A Hemoglobin Variant Causing an Unexplained Low Oxygen Saturation by Pulse Oximetry: Two Case Reports.

Pulse oximetry is now routinely used in neonatal resuscitation and for neonatal screening for congenital heart diseases. Beyond respiratory and cardiac diseases, hemoglobin (Hb) variants must be included in the differential diagnosis of low oxygen saturation detected by pulse oximetry. We aim to describe two cases of fetal Hb variant (heterozygous γ-globin gene (HBG1) mutation in exon 2 c.202G>A (p.Val68Met)), which was identified in two unrelated newborns.

Congenital Heart Disesase: A Retrospective Analysis from a Tertiary Referral Centre in Portugal

Abstract Background: Congenital heart disease is the leading cause of mortality among all congenital malformations. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of congenital heart diseases in a central maternity hospital in Portugal from January 2003 to December 2018 and to determine survival in the first year of life. Methods: Retrospective analysis of newborns diagnosed with congenital heart diseases within 72 hours after birth. Malformations were divided according to pathophysiology. Cumulative survival analysis was performed by the Kaplan-Meier test. Stastical significance was set at p <0.05. Results: A total of 297 newborns with cardiac malformation was recorded among 47,198 live births (incidence of 6:1000), 16% associated with extra-cardiac disease. The most frequent congenital heart diseases were left-to-right shunt lesions (n = 216), followed by cyanotic (n = 41), acyanotic obstructive (n = 31) and miscellaneous (n = 9). Seventy (24%) patients had prenatal diagnosis, 88% of them cyanotic defects, and a positive association was found between prenatal diagnosis and mortality (p <0.001). Coarctation of the aorta was associated with gestational diabetes (p = 0.014). Atrial septal defect was more common in females (p = 0.02). Mortality rate due to heart disease was 3.4%. Patients with cyanotic disease, 99%, 97%, 97%, respectively, for patients with left-to-right shunt lesions, and 97%, 97%,97% for those with obstructive lesion cases. Conclusion: The incidence of congenital heart disease was 6:1000, mostly left-to-right shunt lesions. Heart disease accounted for only half of deaths, and cyanotic diseases have a high nonspecific mortality rate.

Premature closure of ductus arteriosus after a single dose of diclofenac during pregnancy.

A male term neonate was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit in the first hours of life with central cyanosis. Echocardiogram showed severe biventricular hypertrophy, markedly right-sided, tricuspid regurgitation, a patent foramen ovale and a closed ductus arteriosus (CDA). The mother recalled being treated with a single dose of intravenous diclofenac for low back pain 2 weeks earlier. The newborn was started on propranolol with symptomatic improvement and was discharged on day 10. At 1-month follow-up, he showed complete resolution of ventricular hypertrophy and suspended propranolol. In the literature, of the 22 cases of CDA after intrauterine exposure to diclofenac, 11 resolved in utero, 3 required ventilatory and inotropic support and 1 evolved to persistent pulmonary hypertension. In this case, a thorough anamnesis was key to identify the probable cause of an otherwise unexplained transient ventricular hypertrophy. This case also alerts to the fetal risks of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs during the third trimester, requiring close monitoring.

Patent ductus arteriosus closure: experience from a tertiary referral center / Experiência de uma maternidade terciária no fechamento do canal arterial patente

ABSTRACT Objective: To characterize the number and methods of closure of Persistent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) over a span of 16 years in a third level maternity hospital. Methods: Retrospective study of neonates born between January 2003 and Deccember 2018, who underwent ductus arteriosus closure by pharmacological, surgical and/or transcatheter methods. Gestational age, birth weight, number and methods of closures per year were evaluated. The success rate of the pharmacologic method was calculated, as well as the mortality rate. The association between mortality and birthweight, treatment used and treatment failure was explored. Results: There were 47,198 births, 5,156 were preterm, 325 presented PDA and 106 were eligible for closure (median gestational age - 27 weeks, birthweight <1000 g - 61%). Frequency of PDA closure decreased during the study period, especially starting in 2010. Success rate with pharmacologic treatment was 62% after the first cycle and 74% after the second. After drug failure, 12 underwent surgical ligation and two underwent transcatheter closure. Exclusive surgical ligation was indicated in four infants. Ibuprofen replaced indomethacin in 2010, and acetaminophen was used in three infants. Among the 106 infants, hospital mortality was 12% and it was associated with birthweight <1000 g (13/65 <1000 vs. 0/41 >1000 g; p=0.002) and with failure in the first pharmacologic treatment cycle (13/27 with failure, vs. 0/75 without failure; p<0.001). Conclusions: The national consensus published in 2010 for the diagnosis and treatment of PDA in preterm infants led to a decrease in the indication for closure. Pharmacological closure was the method of choice, followed by surgical ligation. Birthweight <1000 g and first cycle of pharmacologic treatment failure were associated with higher mortality.

RESUMO Objetivo: Caraterizar o número e métodos de fechamento de canal arterial durante 16 anos numa maternidade de nível terciário. Métodos: Estudo retrospetivo de nascidos entre 01 de janeiro de 2003 a 31 de dezembro de 2018 submetidos a fechamento do canal arterial por métodos farmacológico, cirúrgico e/ou percutâneo. Avaliaram-se idade gestacional, sexo, peso ao nascimento, número de fechamentos por ano e método utilizado. Aferiram-se as taxas de sucesso de método farmacológico e de mortalidade e sua associação com peso ao nascer, fármaco utilizado e insucesso do fechamento. Resultados: Verificaram-se 47.198 recém-nascidos, 5.156 prematuros, dos quais 325 com canal arterial patente, sendo 106 com indicação para fechamento (idade gestacional mediana 27 semanas, peso <1000 g em 61%). Verificou-se diminuição do número de fechamentos ao longo dos anos, sobretudo a partir de 2010. O fechamento ocorreu em 62% após primeiro ciclo de tratamento farmacológico e em 74% após segundo. Após insucesso farmacológico, 12 realizaram ligadura cirúrgica e dois, fechamento percutâneo. Houve indicação de ligadura cirúrgica exclusiva em quatro. O ibuprofeno substituiu a indometacina em 2010. O acetaminofen foi usado em três doentes. A mortalidade nos 106 pacientes foi de 12%, associando-se ao peso ao nascer (13/65 <1000 vs. 0/41 >1000 g; p=0,002) e à falha do primeiro ciclo de tratamento farmacológico (13/27 com falha vs. 0/75 com sucesso; p<0,001). Conclusões: Consenso nacional de 2010 para diagnóstico e tratamento do canal arterial nos prematuros levou à diminuição do número de fechamentos desse canal. O fechamento farmacológico foi o método mais utilizado, seguido da ligadura cirúrgica. Peso <1000 g e falha no primeiro ciclo de fechamento farmacológico se associaram à maior mortalidade.

PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS CLOSURE: EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY REFERRAL CENTER.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the number and methods of closure of Persistent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) over a span of 16 years in a third level maternity hospital. METHODS: Retrospective study of neonates born between January 2003 and Deccember 2018, who underwent ductus arteriosus closure by pharmacological, surgical and/or transcatheter methods. Gestational age, birth weight, number and methods of closures per year were evaluated. The success rate of the pharmacologic method was calculated, as well as the mortality rate. The association between mortality and birthweight, treatment used and treatment failure was explored. RESULTS: There were 47,198 births, 5,156 were preterm, 325 presented PDA and 106 were eligible for closure (median gestational age - 27 weeks, birthweight <1000 g - 61%). Frequency of PDA closure decreased during the study period, especially starting in 2010. Success rate with pharmacologic treatment was 62% after the first cycle and 74% after the second. After drug failure, 12 underwent surgical ligation and two underwent transcatheter closure. Exclusive surgical ligation was indicated in four infants. Ibuprofen replaced indomethacin in 2010, and acetaminophen was used in three infants. Among the 106 infants, hospital mortality was 12% and it was associated with birthweight <1000 g (13/65 <1000 vs. 0/41 >1000 g; p=0.002) and with failure in the first pharmacologic treatment cycle (13/27 with failure, vs. 0/75 without failure; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The national consensus published in 2010 for the diagnosis and treatment of PDA in preterm infants led to a decrease in the indication for closure. Pharmacological closure was the method of choice, followed by surgical ligation. Birthweight <1000 g and first cycle of pharmacologic treatment failure were associated with higher mortality.