There were distinct differences between univentricular and biventricular groups in their perioperative plasma fluid-regulating hormone responses. Specifically, patients with univentricular defects may have abnormal natriuretic peptide secretion and function. The natriuretic dysfunction may be on the basis of hypoplastic ventricular development.

The principal finding of the present study was that there are anesthetic-specific and concentration-dependent EEG effects in children. Depth-of-anesthesia monitors that utilize algorithms based on the EEGs of adult reference populations therefore may not be appropriate for use in children.