Symposium on Pediatric Medical Devices for Optimizing the Heart-Brain Continuum

The heart-brain continuum underscores the vital connection between cardiac function and brain health. This connection is particularly critical for children with congenital heart disease (CHD), where maintaining optimal cerebral oxygenation is paramount for positive neurodevelopmental outcomes. In pediatrics and other patients, non-invasive monitoring devices play a crucial role in this relationship, as they provide real-time insights into hemodynamic variables, cerebral oxygenation, and intracranial pressure (ICP). By tracking these metrics, clinicians can better manage the delicate balance between oxygen delivery and consumption, thereby preventing brain injury and promoting optimal neurodevelopment. As such, developing pediatric medical devices (PMDs) for non-invasive monitoring of both cardiac and cerebral status becomes imperative, especially in the care of critically ill neonates, infants, and children, to promptly identify abnormalities in hemodynamics and cerebral perfusion for effective intervention.