Transfusion requirements in scoliosis patients are dependent on blood loss as determined by Cobb angles and number of segments fused relative to the patients' blood volume as determined by weight. Implementation of a blood management protocol resulted in a low transfusion rate and unexpectedly led to the preoperative diagnosis of a number of patients with low levels of von Willebrand activity.

In this prospective study, we found a slower rate of rise of halothane in arterial blood in children with right-to-left intracardiac shunting. Induction of anesthesia by inhalation of volatile anesthetics may therefore be slower in these children.

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An infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) presented with complete heart block and severe myocardial dysfunction requiring ECMO support due to complete left main coronary artery (LMCA) thrombosis. Current guidelines for managing coronary artery thrombosis in infants with single ventricle physiology are inadequate. We describe successful LMCA and branch recanalization via intra coronary infusion of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator and discuss management of acute coronary thrombosis in children with single ventricle physiology.