The significance of baseline cerebral oxygen saturation in children undergoing congenital heart surgery

Baseline ScO2 is lower in patients with left-to-right shunt physiology. Postoperative saturation is lower in patients with left-to-right shunt physiology and in cyanotic patients. Low baseline ScO2 predicts perioperative mortality in children with congenital heart disease. Measurement of ScO2 preoperatively will provide additional information for parent counseling, and preoperative optimization of ScO2 may improve outcome.