )

Total Answers  265

Total Votes  265


March 2018

The most common inotrope I use for prevention of low cardiac output syndrome (LCOS) in infants is:

A)  Milrinone – ( 79 votes )
B)  Epinephrine – ( 56 votes )
C)  Dopamine – ( 25 votes )
D)  A combination of the above – ( 156 votes )
E)  None of the above – ( 4 votes )

Total Answers  320

Total Votes  320


February 2018

For neonates undergoing the Stage 1 Norwood Procedure, what is your PRIMARY method for anesthetic maintenance:

A)  Volatile agent – ( 79 votes )
B)  Narcotics – ( 172 votes )
C)  Ketamine –  ( 9 votes )
D)  Dexmedetomidine – ( 6 votes )
E)  Other – ( 6 votes )

Total Answers  272

Total Votes  272


January 2018

Do you use protamine to reverse unfractionated heparin anticoagulation in the catheterization laboratory?

A)  Always – ( 14 votes )
B)  Never – ( 92 votes )
C)  Based on the ACT level – ( 128 votes )

Total Answers  234

Total Votes  234


December 2017

Do you continue the infusion of antifibrinolytic agents DURING periods of reduced or no flow associated with circulatory arrest or antegrade cerebral perfusion?

A)  Yes – ( 91 votes )
B)  No – ( 37 votes )
C)  Yes, at a reduced rate – ( 4 votes )
D)  Antifibrinolytics are not used in these cases – ( 13 votes )

Total Answers  145 

Total Votes  145


November 2017

Which of the following would you consider placing in the operating room for a neonate less than 1 week of age presenting for cardiac surgery?

A)  Umbilical Artery Catheter (UAC) only – ( 6 votes )
B)  Umbilical Venous Catheter (UVC) only – ( 5 votes )
C)  Both UAC and UVC – ( 40 votes )
D)  Neither – ( 145 votes )

Total Answers  196

Total Votes  196


October 2017

In order to place an upper extremity arterial line in a child less than 5 kg without umbilical arterial access, what method do you utilize for the FIRST ATTEMPT:

A)  Palpation – ( 87 votes )
B)  Ultrasound – ( 193 votes )
C)  Cut-down by anesthesia – ( 3 votes )
D)  Cut-down by surgery staff – ( 10 votes )
E)  Doppler – ( 6 votes )

Total Answers  299

Total Votes  299


September 2017

What modes of neurocognitive monitoring for cardiopulmonary bypass cases are used on a routine basis at your institution?

A)  transcranial doppler – ( 1 votes )
B)  near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) – ( 174 votes )
C)  jugular venous O2 saturation – ( 1 votes )
D)  no neurocognitive monitors are used – ( 12 votes )
E)  more than one of the above modalities are used in combination – ( 7 votes )

Total Answers  195

Total Votes  195


August 2017

At your hospital during vascular ring repairs performed through a thoracotomy incision on an otherwise healthy three year old, are regional anesthetic techniques used for post-operative pain control?

A)  No – ( 28 votes )
B)  Yes, the anesthesia team performs a paravertebral block or thoracic epidural  – ( 57 votes )
C)  Yes, the surgeon performs an intercostal nerve block – ( 63 votes )

Total Answers  148 

Total Votes  148


July 2017

In a patient with Williams-Beuren syndrome who has undergone an uncomplicated, simple non-cardiac anesthetic (eg. MRI), what is the most common postoperative disposition?

A)  Discharge as an outpatient – ( 58 votes )
B)  Admit the patient for 24 hours observation – ( 41 votes )
C)  Disposition is dependent on extent of outflow tract obstruction and coronary artery ostial compromise – ( 109 votes )

Total Answers  208

Total Votes  208


June 2017

At your hospital during Stage I/Sano, where is the preferred placement of central lines?

A)  Internal jugular vein – ( 104 votes )
B)  Subclavian vein – ( 6 votes )
C)  Femoral vein – ( 53 votes )
D)  Intracardiac line – ( 70 votes )

Total Answers  233

Total Votes  233


May 2017

What hemostatic agent is used for “rescue therapy”, defined as situations in which patients continue to bleed excessively following cardiopulmonary bypass despite having received maximal standard hemostatic therapy?

A)  Recombinant factor VIIa – ( 210 votes )
B)  3-Factor prothrombin complex concentrates (e.g. Profilnine SD, Bebulin) – ( 9 votes )
C)  4-Factor prothrombin complex concentrates (e.g. Beriplex, Kcentra) – ( 22 votes )
D)  None of the above – ( 5 votes )

Total Answers  246

Total Votes  246


April 2017

For an otherwise healthy 11-year-old undergoing an electrophysiology procedure to ablate a WPW pathway, which of the following anesthetic techniques would be employed?

A)  General Anesthesia with inhalational maintenance – ( 88 votes )
B)  General Anesthesia with Total Intravenous Anesthesia (TIVA) – ( 65 votes )
C)  General Anesthesia with combination of inhalational and IV agents  – ( 85 votes )
D)  Monitored Anesthetic Care – ( 21 votes )

Total Answers  259

Total Votes  259


March 2017

Do you use Point of Care Testing (TEG or ROTEM) to guide transfusion for patients undergoing cardiac surgery?

A)  Routinely pre and post bypass – ( 31 votes )
B)  Routinely post bypass only – ( 9 votes )
C)  In select cases pre and post bypass – (  35 votes )
D)  In select case post bypass only  – ( 31 votes )
E)  Never  – ( 68 votes )

Total Answers  176

Total Votes  176


February 2017

At your institution, after stage 1 repair with mBT or Sano shunt

A)  G-tubes are performed routinely prior to extubation after primary palliation – ( 5 votes )
B)  G-tubes are performed after extubation and trial of oral feeding – ( 40 votes )
C)  NG or OG tubes are placed until second stage palliation or until oral feeding is resumed – ( 26 votes )
D)  No protocol, case by case basis – ( 137 votes )

Total Answers  209

Total Votes  209


January 2017

As a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist, how often do you utilize the TEE probe to assess function or conduct an anatomic exam after the cardiologist has finished their exam?

A)  Never – ( 97 votes )
B)  Always –  ( 61 votes )
C)  In select cases only- ( 81 votes )

Total Answers  244

Total Votes  244


 

Poll of the Month

May 2025
At your institution, do you routinely send a TEG/ROTEM during the rewarming phase of cardiopulmonary bypass?
View Results
Total Answers 173
Total Votes 173

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