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Geoffrey Miller, MD
Pediatric Neurology Texas Children's Hospital 6621 Fannin, MC 3-3311 Houston, TX 77030

Barry G. Baylen, MD
Torrance, Calif

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1996;150(5):561.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

We thank Rosti and colleagues for their comments on our article reporting early neurological outcome after open heart surgery.¹ They suggest that the series does not reflect the "normal spectrum" of congenital heart disease in infancy. To some extent, they are correct. However, the series does reflect the type of population that undergoes deep hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of congenital heart defects, including severe left-sided lesions, in specialized centers in the United States. Of course, the results of studies performed over a relatively short period plus local referral practices and surgical attitudes will affect numbers when comparisons are made.

Rosti and colleagues also report a much lower incidence of postoperative neurological signs at their center. Their numbers were obtained from a retrospective records review, whereas ours were recorded in a rigorous, frequent, systematic prospective fashion, which included quantitative techniques, in an environment of heightened awareness.

We believe that . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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