Stoica SC, et al. - Researchers retrospectively measured plasma microRNA-1-3p (miR-1) in a cohort of 199 consecutive pediatric congenital heart surgery (CHS) patients (median age 1.2 years) to assess if prediction regarding post-CHS short-term outcomes could be made via perioperative circulating miR-1 measurements. No variation in baseline plasma miR-1 was observed across different diagnoses; it increased during surgery (204-fold median relative increase) and was associated with aortic cross-clamp duration postoperatively. Importantly, they noted a positive correlation of miR-1 levels at the end of the operation with intensive care stay, early severe cardiovascular events, and with high vasoactive-inotrope score and ventilation index. This suggests the potential utility of miR-1 for expediting the identification of patients with cardiopulmonary bypass−related ischemic complications, requiring more intensive support.