For all readers interested in cardiac surgical intensive care, the two chapters on postoperative intensive medical care from the 3rd edition of "Cardiac Surgery" (editors: Gerhard Ziemer, Axel Haverich), published in 2010, are compiled in this volume in unchanged form. The chapter "Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care" presents the essential content of postoperative intensive therapy for both normal recovery and complex intensive medical challenges following cardiac surgeries. The chapter "Intensive Therapy in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery" addresses the growing demands in pediatric cardiology and cardiac surgery. In recent years, neonatal corrective surgery for complex congenital heart defects has become established. The proportion of adults with congenital heart defects after surgery has also increased.