Retrospective investigation of neonates with congenital cardiac disease whom hospitalised in neonatal intensive care unit

Aim: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the neonates with congenital cardiac disease in Çukurova University Balcalı Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Material and Method: In this study 217 neonates with congenital cardiac disease hospitalised in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between January 2007 and December 2011 were evaluated. The neonates with defects smaller than 4mm at the interatrial septum and thin patent ductus arteriosus which spontaneously closed in the first month of life were not included in this study. In our unit, in the cases of abnormal murmurs, central cyanosis, respiratory distress not caused by pulmonary disease, infants of diabetic mothers, syndromic appearence and intrauterine fetal cardiac anomalies, echocardiography was performed by pediatric cardiologists. Results: The frequency of the congenital cardiac disease was 6,6% (217/3287) in neonates hospitalised in the last five years. 59 (27,2%) of the patients were premature babies, 158 (72,8%) were term babies. 68 (31,4%) of the patients have consanguineous parents. The main hospitalization reason was outpatient diagnosis (42,3%) and intrauterine diagnosis (27,6%). 56,6% of the patients had a determinable risk factor in antenatal period. Fetal echocardiography was performed in 60 (27,6%) of the neonates. Pediatric cardiological examination was mainly requested for cyanosis (54,3%). 76 patients (35,1%) had acyanotic congenital cardiac disease, 133 patients (61,3%) had cyanotic congenital cardiac disease. The most common defects in cyanotic patients was pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect in acyanotic patients. In 18 patients (8,3%) congenital structural anomalies was accompanied and in 12 patients (5,5%) a sydrome. The mean duration of patients in the unit was 17.34 ± 19.27 days. 30,8% (67/217) of all patients and 44,2% (31/70) of the operated ones expired in the NICU. Exitus rate was higher in cyanotic patients (38% vs 20%, p=0,001). Conclusion: Our results show that complex cardiac patients are referred to our unit, probably for we have Perinatology, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and Neonatology Departments in our hospital and cyanotic patients had a higher mortality rate. Keywords: Congenital cardiac disease, newborn.