Emergency bedside-echocardiography in neonatal intensive care unit / 中华围产医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the clinical value of emergency bedside-echocardiography in neonatal intensive care unit.Methods Six hundred and sixty-eight infants with cardiac pathological murmurs,cyanosis and shortness of breath were detected by emergency bedside echocardiography (Sonosite Micromax 1 portable ultrasound or Philips iE33 ultrasonic systems) during January 2007 to July 2011.The accuracy of emergency bedside-echocardiography in the diagnosis of neonatal heart diseases was evaluated according to the results of surgical exploration.Results Among 668 enrolled neonates with the mean age of (7.2±1.3) d,there were 347 males and 321 females,and 309 term infants [mean gestational age (39.1±0.6) weeks (37.0～42.1 weeks)] and 359 premature infants [mean gestational age (33.7±0.91) weeks (28.9～36.9 weeks)].Totally,507 cases were found cardiac abnormality by emergency bedside-echocardiography,including 268 cases of patent ductus arteriosus (232 premature and 36 term infants),115 congenital heart disease,99 persistent fetal circulation and 25 arrythmia.Surgeries were performed on 54 infants and invasive therapy was performed on one infant,and none of them received CT,magnetic resonance imaging or invasive examinations before operation; among which,51 surgeries successed and 4 infants died.Other 452 infants were treated with medications,392 infants recovered and discharged,26 infants did not recover,14 cases died and 20 cases left the hospital before recovery.The accuracy rate of Micromax 1 portable ultrasound in diagnosing congenital heart diseases was 94.5％ (52/55),while 96.4 ％ (53/55) for philips iE33 ultrasonic systems.Conclusions Emergency bedside-echocardiography could provide instant and valuable information of cardiovascular system,which would be helpful in making quick clinical decisions.