Current Trends in the Management of Neonates With Ebstein's Anomaly

The optimal management strategy for neonates with Ebstein's anomaly is unknown. This analysis was undertaken to assess current trends in the management and prognosis of neonates born with Ebstein's anomaly in the United States, as reflected in an administrative database.

The Pediatric Health Information System database (40 children's hospitals) was used to review the reported incidence and available data on neonates with Ebstein's anomaly treated in the United States between 2003 and 2007. Primary outcome was hospital survival. Of the 415 patients identified, 257 (62%) did not undergo initial surgical intervention as neonates. Aortopulmonary shunt only was done on 63 patients (15%), single-ventricle palliation on 36 (9%), two-ventricle repair on 16 (4%), heart transplantation in 3 (1%), and a catheter-based intervention or a hybrid palliative approach was applied in 40 (10%). Intergroup comparisons were done using chi-square analyses.

Mortality for the entire cohort was 24% (100 of 415). For medically treated patients, this was 22% (56 of 257). For surgically treated and hybrid patients, this was 30% and 23%, respectively (P = NS).

The majority of patients born with Ebstein's anomaly currently do not undergo surgical intervention as neonates. Significant early mortality in this group suggests that certain subsets of patients may benefit from earlier surgical intervention. Among the severely symptomatic neonates who do undergo early surgical intervention, the mortality remains high, irrespective of the surgical approach taken. A multicenter trial may be appropriate to identify strategies to optimize care for these critically ill neonates. Further analysis of risk factors for early mortality is warranted.