[The pathomorphology of the higher autonomic centers in newborn infants with congenital heart defects]

Hypothalamic, bulbar and spinal autonomic centres in 25 newborns with congenital heart defects were pathomorphologically investigated in the early neonatal period compared to 25 fetuses without abnormalities. There was a decreased mass of the brain and retardation of the development of autonomic centres. Metric parameters of the brain stem and spinal parts are unchanged, this indicates the relative independence of the forming of telencephalon. Dyscirculation and dystrophy in the autonomic centres were infrequently high, they predominate in the cranial regions and interrelated and are not followed by marked compensatory processes. The impairment of morphogenesis and damages of vegetative centres decrease adaptative possibilities and partially cause the fatal outcome in early neonatal periods in newborns with heart defects.