Case histories of neonates with congenital heart disease

The rate of extracardiac malformation (ECM) associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) is high in neonates. 108 cases of 212 neonates with CHD had ECM (50.9%). Main ECMs were digestive system anomalies (36.1%), chromosomal aberrations (26.8%), respiratory system anomalies (21.3%), CNS anomalies (13.0%), and other (2.7%). Single lesion of left to right shunt accounted for 77.2% (61/79) of CHD with ECM from other than chromosomal aberrations. The prognosis of neonates with CHD without ECM was also studied. Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection, pure pulmonary atresia (PPA), pulmonary stenosis (PS), hypoplastic left heart syndrome are not generally associated with ECM, but the prognosis is poor. Coarctation complex which is sometimes associated with ECM has a poor prognosis in neonates. There is an increase of the survival rate in the patients with hypoxemia, such as PPA or severe PS, extreme tetralogy of Fallot, and tricuspid atresia, which can be managed with prostaglandin E1. PDA associated with respiratory distress syndrome is ideally treated with indomethacin. In recent years, mortality from PDA has decreased in neonates. The mortality rate during the neonatal period was 46.8% (51/109): 37.5% (30/80) died before surgical interventions and 72.4% (21/29) died during or after surgery. Half of neonatal deaths from CHD occurred within 3 days of admission. Thus, early detection, early diagnosis, and early treatment of neonates with CHD is most important.