Neonates and infants undergoing heart surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest experience both inflammation and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion \[IR\] injury. These processes provoke myocardial apoptosis and oxygen free radical formation which result in cardiac injury and dysfunction. Dexrazoxane \[DRZ\] is a derivative of EDTA that is approved for prevention of anthracycline-related cardiotoxicity. It provides cardioprotection through reduction of toxic reactive oxygen species \[ROS\], and suppression of apoptosis.
The investigators propose a 12-patient pilot to determine DRZ pharmacokinetics, and to collect additional safety data in the neonatal and infant population. Efficacy of cardioprotection will not be evaluated in this preliminary investigation, though the investigators will determine postoperative time to resolution of organ failure, development of low cardiac output syndrome, length of cardiac ICU and hospital stays, laboratory indices of myocardial injury and systemic inflammation, and echocardiographic cardiac dysfunction for safety purposes, and as a run-in to the larger, randomized, placebo controlled trial. Conducting this pilot could optimize team execution of the study protocol. In addition, results could further establish the safety of DRZ in the neonatal and infant populations.
