A Survey of Pediatric Cardiologists Regarding Non-emergent Echocardiographic Findings in Asymptomatic Newborns

Echocardiography is often used to assess for significant heart disease in newborns, but there is little information on how to best manage non-emergent echocardiographic findings in asymptomatic babies. We reviewed the literature regarding the natural history of a patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defect (ASD), ventricular septal defect (PFO), and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We surveyed pediatric cardiologists to determine their recommendations for ten echocardiographic findings (PFO, 3 mm ASD, 6 mm ASD, small muscular VSD, small perimembranous VSD, small PDA with left to right shunting, small PDA with bidirectional shunting, trivial mitral insufficiency, trivial aortic insufficiency, and a normally functioning bicuspid aortic valve) in an asymptomatic one-day old with a heart murmur. These ten findings were set in three clinical contexts (an otherwise normal term baby, a baby born at 34 weeks gestation, and a term baby with trisomy 21). 149 survey responses were evaluated. Follow-up was universally recommended for those babies with a 6 mm ASD, a perimembranous VSD and a bicuspid aortic valve and frequently recommended for newborns with a 3 mm ASD, a small muscular VSD and any PDA. Depending on the context, between 17.5 and 23% of respondents recommended follow-up for an isolated PFO. Follow-up typically included repeat echocardiography. Some form of follow-up, typically with repeat echocardiography was recommended for many asymptomatic day-old newborns who had echocardiographic findings which were unlikely to be clinically significant. Given the wide range of recommendations, a consensus guideline could prove useful to clinicians.