The neurologic complications of congenital heart disease.

In recent years, an aggressive approach to the medical and surgical management of patients with complex cardiac malformations has led to an increased survival rate in this group of patients. Some of these patients often have significant residual cardiac defects and, at times, an unstable hemodynamic status. The cumulative risk for neurologic complications in this group of patients is expected to be substantial. Because the overall population of patients with congenital heart disease encompasses an increasing proportion of these high-risk patients, careful surveillance for potential neurologic complications is indicated.