Results of echocardiographic screening in 10,000 newborns.
BACKGROUND
In response to increasing demand for a more sophisticated newborn baby health examination, we designed and performed echocardiographic screenings on a voluntary and self-paid basis.


METHODS
From 1997 to 2005, 10,000 newborn babies had received the echocardiographic examination on the next day after birth. The echocardiographic examinations were performed by a single sonographer.


RESULTS
As well as physically patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) (2420 cases), and patent foramen ovale (PFO) (5813 cases), we also found atrial septal defect (ASD) (161 cases), muscular-type ventricular septal defect (VSD) (123 cases), perimembranous type VSD (58 cases), coarctation of the aorta (COA) (1 case), pulmonic stenosis (PS) (1 case), peripheral pulmonic stenosis (PPS) (15 cases), common atrioventricular canal (CAVC) (1 case), transposition of the great arteries (TGA) (3 cases), double outlets of the right ventricle (DORV) (2 cases), tetralogy of Fallot (TF) (2 cases), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (2 cases), dextrocardia (2 cases) and cardiac tumor (2 cases).


CONCLUSIONS
Newborn echocardiographic screening enables pediatricians to detect abnormal cardiac findings early and accurately, especially heart diseases without murmur such as COA, ASD, CAVC, dextrocardia, small muscular VSD, small PDA, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and cardiac tumor. In addition, cardiopulmonary information obtained from the echocardiographic examination can be useful for neonatal care providers.
Wang
Nan-Koong
NK
Department of Pediatrics, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. nankoong@ms14.hinet.net
Shen
Ching-Tsuen
CT
Lin
Meng-Shin
MS
D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D054092:Foramen Ovale, Patent / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening / Q000379:methods*