Mortality and morbidity in preterm infants with congenital heart disease.

AIM: To compare in-hospital mortality and rates of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), sepsis, IVH and length of invasive respiratory support in preterm infants <36 weeks' gestation with congenital heart disease (CHD) to matched preterm infants without CHD in a single London centre over 13-year period. METHODS: Single-centre retrospective case-control study over the 13-year period from May 2004 to May 2017. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven preterm infants with CHD were matched to 494 infants without CHD. Patients with CHD had a significantly increased risk of in-hospital mortality compared to controls (OR 7.39 (95% CI 4.37-12.5); p < 0.001). Preterm infants with CHD had a higher risk of NEC (OR 2.42 (95% CI 1.32-4.45); p = 0.005), sepsis (OR 1.68 (95% CI 1.23-2.28); p = 0.001) and invasive respiratory support ≥28 days (OR 2.34 (95% CI 1.19-4.58); p = 0.017). Risk of IVH was lower in preterm infants with CHD (OR 0.22 (95% CI 0.11-0.42); p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Preterm birth with CHD is associated with a higher risk of in-hospital mortality, NEC, sepsis and prolonged invasive respiratory support, but a lower risk of IVH compared to matched controls. In-hospital mortality remains high in moderate-to-late preterm infants with CHD.

Dilated ascending aorta in the fetus.

INTRODUCTION: Prenatal recognition of dilated aortic root is extremely rare and there are significant challenges in counselling these patients. The primary aim of this case series is to describe the prevalence, associations and outcome of dilated ascending aorta diagnosed during fetal life. METHODS: This is a retrospective cohort study from two tertiary fetal cardiology centres. Dilated ascending aorta was defined as gestation-specific standard deviation > 1.96 at some point during gestation. RESULTS: Sixteen infants were live born and underwent postnatal echocardiography. Prenatally suspected bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) (n = 6) was confirmed in 5 cases (83%) postnatally. Thirteen children have been followed up for a period of minimum one year. No connective tissue disease was found. CONCLUSIONS: Prenatal dilated ascending aorta is a rare finding (0.06%). It is associated with BAV in 37% of cases and extracardiac abnormalities in 15.7%. Nuchal translucency measurement was >3.5 in 13% of cases. Connective tissue disease was not diagnosed postnatally. This is the largest prenatal cohort with dilated ascending aorta and postnatal outcomes to date. We showed a postnatal persistence of ascending aortic dilatation in 43% of babies. In the absence of extra-cardiac abnormalities, medium term outcome appears good but postnatal surveillance of aortic dilation is required.

MEDICAL PRACTICE IN CHILDREN PRESENTING FEVER WITH PETECHIAL RASH TO AN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

INTRODUCTION: The association of fever and petechiae in children is one of the most alarming findings for a paediatrician. To quickly distinguish between benign and life-threatening conditions is challenging in many cases. We aimed to evaluate the clinical practice of children presenting with fever and petechiae as initial symptoms. METHODS: 41 patients (age 3 months-11 years) presenting with fever and petechiae were identified in an Emergency Paediatric Assessment Unit over a period of 9 months. General data, symptoms and signs were assessed for each patient. The work-up consisted in: complete blood count, inflammatory tests, coagulation tests, Monospot test, nasopharyngeal rapid tests, blood culture, and cerebrospinal fluid culture where appropriate. RESULTS: Most children were <5 years of age (70.7%). Female to male ratio was 1:2.4. The most common clinical diagnoses were: viral respiratory illness (48.8%, 20/41) and upper respiratory tract infection (17.1%, 7/41). Meningococcal disease was found in one case. CRP>6 mg/l was poorly correlated with serious illness. The following variables were strongly associated with serious illness: ill appearance, shivering, lethargy, back rigidity, ESR>50 mm/h and prolonged capillary refill time. 59% (24/41) of children were treated with antibiotics, however, at discharge 42%(10/24) of them, did not have a work-up suggestive for a bacterial illness. CONCLUSIONS: Screening for low prevalence but high morbidity conditions, as the meningococcal disease, with an extensive work-up is time and resource consuming and may lead to unmotivated antibiotic use. Larger studies are needed to change the emergency practice for management of fever and rash.