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World J Pediatr Congenit Heart Surg 2020 Jul;11(4):518-519

Congenital Heart Center, Spectrum Health Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.

Extremely low birth weight neonates with complex congenital heart disease have increased mortality risk. Multi-organ dysfunction, pulmonary disease, fluctuating pulmonary vascular resistance, and complex cardiovascular anatomy create a challenge for effective management. We present the case of a 760-g neonate with dextro-transposition of the great arteries, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus, and single coronary artery with proximal intramural segment of the right coronary artery branch. Read More

Egypt Heart J 2020 Jul 9;72(1):34. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

Department of Cardiology, Post Graduate Institute for Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India.

Background: Portsmann and co. performed the first PDA device closure in 1967. The technique and the devices used have evolved since then and are the first choice in managing anatomically feasible patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) for the last 20 years. Read More

J Thorac Dis 2020 Jun;12(6):3445-3447

Department of Cardiac Surgery and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.

J Pediatr Pharmacol Ther 2020 ;25(5):437-444

Objective: Administration of fluid bolus in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants is a common practice in the NICU, but one without clear evidence demonstrating benefits in clinical outcomes. On the contrary, recent observational studies have suggested a potential detrimental effect of empiric fluid bolus in preterm infants, especially in the absence of clear indications. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of fluid bolus on various clinical outcomes in VLBW infants. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2020 Apr-Jun;13(2):177-178. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Cardiovascular Radiology and Endovascular Interventions, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.

Isolation of the right subclavian artery (RSCA), defined as loss of continuity between the RSCA and aorta, is a rare anomaly and its association with dextrotransposition of great arteries (D-TGA) is exceedingly unusual. We present the case of a 5-day-old neonate with cyanosis from birth and a transthoracic echocardiographic diagnosis of D-TGA, where on computed tomography angiography, the RSCA was seen arising from the proximal part of the ipsilateral pulmonary artery via a patent right ductus arteriosus. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2020 Apr-Jun;13(2):136-140. Epub 2020 Mar 30.

Pediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdul-Aziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Isolated absent pulmonary valve syndrome with an intact ventricular septum (APVS/IVS) is an extremely rare lesion. The prenatal diagnosis was described in a few reports. In the current work, we report a unique fetal case with this rare anomaly. Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2020 Apr-Jun;13(2):130-135. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Department of Paediatric Medicine, Division of Paediatric Cardiology, Dr. S. N. Medical College, MDM Hospital for Mother and Child, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India.

Introduction: In this prospective study, we compared the efficacy and safety of ibuprofen, indomethacin, and paracetamol in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm neonates.

Materials And Methods: This randomized prospective study was conducted in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, M. D. Read More

Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020 Jul 9:ATVBAHA120314729. Epub 2020 Jul 9.

From the Cardiovascular Research Institute, Yokohama City University, Japan (S.I., U.Y., T.N., J.S., N.N., M.U., T.F., Y.I.).

Objective: The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a fetal artery connecting the aorta and pulmonary arteries. Progressive matrix remodeling, that is, intimal thickening (IT), occurs in the subendothelial region of DA to bring anatomic DA closure. IT is comprised of multiple ECMs (extracellular matrices) and migrated smooth muscle cells (SMCs). Read More

Int J Mol Sci 2020 Jul 4;21(13). Epub 2020 Jul 4.

Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan.

The ductus arteriosus (DA) is a shunt vessel between the aorta and the pulmonary artery during the fetal period that is essential for the normal development of the fetus. Complete closure usually occurs after birth but the vessel might remain open in certain infants, as patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), causing morbidity or mortality. The mechanism of DA closure is a complex process involving an orchestration of cell-matrix interaction between smooth muscle cells (SMC), endothelial cells, and extracellular matrix (ECM). Read More

Cardiovasc J Afr 2020 Jun 22;31:1-5. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana; Department of Paediatrics, Princess Marina Hospital, Gaborone, Botswana.

Background: Reliable data on congenital heart disease (CHD) from diverse settings is important both for planning health systems in each country and to elucidate possible aetiologies of CHD in different settings. There is a lack of data on the clinical spectrum and prevalence of CHD in Botswana. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical spectrum and prevalence of CHD in Botswana. Read More

Pol J Vet Sci 2020 Jun;23(2):255-260

Department of Veterinary Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8509, Japan.

This study investigated the utility of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure with hemostatic clip by comparing with traditional PDA closure. Medical records of 51 dogs with surgical closure of PDA were reviewed and retrospective study was conducted. 29 dogs were treated by procedure with hemostatic clip (Group HC), and 22 dogs were treated by surgical ligation (Group SL). Read More

Pediatr Neonatol 2020 Jun 5. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address:

Background: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) remains a critical issue in prematurity care. To predict the PDA closure early, we aimed to clarify the association of PDA closure with the initial postnatal 24-hour clinical characteristics and maternal and gestational histories of preterm neonates.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in a pediatric-neonatal-intensive-care-unit from 2008 to 2013. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2020 Apr 15. Epub 2020 Apr 15.

Department of Cardiology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.

J Pediatr 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Psychology Laboratory of Pays de la Loire (EA4638), LUNAM, Angers University, Angers, France.

Objective: To assess the Global School Adaptation (GSA) questionnaire of children's abilities and classroom behavior administered to teachers of very preterm children at 5 years of age as a predictor of the need for educational support (grade retention, special class, learning support) at age 7.

Study Design: 858 very preterm children (<33 weeks of gestation) were assessed at 5 years of age using the GSA and again at 7 years to determine the use of educational support. We examined the association between the GSA score and educational support at 7 years and performed a ROC curve analysis. Read More

Neoreviews 2020 Jul;21(7):e469-e478

Center for Perinatal Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH.

In view of the known complications of drug therapy and open surgical ligation, and the potential for prolonged patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) exposure to be harmful, health care practitioners have sought new approaches to achieve definitive ductal closure. Interest in percutaneous (catheter-based) PDA closure has emerged within the neonatal community as a viable treatment option, because it has been fueled by recent procedural and device modifications, as well as mounting feasibility and safety data. Herein, we provide a contemporary review of percutaneous PDA closure among infants at the crux of the medical debate-very-low-weight infants (≤1,500 g), including: 1) characterization of traditional PDA treatments (drug therapy, open surgical ligation) and conservative (nonintervention) management options; 2) a general overview of the major procedural steps of percutaneous ductal closure, including efforts to reduce thrombotic complications and the emergence of a novel US Food and Drug Administration-approved device; 3) a systematic review and meta-analysis to better understand risk profiles of percutaneous PDA closure in this population; and 4) discussion of current gaps in our understanding of optimal PDA care, including the critical need for well-designed, randomized, controlled clinical trials. Read More

Neonatology 2020 Jul 1;117(2):204-206. Epub 2020 Jul 1.

BMC Vet Res 2020 Jun 30;16(1):224. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Section of Herd Health and Animal Husbandry, School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.

Background: Congenital heart diseases are occasionally encountered in the bovine species. Ventricular septal defects (VSD) and atrial septal defects (ASD) are reported to be the most common; however, a vast collection have been reported [1, 2]. Congenital heart diseases is thought to represent less than 3% of all congenital abnormalities in calves [3]. Read More

Acta Paediatr 2020 Jun 30. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.

Aim: This study investigated patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) treatment and neurodevelopmental outcomes when extremely preterm born children reached 6.5 years.

Method: Our cohort was 435 children with neonatal PDA treatment data and neurodevelopmental follow-up data, born in 2004-2007, who participated in the Extremely Preterm Infants in Sweden Study. Read More

Radiol Case Rep 2020 Aug 18;15(8):1285-1288. Epub 2020 Jun 18.

University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, TX 75390.

A 3-year-old girl presented with ataxia, dilated pupils, and behavioral change prompting work up for stroke. Her medical history included chronic mydriasis and patent ductus arteriosus requiring aortoplasty. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated confluent white matter signal abnormality concerning for leukodystrophy. Read More

J Physiol 2020 Jun 27. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, The Rosie Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Key Points: Non-invasive simultaneous multiparametric monitoring allows the in vivo evaluation of cerebral and cardiovascular haemodynamic responses to different types of recurrent episodes of intermittent hypoxia and/or bradycardia, also defined as cardio-respiratory events (CRE), in preterm neonates during postnatal transition. By decreasing left cardiac output, bradycardia further contributes to cerebral hypoxia during CRE. The presence of a haemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus results in a deeper impairment of cerebral oxygen status in response to CRE, whereas the brain-sparing remodelling of the fetal circulation resulting from placental insufficiency is associated with more favourable haemodynamic responses to intermittent hypoxia. Read More

ESC Heart Fail 2020 Jun 25. Epub 2020 Jun 25.

Department of Cardiology, AZ Nikolaas General Hospital, Moerlandstraat 1, Sint-Niklaas, B-9100, Belgium.

Patients with adult congenital heart disease are born with structural heart defects who survived into adulthood. Occasionally, complex lesions remain undiagnosed, potentially causing substantial cardiovascular health problems at young age. Here, the case is presented of a patient with subacute heart failure 1 week postpartum, revealing the diagnosis of aortic coarctation (CoA) with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 5;8:257. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, Department of Surgery, Section Pediatric Surgery, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany.

Diagnosis and management of NEC is based on clinical, radiological, and laboratory findings. Discrimination of pathogens for an improved understanding of NEC in preterm infants and NEC in infants with congenital heart disease has been previously discussed and enables evaluation of further NEC biomarkers. Within a study period of 11 years (2008-2019), we identified 107 patients with a diagnosis of NEC at our primary care center. Read More

J Vet Cardiol 2020 May 4;30:1-6. Epub 2020 May 4.

Purdue University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, 625 Harrison Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907-2026, USA.

A 27-month-old male neutered French bulldog that was originally diagnosed with tricuspid valve dysplasia and a bidirectional shunting patent foramen ovale was evaluated for progressive polycythemia and exertional cyanosis. There was a high clinical suspicion for a right-to-left shunting patent ductus arteriosus, but given the presence of agitated saline within the left atrium, left ventricle, ascending aorta, and abdominal aorta from the previously diagnosed bidirectional shunting patent foramen ovale, a definitive diagnosis could not be made. The use of dynamic and static nuclear scintigraphy imaging using technetium-labeled macroaggregated albumin (Tc-MAA) allowed a definitive diagnosis to be made in this animal with multilevel right-to-left shunting as well as quantifying the severity of the right-to-left shunt in a minimally invasive and cost-effective manner. Read More

BMJ Open 2020 Jun 22;10(6):e035075. Epub 2020 Jun 22.

Equipe EPOPé, U 1153, Université de Paris, CRESS, INSERM, INRA, Paris, France.

Objectives: To describe patterns of care for very preterm (VP) babies across neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and associations with outcomes.

Design: Prospective cohort study, EPIPAGE-2.

Setting: France, 2011. Read More

Pediatr Radiol 2020 Jul 16;50(8):1107-1114. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Agamenon Magalhães Hospital, Recife, PE, Brazil.

Background: Very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) preterm neonates are vulnerable to patent ductus arteriosus (PDA), which might be related to high-resistance flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), with decreased diastolic flow in situations of marked intestinal hypoperfusion. No previous studies have evaluated the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) parameters to assess the PDA hemodynamic repercussions.

Objective: To assess mesenteric and portal flow in VLBW preterm neonates with or without PDA using serial Doppler ultrasonography (US). Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2020 Jun 17;15(1):144. Epub 2020 Jun 17.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Hanyang University Seoul Hospital, Hanyang University School of Medicine, 222-1, Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, 04763, South Korea.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine the feasibility and outcomes of early surgical ligation in preterm neonates with hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (HSPDA) and to investigate predictors for surgical treatment after unsuccessful medical management.

Methods: Medical records from the neonatal intensive care unit of Hanyang University Seoul Hospital from January 2010 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. 233 preterm neonates weighing less than 1500g with HSPDA were enrolled in our study. Read More

Clin Epidemiol 2020 27;12:519-525. Epub 2020 May 27.

Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Background: In the present study, we estimated the population prevalence, associations of congenital heart defect (CHD) and mortality risk for DS using data from National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and Rare Diseases Registry (RDR).

Methods: We collected data on subjects with DS who were registered in the RDR between 2010 and 2015. To estimate associations of CHD and mortality risk of DS, the data of DS subjects were compared with 1:5 age- and sex-matched controls. Read More

Respir Care 2020 Jun 16. Epub 2020 Jun 16.

Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: High-frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) has been used in conjunction with conventional ventilation for premature infants with respiratory failure. We sought to identify parameters that were associated with mortality in subjects who underwent HFJV.

Methods: Subjects were enrolled if birthweight was ≤ 2,000 g and they were ≤ 34 weeks gestational age. Read More

JAMA Pediatr 2020 Jun 15. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Samsung Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Importance: Persistent patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants is associated with increased mortality and respiratory morbidities, including bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Despite recent increasing use of noninterventional approaches, no study to our knowledge has yet directly compared the nonintervention vs pharmacologic treatment for mediating PDA closure for decreasing mortality and preventing BPD.

Objective: To determine the noninferiority of nonintervention vs oral ibuprofen treatment for PDA in decreasing BPD incidence or death in very preterm infants. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2020 Jun 15;26:e921671. Epub 2020 Jun 15.

Department of Pediatrics, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common congenital cardiac abnormality in premature infants. In low-birth-weight infants weighing less than 2500 g, if the PDA continues to open, abnormal circulation hemodynamics and pulmonary edema may occur. This study aimed to investigate the role of lung ultrasound score in the assessment of pulmonary edema in low-weight neonates with PDA. Read More

Can J Cardiol 2020 Jun 27;36(6):837-843. Epub 2019 Nov 27.

Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for Adults, Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address:

Background: There is little published data regarding percutaneous patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure in adults. We aim to describe the outcomes of adult patients undergoing PDA closure at a single tertiary referral centre.

Methods: All adults who underwent device PDA closure at our centre from 2001 to 2017 were identified and enrolled in the study. Read More

Indian Heart J 2020 Mar - Apr;72(2):107-112. Epub 2020 Apr 7.

Department of Cardiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, 160012, India. Electronic address:

Objective: Transcatheter closure is the first-choice strategy for the management of appropriate patients with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The management of large PDAs is challenging due to the limited available sizes of approved devices and the inherent risks of surgical ligation, especially in adults with calcified PDAs. This study aimed to assess the outcomes of the off-label use of large occluders at a tertiary center. Read More

Front Pediatr 2020 14;8:241. Epub 2020 May 14.

Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, United States.

Adequate oxygenation of the kidney is of critical importance in the neonate. Non-invasive monitoring of renal tissue oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a promising bedside strategy for early detection of circulatory impairment as well as recognition of specific renal injury. As a diagnostic tool, renal NIRS monitoring may allow for earlier interventions to prevent or reduce injury in various clinical scenarios in the neonatal intensive care unit. Read More

Trials 2020 Jun 11;21(1):516. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Linyi People's Hospital, Linyi, 276003, China.

Background: Less invasive surfactant administration (LISA) is a way of giving surfactant without endotracheal intubation and has shown to be promising in reducing the incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in preterm infants. However, the mechanism underlying its beneficial effect and variations in the technique of administration may prevent its widespread use. This trial aims to evaluate the effects of two methods of surfactant administration, LISA or endotracheal surfactant administration followed by low peak pressure (LPPSA) ventilation, in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2020 Jun 11;15(1):136. Epub 2020 Jun 11.

Heart Center, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, 6 tongfu Road, Qingdao, Shandong, China.

Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) and interruption of the aortic arch (IAA) are uncommon congenital heart diseases. The association between TGA and IAA is rare. The aim of this study is to present a case with combined TGA and IAA, who underwent the primary repair and review the literature with similar cases. Read More

Early Hum Dev 2020 Aug 28;147:105093. Epub 2020 May 28.

Radiology Institute - Clinical Hospital - School of Medicine - University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.

Pediatr Cardiol 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Department of Neonatology, Kaplan Medical Center, P.O. Box 1, Rehovot, Israel.

We evaluated the effectiveness of a whole-body bioimpedance device (NICaS®, NI Medical, Petach Tikva, Israel) to predict the presence of a hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. A total of 36 infants less than 35 week's gestation age and birth weights of less than 1750 g were included in the study. Using the NICaS® device, we obtained whole-body bioimpedance measurements of stroke volume index (SI), cardiac output index (CI) and total peripheral resistance index. Read More

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med 2020 Jun 2:101120. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, 8803 John Pappajohn Pavillion 200 Hawkins Drive, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA. Electronic address:

Patent ductus arteriosus is associated with multiple comorbidities in premature infants, however a causal link or strategy to decrease these morbidities has not been found. The association between the patent ductus arteriosus and morbidities has biologic plausibility as, like any cardiac mixing lesion, a significant systemic to pulmonic shunt may lead to pulmonary over-circulation and systemic hypoperfusion. Understanding the underlying pathophysiology of associated morbidities in the setting of a patent ductus arteriosus may aid in risk stratifying infants and offer a patient targeted approach to infants with a pathological ductal shunt. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2020 14;2020:3805385. Epub 2020 May 14.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Middle Renmin Road 139, Changsha 410000, China.

Objectives: To evaluate the early and midterm results of a modified sliding anastomosis technique in patients with aortic coarctation.

Materials And Methods: In this study, we reported a new repair method and compared the early and midterm outcome(s) with a conventional surgical approach for the management of patients with aortic coarctation. Forty-eight aortic coarctation patients with a narrowed segment length longer than 2 cm were operated at our department's pediatric surgical division. Read More

Cardiol Young 2020 Jul 8;30(7):1043-1045. Epub 2020 Jun 8.

Centre Cardio-Thoracique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco.

We report an unusual case of a 12-month-old boy diagnosed with anomalous origin of a single coronary artery from the pulmonary artery associated with patent ductus arteriosus. The patient survival was attributed to left-to-right shunt (patent ductus arteriosus) allowing for appropriate myocardial perfusion. Successful surgical correction involved patent ductus arteriosus closure, mitral annuloplasty and reimplantation of the coronary artery into the aortic root. Read More

Eur J Pediatr 2020 Jun 5. Epub 2020 Jun 5.

Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Ataturk University Medical Faculty, Erzurum, Turkey.

Screening critical congenital heart disease in neonates with 24-48 h of age could be made by oxygen saturation determination. Perfusion index may be used as an adjunct to pulse oximetry screening to detect non-cyanotic critical congenital heart disease cases such as a left heart outflow obstruction. We evaluate the results of combined screening for oxygen saturation and peripheral perfusion index at high altitudes. Read More

Heart Vessels 2020 Jun 3. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, 1397-1, Yamane, Hidaka City, Saitama, 350-1298, Japan.

The data comparing the characteristics and effect of transcatheter patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) closure between children and adults is scarce. We analyzed 54 consecutive patients who underwent transcatheter PDA closures. We divided the patients into 2 groups of < 18 years and ≥ 18 years and compared the hemodynamic changes before and after the PDA closure. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2020 May 31. Epub 2020 May 31.

Dept of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, Bengaluru.

We are presenting a delayed complication of Amplatzer duct occluder (ADO) where the patient presented with increasing hemoptysis due to ADO eroding the vessel wall and forming a pseudoaneurysm which communicated with the left main bronchus. Though ADO is considered as the safest for catheter based patent ductus arteriosus closures, isolated complication as reported can occur. Just like atrial septal defect device closures, which were considered safe initially and found to be having an erosion incidence of 0. Read More

Cureus 2020 Apr 29;12(4):e7891. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Pediatric Cardiology, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Jeddah, SAU.

Background Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are abnormalities that present in the heart since birth and are one of the leading causes of infant mortality in the world. CHDs are more common among children with dysmorphic syndromes. The current study aims to estimate the prevalence of many CHDs in different dysmorphic syndromes. Read More

Am J Perinatol 2020 Jun 2. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Objective:  Prematurity and low birth weight (LBW) are risk factors for increased morbidity and mortality in infants with congenital heart defects (CHDs). We sought to describe survival, inhospital morbidities, and 2-year neurodevelopmental follow-up in LBW infants with CHD.

Study Design:  We included infants with birth weight (BW) <2,500 g diagnosed with CHD (except isolated patent ductus arteriosus) admitted January 2013 to March 2016 to a single level-IV academic neonatal intensive care unit. Read More

Neonatology 2020 Jun 2:1-8. Epub 2020 Jun 2.

NICU, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.

Background: The role of hemostasis in the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants is controversial.

Objective: To assess thromboelastography (TEG) at birth in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants affected by PDA.

Methods: This was an ancillary study of a prospective observational study aimed at defining the TEG profile in healthy VLBW infants in the first month of life. Read More

Anatol J Cardiol 2020 06;23(6):E15

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Health Sciences, İstanbul Mehmet Akif Ersoy Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital; İstanbul-Turkey.

Early Hum Dev 2020 Jul 7;146:105057. Epub 2020 May 7.

Brigham and Women's Hospital, Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America; Harvard University, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America.

Aims: To determine 1) the relationship between infant medical factors and early neurobehavior, and 2) the relationship between early neurobehavior at 30 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) and neurobehavior at term equivalent age.

Study Design: In this prospective longitudinal study, 88 very preterm infants born ≤30 weeks estimated gestational age (EGA) had neurobehavioral assessments at 30 weeks PMA using the Premie-Neuro and at term equivalent age using the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale (NNNS) and Hammersmith Neonatal Neurological Evaluation (HNNE).

Results: Lower Premie-Neuro scores at 30 weeks PMA were related to being more immature at birth (p = 0. Read More

J Pediatr 2020 May 25. Epub 2020 May 25.

Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States.

Objective: To determine if higher volume feedings improve postnatal growth among very preterm infants.

Study Design: Randomized clinical trial with 1:1 parallel allocation conducted from 1/2015 to 6/2018 in a single academic medical center in the United States. 224 infants with a birth weight 1001-2500 grams born at <32 weeks of gestation were randomized to higher (180-200 mL/kg/day) or usual volume feedings (140-160 mL/kg/day) after establishing full enteral feedings (≥120 mL/kg/day). Read More