Cardiac preload indicators in children, evaluation of invasive and noninvasive markers of fluid responsiveness

This research study investigates how normal changes in blood pressure and changes in light absorption in the fingers as measured with a pulse oximeter (measures the oxygen in the blood) can improve the safety of giving intravenous (IV - skinny plastic tube in the hand) fluids.

Who can participate in this study?

• YIn order to participate in the study, your child must be aged from birth-18 years, undergoing one of these procedures in the cardiac catheterization lab: atrial septal defect (ASD) repair or patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) repair, or balloon valvuloplasty of pulmonary/aortic valve stenosis. They must also have had a previous echocardiogram examination.

Who should not participate in this study?

• Children with any other heart abnormalities cannot participate, as this is likely to make the results unreliable. Children who have disturbances in heart rhythm (e.g. atrial fibrillation, atrio-ventricular block) cannot participate as these disturbances do not allow us to calculate the necessary changes in blood pressure accurately. Children with special lung or kidney problems also cannot participate. Your child’s anesthetist will be able to tell you if your child is eligible.

Status?

• Actively recruting subjects.

For more information, please see the Consent/Information form