Ductus Arteriosus in Fetal and Perinatal Life.

The ductus arteriosus represents an essential vascular structure connecting the pulmonary artery and the aorta. Over the past decades, there has been substantial advancement in our understanding of both the fundamental and clinical aspects of the ductus arteriosus. In particular, the clarification of the regulatory mechanisms governing ductal patency in critical stages such as the fetal and the perinatal period has enabled optimal management of both physiological and pathological conditions in which the ductus arteriosus plays a crucial role. Furthermore, a more in-depth understanding of the regulatory mechanisms controlling this fundamental structure has facilitated the development of advanced therapeutic strategies and personalized interventions. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the ductus arteriosus during fetal and perinatal life, encompassing its physiological functions, pathological conditions, and clinical implications. Through this examination, we aim to contribute to a broader understanding of the ductus arteriosus' role in these critical developmental stages and its significance in clinical practice.

A new variant in the GATA6 gene associated with tracheoesophageal fistula, pulmonary vein stenosis and neonatal diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: GATA6 is a gene that encodes a transcription factor with a key role in the development of several organ systems, including the development of the pancreas. It is associated with neonatal diabetes but also with other extra-pancreatic anomalies. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes the association of tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), pulmonary vein stenosis (PVS), and neonatal diabetes caused by a novel mutation of the GATA6 gene in a small-for-gestational-age male neonate born at 32 weeks of gestation. Next-Generation Sequencing revealed the novel heterozygous variant c.1502C>G in the GATA6 gene, which determines the introduction of the premature stop codon p.Ser501Ter at the protein level. This de novo nonsense variant was not detected in the analyzed parental DNA samples and has not been previously described in the literature. At about two months of life, a PVS was suspected. The PVS progressively increased with the development of an intramural component, resulting in severe postcapillary pulmonary hypertension. The child died at about 4 months of life. CONCLUSION: TEF can be associated with GATA6 variants. In the case of neonatal diabetes and TEF, neonatologists should be aware of this association and should also investigate the child for complex congenital heart disorders, such as in our case, with a cardiac computed tomography.

Assessment of hemodynamic dysfunction in septic newborns by functional echocardiography: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality in neonatal units. Neonatologist-performed echocardiography (NPE) offers the potential for early detection of sepsis-associated cardiovascular dysfunction. This review examines available echocardiographic findings in septic neonates. METHODS: Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we systematically reviewed prospective observational, cross-sectional, case control, and cohort studies on septic newborns with echocardiographic assessments from PubMed, Scopus and Embase. Quality assessment employed the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, with results analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: From an initial pool of 1663 papers, 12 studies met inclusion criteria after relevance screening and eliminating duplicates/excluded studies. The review encompassed 438 septic newborns and 232 controls. Septic neonates exhibited either increased risk of pulmonary hypertension or left ventricular diastolic dysfunction, and a warm shock physiology characterized by higher cardiac outputs. DISCUSSION: The included studies exhibited heterogeneity in sepsis definitions, sepsis severity scores, echocardiographic evaluations, and demographic data of newborns. Limited sample sizes compromised analytical interpretability. Nonetheless, this work establishes a foundation for future high-quality echocardiographic studies. CONCLUSION: Our review confirms that septic neonates show significant hemodynamic changes that can be identified using NPE. These findings underscore the need for wider NPE use to tailor hemodynamics-based strategies within this population. IMPACT: 1. Our study emphasizes the value of neonatologist-performed echocardiography (NPE) as a feasible tool for identifying significant hemodynamic changes in septic neonates. 2. Our study underscores the importance of standardized echocardiographic protocols and frequent monitoring of cardiac function in septic neonates. 3. The impact of the study lies in its potential to increase researchers' awareness for the need for more high-quality echocardiographic data in future studies. By promoting wider use of NPE, neonatologists can more accurately assess the hemodynamic status of septic newborns and tailor treatment approaches, potentially improving patient outcomes.

Spontaneous breathing in selected neonates with very mild congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

AIMS: Current treatment guidelines recommend immediate postnatal intubation in all neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and outcomes of a spontaneous breathing approach (SBA) versus immediate intubation in neonates with prenatally diagnosed very mild CDH. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted comparing neonates with very mild CDH (left-sided, liver-down, observed-to-expected lung-to-head ratio ≥45%) undergoing SBA and matched controls receiving standard treatment. Data on early echocardiographic findings, respiratory support, length of hospital stay, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 151 CDH neonates, eight underwent SBA, while 31 received standard treatment. SBA was successful in six of eight patients. SBA patients had shorter length of stay (14 vs. 30 days, p = .005), mechanical ventilation (3.5 vs. 8.7 days, p = .011), and oxygen supplementation (3.2 vs. 9.3 days, p = .013) compared to matched controls. Echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension and cardiac dysfunction were significantly lower in SBA neonates after admission but similar before surgical repair. The SBA group tolerated enteral feeding earlier (day of life 7 vs. 16, p = .019). CONCLUSIONS: SBA appears feasible and beneficial for prenatally diagnosed very mild CDH. It was associated with a shortened hospital stay supportive therapies. However, larger trials are needed to confirm these findings and determine optimal respiratory support.

The role of point-of-care ultrasound in the management of neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

In the last few years, current evidence has supported the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for a number of diagnostic and procedural applications. Considering the valuable information that POCUS can give, we propose a standardized protocol for the management of neonates with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH-POCUS protocol) in the neonatal intensive care unit. Indeed, POCUS could be a valid tool for the neonatologist through the evaluation of 1) cardiac function and pulmonary hypertension; 2) lung volumes, postoperative pleural effusion or pneumothorax; 3) splanchnic and renal perfusion, malrotations, and/or signs of necrotizing enterocolitis; 4) cerebral perfusion and eventual brain lesions that could contribute to neurodevelopmental impairment. In this article, we discuss the state-of-the-art in neonatal POCUS for which concerns congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), and we provide suggestions to improve its use. IMPACT: This review shows how point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) could be a valid tool for managing neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) after birth. Our manuscript underscores the importance of standardized protocols in neonates with CDH. Beyond the well-known role of echocardiography, ultrasound of lungs, splanchnic organs, and brain can be useful. The use of POCUS should be encouraged to improve ventilation strategies, systemic perfusion, and enteral feeding, and to intercept any early signs related to future neurodevelopmental impairment.

Use of levosimendan in hemodynamic management of heart failure in two neonates with intracranial arteriovenous shunts: a case series.

BACKGROUND: The hemodynamic status of newborns with intracranial arteriovenous shunts (AVSs) may be extremely complex. Mini-invasive hemodynamic monitoring through innovative techniques such as Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) and Pressure Recording Analytical Method (PRAM) may help in understanding hemodynamics in newborns with AVSs. Levosimendan is a calcium sensitizer and inodilator, and it is known to improve ventricular function, but its use in newborns is limited. In our cases, we evaluated the effect of levosimendan on hemodynamics through NIRS and PRAM. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein, we report the cases of two neonates with intracranial arteriovenous shunts, in whom we used levosimendan to manage cardiac failure refractory to conventional treatment. Levosimendan was used at a dosage of 0.1 mcg/kg/min for 72 h. Combined use of NIRS and PRAM helped in real-time monitoring of hemodynamic effects; in particular, levosimendan determined significant improvement in myocardium contractility as well as a reduction of heart rate. CONCLUSION: In two neonatal cases of AVSs, levosimendan led to an overall hemodynamic stabilization, documented by the combination of NIRS and PRAM. Our results suggest introducing levosimendan as a second-line treatment in cases of severe cardiac dysfunction due to AVSs without improvement using standard treatment strategies. Future prospective and larger studies are highly warranted.

Gender differences in congenital heart defects: a narrative review.

Background and Objective: Congenital heart defects (CHD) represent the most frequent human birth defects, occurring in almost 1% of all live newborns. Understanding the effects of gender in the prevalence of CHD has a key role in defining personalized prevention, disease identification, prognosis definition and individualized therapeutic strategies. Recently, the attempt to achieve a holistic approach to patients with CHD cannot be separated from accounting for existing gender differences. The main aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of gender differences in the epidemiology of CHD. Methods: A standardized research through three electronic databases (PubMed/Scopus/Embase) was performed using a combination of keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms to include congenital heart diseases, gender difference(s), prevalence. Observational, prospective, population based and retrospective studies reporting gender differences in the prevalence of CHD were included. Conference abstracts were excluded as well as studies not written in English language and non-human studies. Further relevant papers were selected by hand-searching of the references list of selected articles. Key Content and Findings: Search results returned 1,904 papers. Screening articles by title and abstracts resulted in 17 articles for full text review. Of these, 10 were included for analysis and additional 11 articles were included after hand searching review of reference lists. A total of 21 articles were included. Conclusions: Our narrative review confirms that there is a significant gender variation in specific CHD subgroups. In particular, we summarized the evidence that there is a significantly greater risk for males to be born with severe CHD and for females with milder CHD subtypes. The etiology of the different distribution of CHD among genders is still under investigation and a deeper understanding of how gender influences the risk for CHD is warranted. In the future, a gender-based management of CHD should become an established medical approach.

Role of microRNAs in Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension.

Epigenetic regulators such as microRNAs (miRNAs) have a key role in modulating several gene expression pathways and have a role both in lung development and function. One of the main pathogenetic determinants in patients with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is pulmonary hypertension (PH), which is directly related to smaller lung size and pulmonary microarchitecture alterations. The aim of this review is to highlight the importance of miRNAs in CDH-related PH and to summarize the results covering this topic in animal and human CDH studies. The focus on epigenetic modulators of CDH-PH offers the opportunity to develop innovative diagnostic tools and novel treatment modalities, and provides a great potential to increase researchers' understanding of the pathophysiology of CDH.

Neurodevelopmental and genetic findings in neonates with intracranial arteriovenous shunts: A case series.

Background: Despite the latest advances in prenatal diagnosis and postnatal embolization procedures, intracranial arteriovenous shunts (AVSs) are still associated with high mortality and morbidity rates. Our aim was to evaluate the presentation and clinical course, the neurodevelopmental outcome, and the genetic findings of neonates with AVSs. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, medical records of neonates with cerebral AVSs admitted to our hospital from January 2020 to July 2022 were revised. In particular, we evaluated neuroimaging characteristics, endovascular treatment, neurophysiological features, neurodevelopmental outcomes, and genetic findings. Results: We described the characteristics of 11 patients with AVSs. Ten infants (90.9%) required embolization during the first three months of life. In 5/9 infants, pathological electroencephalography findings were observed; of them, two patients presented seizures. Eight patients performed Median Nerve Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (MN-SEPs): of them, six had an impaired response. We found normal responses at Visual Evoked Potentials and Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials. Eight patients survived (72.7%) and were enrolled in our multidisciplinary follow-up program. Of them, 7/8 completed the Bayley-III Scales at 6 months of corrected age: none of them had cognitive and language delays; conversely, a patient had a moderate delay on the Motor scale. The remaining survivor patient developed cerebral palsy and could not undergo Bayley-III evaluation because of the severe psychomotor delay. From the genetic point of view, we found a novel pathogenic variant in the NOTCH3 gene and three additional genomic defects of uncertain pathogenicity. Conclusion: We propose SEPs as an ancillary test to discern the most vulnerable infants at the bedside, particularly to identify possible future motor impairment in follow-up. The early identification of a cognitive or motor delay is critical to intervene with personalized rehabilitation treatment and minimize future impairment promptly. Furthermore, the correct interpretation of identified genetic variants could provide useful information, but further studies are needed to investigate the role of these variants in the pathogenesis of AVSs.

Staphylococcal Infections and Neonatal Skin: Data from Literature and Suggestions for the Clinical Management from Four Challenging Patients.

Staphylococcal infections in neonates might be associated with skin blistering since early antibiotic therapy has been shown to limit infection spread and positively influence outcomes; therefore, neonatologists should be aware of these conditions. This review examines the recent literature on the management of Staphylococcal infections that involve neonatal skin, discussing the most appropriate clinical approach to four cases of neonatal blistering diseases with Staphylococcal infections: a case of Staphylococcal bullous impetigo, a case of Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS), a case of epidermolysis bullosa with overlapping Staphylococcal infection, and a case of burns with overlapping Staphylococcal infection. In treating Staphylococcal infections involving skin in neonates, the presence or absence of systemic symptoms should be considered. In the lack of evidence-based guidelines in this age category, treatment should be individualized according to several factors including the extension of the disease or further skin comorbidities (such as skin fragility), with a multidisciplinary approach.

Ductus arteriosus flow predicts outcome in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the pattern of flow through the ductus arteriosus (DA) is associated with the need for extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support (ECMO) or death in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). DESIGN: Retrospective observational study. SETTING: German level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. PARTICIPANTS: 139 CDH neonates were born between March 2009 and May 2021. METHODS: DA flow pattern was assessed in echocardiograms obtained within 24 h of life by measuring flow time and velocity time integral (VTI) for both left-to-right (LR) and right-to-left (RL) components of the ductal shunt. A VTI ratio (VTILR/VTIRL) < 1.0 and an RL relative flow time (Flow timeRL/(Flow timeLR+Flow timeRL)) >33% were defined as markers of abnormal flow patterns. The primary outcome was the need for ECMO. The secondary outcome was death. RESULTS: 72 patients (51.8%) had a VTI ratio <1.0, 73 (52.5%) an RL relative flow time >33%. 59 patients (42.4%) had an alteration of both values. Need for ECMO was present in 37.4% (n = 52), while 19.4% (n = 27) died. A VTI ratio <1.0 had the highest diagnostic accuracy for the need for ECMO, (sensitivity 82.7%, specificity 66.7%, negative predictive value [NPV] 86.6%, and positive predictive value [PPV] 59.7%) as well as for death (sensitivity 77.8%, specificity 54.5%, NPV 91.0%, and PPV 29.2%). Patients with VTI ratio <1.0 were 4.7 times more likely to need ECMO and 3.3 times more likely to die. VTI ratio values correlated significantly with pulmonary hypertension (PH) severity (r = -0.516, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: A VTI ratio <1.0 is a valuable threshold to identify high-risk CDH neonates. For improved risk stratification, other parameters-for example, left ventricular cardiac dysfunction-should be combined with DA flow assessment.

Insights into the Cardiac Phenotype in 9p Deletion Syndrome: A Multicenter Italian Experience and Literature Review.

Chromosome 9p deletion syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant disorder presenting with a broad spectrum of clinical features, including congenital heart defects (CHDs). To date, studies focused on a deep characterization of cardiac phenotype and function associated with this condition are lacking. We conducted a multicentric prospective observational study on a cohort of 10 patients with a molecular diagnosis of 9p deletion syndrome, providing a complete cardiological assessment through conventional echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging echo modality. As a result, we were able to demonstrate that patients with 9p deletion syndrome without major CHDs may display subclinical cardiac structural changes and left-ventricle systolic and diastolic dysfunction. Albeit needing validation in a larger cohort, our findings support the idea that a complete cardiac assessment should be performed in patients with 9p deletion syndrome and should be integrated in the context of a long-term follow-up.

Cardiac function in adolescents and young adults with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome without congenital heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and treatment of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS) have led to improved life expectancy and achievement of adulthood. Limited data on long-term outcomes reported an increased risk of premature death for cardiovascular causes, even without congenital heart disease (CHD). The aim of this study was to assess the cardiac function in adolescents and young adults with 22q11.2DS without CHDs. METHODS: A total of 32 patients (20M, 12F; mean age 26.00 ± 8.08 years) and a healthy control group underwent transthoracic echocardiography, including Tissue Doppler Imaging (TDI) and 2-dimensional Speckle Tracking Echocardiography (2D-STE). RESULTS: Compared to controls, 22q11.2DS patients showed a significant increase of the left ventricle (LV) diastolic and systolic diameters (p = 0.029 and p = 0.035 respectively), interventricular septum thickness (p = 0.005), LV mass index (p < 0.001) and aortic root size (p < 0.001). 2D-STE analysis revealed a significant reduction of LV global longitudinal strain (p < 0.001) in 22q11.2DS than controls. Moreover, several LV diastolic parameters were significantly different between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an echocardiographic follow-up in 22q11.2DS patients without CHDs can help to identify subclinical impairment of the LV and evaluate a potential progression of aortic root dilation over time, improving outcomes, reducing long-term complications and allowing for a better prognosis.

CA125: a novel cardiac biomarker for infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

BACKGROUND: The carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) was proven as a robust biomarker for risk stratification in adults with heart failure. This is the first study analyzing CA125 in a cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). METHODS: Sixty-eight infants with CDH, treated at the University Children's Hospital Bonn (Germany), between January 2018 and February 2021, were prospectively enrolled for analysis. CA125 values were measured at the following timepoints: 6,12, 24, 48 h, and during ECMO daily from day 1 to day 7. RESULTS: In infants not surviving to discharge, CA125 values were significantly higher at day 1 (6, 12, and 24 h). Infants with subsequent need for ECMO presented significantly higher CA125 values at 12 h of life. During ECMO, CA125 values measured at day 1 were significantly higher in infants not surviving to discharge. In the ROC analysis, a CA125 value of ≥10 U/ml was calculated as optimal cut-off for the prediction of ECMO and in-hospital mortality. CA125 values correlated significantly with the severity of PH and ventricular dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: CA125 values correlate significantly with echocardiographic markers of PH and ventricular dysfunction and correlate significantly with parameters of disease severity (need for ECMO, mortality). IMPACT: CA125 was proven as robust cardiac biomarker in adult cohorts. Information about the utility as a biomarker in neonatal cohorts is lacking. This is the first study analyzing CA125 as a cardiac biomarker in a cohort of infants with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). CA125 correlates significantly with markers of echocardiographic assessment (PH and ventricular dysfunction) in infants with CDH and helps to identify infants at high risk for ECMO and in-hospital mortality. The results underline the need for the inclusion of cardiac biomarkers in the clinical routine in neonates at risk for cardiopulmonary failure.

Are lung ultrasound features more severe in infants with bronchiolitis and coinfections?

Background: The lung ultrasound (LUS) score can be a useful tool to predict the need for respiratory support and the length of hospital stay in infants with bronchiolitis. Objective: To compare lung ultrasound features in neonates and infants up to three months of age with bronchiolitis to determine whether LUS scores (range 0-36) differ in infants with coinfections or not. Methods: Neonates and infants younger than three months admitted to neonatal units from October 2022 to March 2023, who underwent lung ultrasound evaluation on admission, were included in this retrospective study. Results: We included 60 patients who underwent LUS evaluation at admission. Forty-two infants (70.0%) had a single viral infection. Eighteen infants (30.0%) had a coinfection: fifteen infants (25.0%) had more than one virus at PCR; one infant (1.7%) had both a viral coinfection and a viral-bacteria coinfection; two infants (3.3%) had viral-bacteria coinfection. Infants with a single viral infection and those with coinfections had similar LUS scores globally and in different lung zones. An LUS score higher than 8 was identified to significantly predict the need for any respiratory support (p = 0.0035), whereas an LUS score higher than 13 was identified to significantly predict the need for mechanical ventilation (p = 0.024). Conclusion: In our small cohort of neonates and infants younger than three months hospitalized with bronchiolitis, we found no statistically significant differences in the LUS score on admission between patients with a single viral infection and those with multiple infections.

Clinical Risk Factors for Aortic Root Dilation in Patients with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: A Longitudinal Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: Aortic root dilation (ARD) has been described in 22q11.2DS, even without congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the clinical implications and longitudinal course are unclear. In this study, we evaluated aortic root (AR) dimensions in 22q112.DS adolescents/adults without major intracardiac CHDs, analyzed the progression over time and investigated correlations with extracardiac comorbidities. METHODS: AR dimensions were evaluated in 74 patients, measuring the sinus of Valsalva (VS) and proximal ascending aorta (AA), using Z-score to define mild, moderate and severe degrees. Changes in AR dimensions during longitudinal echocardiographic follow-up were investigated. Phenotypic characteristics have been collected. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients (32.4%) showed ARD in terms of VS Z-score (2.43; IQR 2.08-3.01), eight (33.3%) of a moderate/severe degree. Thirteen (54.2%) had concomitant AAD (Z-score 2.34; IQR 1.60-2.85). The risk of ARD was significantly directly related to skeletal/connective tissue disorders (OR 12.82, 95% CI 1.43-115.31; p = 0.023) and inversely related to BMI (OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77-0.97; p = 0.011). A significant increase in AR diameter's absolute value (p = 0.001) over time has been detected. CONCLUSION: Isolated ARD is common in 22q11.2DS. Although some clinical risk factors have been identified, pathogenetic mechanisms and risk of complications are undefined. Regular cardiac evaluations should be part of the 22q11.2DS follow-up, and also in non-CHDs patients, to improve long-term outcome.

A dangerous food binge: a case report of hypokalemic periodic paralysis and review of current literature.

BACKGROUND: Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare neuromuscular genetic disorder due to defect of ion channels and subsequent function impairment. It belongs to a periodic paralyses group including hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HEKPP), hypokalemic periodic paralysis (HOKPP) and Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS). Clinical presentations are mostly characterized by episodes of flaccid generalized weakness with transient hypo- or hyperkalemia. CASE PRESENTATION: A teenage boy presented to Emergency Department (ED) for acute weakness and no story of neurological disease, during the anamnestic interview he revealed that he had a carbohydrates-rich meal the previous evening. Through a focused diagnostic work-up the most frequent and dangerous causes of paralysis were excluded, but low serum potassium concentration and positive family history for periodic paralyses raised the diagnostic suspicion of HOKPP. After the acute management in ED, he was admitted to Pediatric Department where a potassium integration was started and the patient was counselled about avoiding daily life triggers. He was discharged in few days. Unfortunately, he presented again because of a new paralytic attack due to a sugar-rich food binge the previous evening. Again, he was admitted and treated by potassium integration. This time he was strongly made aware of the risks he may face in case of poor adherence to therapy or behavioral rules. Currently, after 15 months, the boy is fine and no new flare-ups are reported. CONCLUSION: HOKPP is a rare disease but symptoms can have a remarkable impact on patients' quality of life and can interfere with employment and educational opportunities. The treatment aims to minimize the paralysis attacks by restoring normal potassium level in order to reduce muscle excitability but it seems clear that a strong education of the patient about identification and avoidance triggering factors is essential to guarantee a benign clinical course. In our work we discuss the typical clinical presentation of these patients focusing on the key points of the diagnosis and on the challenges of therapeutic management especially in adolescence. A brief discussion of the most recent knowledge regarding this clinical condition follows.

22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome: Impact of Genetics in the Treatment of Conotruncal Heart Defects.

Congenital heart diseases represent one of the hallmarks of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. In particular, conotruncal heart defects are the most frequent cardiac malformations and are often associated with other specific additional cardiovascular anomalies. These findings, together with extracardiac manifestations, may affect perioperative management and influence clinical and surgical outcome. Over the past decades, advances in genetic and clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment have led to increased survival of these patients and to progressive improvements in postoperative outcome. Several studies have investigated long-term follow-up and results of cardiac surgery in this syndrome. The aim of our review is to examine the current literature data regarding cardiac outcome and surgical prognosis of patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. We thoroughly evaluate the most frequent conotruncal heart defects associated with this syndrome, such as tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia with major aortopulmonary collateral arteries, aortic arch interruption, and truncus arteriosus, highlighting the impact of genetic aspects, comorbidities, and anatomical features on cardiac surgical treatment.

Echocardiographic Assessment of Pulmonary Hypertension in Neonates with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Using Pulmonary Artery Flow Characteristics.

Background: Assessment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) is essential in neonates with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Echocardiography is widely established to quantify PH severity, but currently used parameters have inherent limitations. The aim of our study was to investigate the prognostic utility of the index of the pulmonary artery acceleration time to the right ventricular ejection time (PAAT:ET) in CDH neonates assessed using echocardiography. Methods: PAAT:ET values were prospectively measured in CDH neonates on admission, on day of life (DOL) 2 and DOL 5−7. Optimal cut-off values to predict mortality and need for ECMO were calculated and PAAT:ET values were compared between non-ECMO survivors, ECMO-survivors, and ECMO-non-survivors. Results: 87 CDH neonates were enrolled and 39 patients required ECMO therapy. At baseline, PAAT:ET values were significantly lower in ECMO patients compared to non-ECMO patients (p < 0.001). ECMO survivors and ECMO non-survivors had similar values at baseline (p = 0.967) and DOL 2 (p = 0.124) but significantly higher values at DOL 5−7 (p = 0.003). Optimal PAAT:ET cut-off for predicting ECMO was 0.290 at baseline and 0.310 for predicting non-survival in patients on ECMO at DOL 5−7. Conclusion: PAAT:ET is a feasible parameter for early risk assessment in CDH neonates.