The haemodynamic effects of umbilical cord milking in term infants: a randomised controlled trial

INTRODUCTION@#Umbilical cord milking (UCM) is a method that allows for postnatal placental transfusion. The benefits of UCM have been demonstrated in some studies, but knowledge about its haemodynamic effects in term infants is limited. The aim of this study was to evaluate the haemodynamic effects of UCM in term infants.@*METHODS@#In this prospective, randomised controlled study, 149 healthy term infants with a birth week of ≥37 weeks were randomly assigned to either the UCM or immediate cord clamping (ICC) group. Blinded echocardiographic evaluations were performed in all the neonates in the first 2-6 h.@*RESULTS@#Superior vena cava (SVC) flow measurements were higher in the UCM group compared to the ICC group (132.47 ± 37.0 vs. 126.62 ± 34.3 mL/kg/min), but this difference was not statistically significant. Left atrial diameter (12.23 ± 1.99 vs. 11.43 ± 1.78 mm) and left atrium-to-aorta diastolic diameter ratio (1.62 ± 0.24 vs. 1.51 ± 0.22) were significantly higher in the UCM group. There were no significant differences in other echocardiographic parameters between the two groups.@*CONCLUSION@#We found no significant difference in the SVC flow measurements in term infants who underwent UCM versus those who underwent ICC. This lack of significant difference in SVC flow may be explained by the mature cerebral autoregulation mechanism in term neonates.

Diagnóstico prenatal de dos casos de anomalías congénitas del desarrollo venoso sistémico: una entidad muy poco frecuente (España) / Prenatal diagnosis of two cases of congenital systemic venus return anomalies: a rare entity (Spain) / Diagnóstico pré-natal de dois casos de anormalidades congênitas do desenvolvimento venoso sistêmico: uma entidade muito rara (Espanha)

Introducción: las anomalías en el desarrollo del sistema venoso sistémico son una entidad poco frecuente, cuyo diagnóstico ecocardiográfico prenatal y posnatal puede suponer todo un reto. Por un lado, debido a su baja incidencia y por otro, a la dificultad en la correcta realización de los planos ecocardiográficos. No obstante, su diagnóstico es de vital importancia debido a la asociación con cardiopatías congénitas o cromosopatías. Objetivo: describir dos casos de una anomalía congénita cardiovascular poco frecuente. La persistencia de la vena cava superior izquierda con agenesia de la vena cava superior derecha es una de estas anomalías descritas cuya incidencia es muy baja cuando ambas variaciones se presentan conjuntamente. Casos clínicos: presentamos dos casos de recién nacidos sin antecedentes personales o familiares de interés, diagnosticados prenatalmente, cuyos hallazgos ecocardiográficos se confirman en el período posnatal. Conclusiones: ante el hallazgo aislado en el período fetal de esta variación anatómica que asocia dos anomalías del sistema venoso sistémico, cabe destacar la importancia de su confirmación ecocardiográfica posnatal para descartar cardiopatías congénitas de difícil diagnóstico durante la época prenatal. Así mismo, antes de la confirmación ecocardiográfica que será llevada a cabo por el cardiológico infantil, cabe destacar la importancia del pediatra en la primera exploración física y en la anamnesis a la familia para descartar posibles cardiopatías congénitas críticas o posibles síndromes asociados. El diagnóstico prenatal de persistencia de la vena cava superior izquierda con agenesia de la vena cava superior derecha le permitirá tener un alto grado de sospecha de estas patologías asociadas y por tanto llevar a cabo una actuación clínica precoz.

Introduction: anomalies in the development of the systemic venous system are a rare entity, and its prenatal and postnatal echocardiographic diagnosis can be challenging, due to its low incidence as well as to the difficulty in correctly performing echocardiographic imaging planes. However, its diagnosis is key because it is linked to congenital heart disease or chromosomal anomalies. Objective: describe two cases of a rare cardiovascular congenital anomaly. The persistence of the left superior vena cava with agenesis of the right superior vena cava is one of these described anomalies, with very low incidence when both variations occur together. Clinical cases: we present two cases of newborns with no relevant personal or family history, diagnosed prenatally with confirmed echocardiographic findings in the postnatal period. Conclusions: given the isolated finding in the fetal period of this anatomical variation that associates two anomalies of the systemic venous system, we should note the importance of its postnatal echocardiographic confirmation to rule out congenital heart disease that is difficult to diagnose during the prenatal period. Likewise, prior to the echocardiographic confirmation carried out by the pediatric cardiologist, we should stress the importance of the pediatrician diagnosis in the first physical examination and of the family history to rule out possible critical congenital heart disease or possible associated syndromes. The prenatal diagnosis of VCSIP with agenesis of the VCSD will lead to a high degree of suspicion of these associated pathologies and therefore may lead to early clinical action.

Introdução: as anomalias no desenvolvimento do sistema venoso sistêmico são uma entidade rara, cujo diagnóstico ecocardiográfico pré-natal e pós-natal pode ser um grande desafio. Por um lado, pela sua baixa incidência e, por outro, pela dificuldade em realizar corretamente os planos ecocardiográficos. No entanto, seu diagnóstico é vital devido à associação com cardiopatias congênitas ou anormalidades cromossômicas. Objetivo: descrever dois casos de rara anomalia congênita cardiovascular. A persistência da veia cava superior esquerda com agenesia da veia cava superior direita é uma dessas anomalias descritas cuja incidência é muito baixa quando ambas as variações ocorrem juntas. Casos clínicos: apresentamos dois casos de recém-nascidos sem antecedentes pessoais ou familiares significativos, diagnosticados no pré-natal e cujos achados ecocardiográficos foram confirmados no período pós-natal. Conclusões: dado o achado isolado no período fetal desta variação anatômica que associa duas anomalias do sistema venoso sistêmico, devemos ressaltar a importância de sua confirmação ecocardiográfica pós-natal para descartar cardiopatia congênita de difícil diagnóstico no pré-natal . Da mesma forma, antes da confirmação ecocardiográfica que será realizada pelo cardiologista pediátrico, ressaltamos a importância do pediatra no primeiro exame físico e na história familiar para afastar possíveis cardiopatias congênitas críticas ou possíveis síndromes associadas. O diagnóstico pré-natal de VCSIP com agenesia do VCSD permitirá ter um alto grau de suspeita dessas patologias associadas e, portanto, realizar uma ação clínica precoce.

Vena cava superior izquierda persistente, agenesia de vena cava superior derecha e insuficiencia tricuspídea / Persistent left superior vena cava, absence of the right superior vena cava and tricuspid regurgitation

Resumen La persistencia de una vena cava superior izquierda en la población general representa una de las malformaciones del retorno venoso torácico más frecuentes, sin embargo su asociación con agenesia de la vena cava superior derecha e insuficiencia tricuspídea son hallazgos extremadamente infrecuentes.

Abstract The persistence of a left superior vena cava in the general population represents one of the most frequent thoracic venous return malformations, however its association with abscence of the right superior vena cava and tricuspid regurgitation are extremely rare findings.

A case of Behcet's disease with superior and inferior vena caval occlusion

Behcet's disease is a chronic multisystemic disorder involving many organs and characterized by recurrent oral and genital ulcers and relapsing iritis. A case of BD with large vein thrombosis involving superior and inferior vena cava is presented. Large vein thrombosis in BD is not commonly developed and most commonly observed in the inferior or superior vena cava. A review of the literature emphasizes the rarity of the combined superior and inferior vena caval occlusion. Existence of extensive large vein occlusion in BD is associated with limited therapy and poor prognosis.