Nesiritide (human recombinant B-type natriuretic peptide) has been recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the intravenous treatment of patients with decompensated congestive heart failure. Nesiritide has been studied in a broad range of patients, including the elderly, women, and African Americans, and patients with a history of various cardiovascular conditions including hypertension, diabetes, post myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation/flutter, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and acute coronary syndrome. However, clinical experience in the pediatric population has been limited.