Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Infants with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Following Stage 1 Palliation or Heart Transplant.

Previous studies of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) among infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) were conducted in single centers or had small sample sizes. This study aimed to determine the mortality rate and the risk factors for NEC among infants with HLHS who were discharged over a 10-year period (2004-2013) from 41 Pediatric Health Information System affiliated children's hospitals. Either stage 1 palliation and/or heart transplant were completed prior to patient's death or hospital discharge. We compared the characteristics of infants with HLHS who did not develop NEC and those who developed medical or surgical NEC and of patients who had medical vs. surgical NEC. The primary outcome was mortality over time and by birth weight category (low birth weight [LBW], birth weight < 2500 vs. ≥ 2500 g). Multivariable analyses were performed to identify the risk factors for developing NEC and for mortality among infants with HLHS. The study evaluated 5720 infants with HLHS including 349 patients (6.1%) with medical or surgical NEC. Fifty-two patients (0.9%) required laparotomy or percutaneous abdominal drainage. On univariable analysis, the overall mortality rate for infants who developed NEC was significantly higher than infants who did not develop NEC (23.5 vs. 13.9%, P < 0.001). On multivariable analysis, neither medical nor surgical NEC was a significant predictor of mortality in the study population. LBW infants were at higher risk for mortality in both the univariable and the multivariable models. Nevertheless, LBW did not significantly predispose infants with HLHS to develop NEC. Our results provide a national benchmark incidence of NEC, its risk factors, and outcomes among a large cohort of infants with HLHS and establish that NEC is not a significant risk factor for mortality in this population.

NT-proBNP Levels Improve the Ability of Predicting a Hemodynamically Significant Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants.

PURPOSE: A hemodynamically significant Patent ductus arteriosus (HsPDA) in premature infants is known to be associated with significant morbidity. Recently brain natriuretic peptides and superior mesenteric artery (SMA)-resistive indices have been used to effectively diagnose HsPDA. OBJECTIVE: To assess the sensitivity and specificity of N-terminal proBNP (NT-proBNP) in predicting an HsPDA diagnosed by clinical and echocardiographic criteria including pulsatility index (PI) of SMA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All preterm neonates <1500 g were evaluated with echocardiograms and NT-proBNP levels on the 3(rd) to 5(th) day of life and then every week until the echo showed either a closed PDA or non-HsPDA. RESULTS: Sixty-nine babies with mean gestational age of 27 weeks were included in the study. NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in the HsPDA group (n=22) with a mean±SEM of 24420±3190 compared to 3072±332 in the non-HsPDA group (n=47) (P<0.001). NT-pro BNP level of 5900 pg/ml had 96% sensitivity and 90% specificity of predicting HsPDA. CONCLUSIONS: With frequently changing hemodynamics in low-birth weight infants, including NT-proBNP and PI of SMA improve the ability of assessing the effects of a HsPDA and will help timing of intervention.