Deep hypothermic arrest in children undergoing heart surgery.

Deep hypothermia with cold cardioplegia is a technique that increases the chances for successful palliative or reparative cardiac surgery for the critically ill infant or child with complex or severe cardiac anomalies. Perioperative nursing care is of vital importance to the child, family, and operative team. Nursing care measures include perioperative teaching as well as preoperative and postoperative physical assessment of the child and psychosocial assessment of the child and family unit. An understanding of the advantages and the potential complications of hypothermic techniques enhances the nurse's ability to carry out these nursing interventions.