Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac function and clinical outcomes in perioperative pediatric burn patients. Methods Transesophageal echocardiography data was collected on 40 patients from 2004-2007. Of the 40 patients who received exams, a complete set of cardiac parameters and outcome variables was obtained in 26 patients. The mean age of the patients was 9.7 ± 0.9 years old, and the mean total body surface area burn size was 64% ± 3%. Patients were divided into two groups based on systolic function. One group represented patients with ejection fractions of >50% and the other group ejection fractions of ≤50%. Clinical variables were then compared among the groups. Results In our cohort, systolic dysfunction was observed in 62% of patients (EF ≤50%). Systolic dysfunction was associated with a statistically significant increase in number of surgeries, ventilator days and length of stay in the intensive care unit. The length of stay in patients with preserved systolic function and those with systolic dysfunction was 34.3 ±3.3 days and 67.2 ± 4.0 days respectfully. Diastolic function measurements were obtained in 65% and 88% had evidence of diastolic dysfunction. Diastolic dysfunction was not associated with any statistically significant correlations. Conclusions This study lends evidence to the well-supported basic science models showing cardiac dysfunction following burns. Additionally, it shows that cardiac dysfunction can have clinical consequences. To our knowledge this is the first study that shows the clinical sequelae of systolic dysfunction in the perioperative pediatric burn population.