Pediatric cardiology
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Pediatric cardiology · Nov 2005
A decade of staged Norwood palliation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome in a midsized cardiosurgical center.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a challenge for the pediatric cardiologist and the surgeon. It is generally assumed that the postoperative outcome after surgery for congenital heart disease is influenced by the institutional size. We present the results of 43 patients with true HLHS (situs solitus and atrioventricular and ventriculoarterial concordance) referred for operation between 1992 and 2002 in our center. ⋯ Low birth weight was associated with a higher mortality (p < 0.05). Mortality declined with increasing experience, comparable to the results of very large cardiosurgical centers with many more patients. The quality of surgery and perioperative management in smaller pediatric cardiosurgical centers can reach the level of very large centers.
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Pediatric cardiology · Nov 2005
Combining pulse oximetry and clinical examination in screening for congenital heart disease.
The objective of this study was to evaluate combined pulse oximetry and clinical examination as a screening method for congenital heart disease (CHD) in asymptomatic newborns. Asymptomatic newborns were screened for CHD using pulse oximetry and clinical examination before their discharge from the nursery. Oxygen saturation > or =94% was considered normal. ⋯ The positive predictive value of the combined tool was 66.7%. We conclude that combining pulse oximetry and clinical examination can enhance the clinician's ability to detect life-threatening CHD in a timely manner. This screening method should become a part of the discharge plan for every newborn.