Neonatal arrhythmias.
OBJECTIVE
Neonatal arrhythmias are not uncommon; however, they rarely cause hemodynamic compromise. This paper aims to study the etiology, spectrum and outcome of neonates with arrhythmias who presented to a pediatric department.


METHODS
All neonates, either inborn or brought to the pediatric emergency with rhythm disorders, between August 1999 to August 2002, were included prospectively. Evaluation including a search for secondary causes of rhythm disorder and a chest X-ray, standard 12-lead electrocardiography and echocardiography in all. The management required in each and the outcomes were noted.


RESULTS
Nine neonates were identified, of which 4 were inborn. Tachycardia was seen in 8 neonates and bradycardia in only one. Three neonates had an antenatal onset of arrhythmias; in the rest it was postnatal in onset. Five neonates had a secondary rhythm disorder, secondary to metabolic derangements in 4 and a cardiac mass in 1. Five had ventricular arrhythmias and 5 had hemodynamic compromise due to the arrhythmia. The outcome was poor in 4 and was related to the underlying illness.


CONCLUSIONS
Tachyarrhythmia is more common than bradyarrhythmia in the neonate. Arrhythmias secondary to various metabolic causes are more common than primary rhythm disorders.
Poddar
Banani
B
Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India. bananip@sgpgi.ac.in
Basu
Srikanta
S
Parmar
Veena R
VR
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000150:complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy