Persistent ductus arteriosus

Persistent ductus arteriosus

Persistent ductus arteriosus (PDA) connects aorta with main pulmonary artery (MPA) (or left pulmonary artery – LPA) and during fetal life serves as important right-left shunt => mixed blood flowing from the pulmonary artery to the descendant aorta and supplying the lower half of the body. PDA prenatally remains open due to low partial pressure…

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia

Predominant heart rhythm in healthy newborns is sinus rhythm (variant respiratory arrhythmia). Heart rate (HR) can vary 70-190 beats per minute: depends on gestational age => the lower the gestational age, the higher the HR state of consciousness => lower HR in deep sleep concomitant medication => Caffein citrate in high doses can cause tachycardia; anaesthetics…

Pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension

Persistent pulmonary hypertension of newborns (PPHN) is characterized by postnatally persistent vasoconstriction of the pulmonary arteries, causing increased pulmonary arterial resistance. As a consequence, right-left shunting (extra-pulmonary shunts) occurs through foramen ovale apertum (FOA) and patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) with resultant hypoxemia. Also, pulmonary arteries in neonates are more prone to vasoconstriction than in adults. There is primary (impaired development…

Congenital heart defects

Congenital heart defects

Critical congenital heart defects (CCHD) present during the neonatal period with cyanosis and/or cardiac failure depending on the particular defect and its severity. The incidence of the CCHD is approximately 1-3 : 1000. These defects can be diagnosed antenatally, however, anomaly scan detection rates vary significantly among different countries and also within the same country (e.g. 33-70% prenatal CCHD diagnosis in…

Hypotension

Hypotension

Hypotension and hemodynamic instability in the early postnatal period are common diagnoses within preterm population and has been associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. There are a number of compensatory responses that occur to maintain perfusion and oxygen delivery to the most vital organs, which include peripheral vasoconstriction to maintain blood pressure (BP)….