Endocrinologic Diseases in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care

The objectives of this review are to discuss the pathophysiology, clinical impact and treatment of hyperglycemia, and disturbances in thyroid and adrenal function prior to and following cardiac surgery in children. MEDLINE and PubMed. Disturbances in glucose metabolism and thyroid and adrenal function are common in critically ill children with cardiac disease and in particular in children undergoing cardiac surgery for complex congenital heart disease. An understanding of the pathophysiology, clinical impact and treatment of these disturbances is essential for the management of these at risk patients.