Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 24, 2026
Author Spotlight: Marmoset Research - Scope and Challenges
Published on: June 9, 2023
Cardiac catheterisation in infants weighing less than 2500 grams
Mansour Mostefa-Kara1, Olivier Villemain1, Isabelle Szezepanski1
1Centre de Référence Malformations Cardiaques Congénitales Complexes - M3C,Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades, Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris,Paris,France.
Objectives:
The aim of the study was to report the outcome of cardiac catheterisation in low-weight patients.
Background:
Data regarding cardiac catheterisation in infants weighing <2500 g are scarce.
Methods:
We reviewed all cardiac catheterisations performed in infants weighing <2500 g between January 2000 and May 2016. An analysis with respect to the type of procedure, the complexity of procedure (procedure type risk), and haemodynamic vulnerability index was finally carried out. We report the occurrence of deaths and complications using the adverse event severity score.
Results:
A total of 218 procedures were performed on 211 patients. The mean age and weight were, respectively, 15 ± 26 days (range, 0-152) and 2111 ± 338 g (range, 1000-2500). Procedures were interventional and diagnostic, respectively, in 174 (80%) and 44 (20%) patients. Out of 218, 205 (94%) were successful. Eleven complications (5%) occurred - six with an adverse event severity score of 4 and five with an adverse event severity score of 3. Ten patients (91%) showed a favourable outcome, and one died (stent thrombosis few hours after patent ductus arteriosus stenting). No correlation was found between lower weight and occurrence of death (p = 0.68) or complications (p = 0.23). The gravity scores (procedure type risk and haemodynamic vulnerability index) were not predictive of complications.
Conclusions:
Cardiac catheterisation in infants weighing <2500 g appears feasible and effective with low risk. The weight should not discourage from performing cardiac catheterisation in this population.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:17Gram-negative Bacterial Protein Secretion Systems
01:22Cardiac Output II: Effect of Stroke Volume on Cardiac Output
Preload
Preload refers to the initial elongation of the cardiac myocytes before contraction and is related to the volume of blood filling the heart at the end of diastole, or end-diastolic volume. The...
01:19Cardiac Output I:Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output (CO) refers to the total amount of blood ejected by one of the ventricles in liters per minute (L/min). In a resting adult, CO ranges from 5 to 6 L/min, adjusting according to the body's metabolic requirements.
Effect of Heart Rate on Cardiac Output
Cardiac output adapts to metabolic demands during stress, physical activity, or illness. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate via the sinoatrial node. The parasympathetic nervous system decreases heart...
01:29Cardiac Cycle
During the cardiac cycle, blood flow through the heart is regulated entirely by changing pressure gradients. This sequence of events begins with the heart in a state of total relaxation, known as mid-to-late diastole, during which blood passively flows from...
01:13The Cardiac Cycle
The Process
Electrical signals—sent from the sinoatrial (SA) node in the right atrial wall to the atrioventricular (AV) node between the right atrium and right ventricle—cause both atria to simultaneously contract. When the signal reaches the AV node, it pauses for approximately a tenth of a second, allowing the atria to contract and...