Electroencephalographic and neurological correlates of deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest in infants.

At present there is much interest in the use of surface-induced deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest in infants undergoing an open-heart procedure for repair of congenital defects. This paper presents our experience with infants who have been monitored by preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative electroencephalograms as well as by preoperative and postoperative neurological assessments. Our results indicate that young infants tolerate deep hypothermia with circulatory arrest quite well, and we therefore continue to advocate use of this procedure in operations for congenital cardiac disease.