Diagnosis, treatment and follow up of neonatal arrhythmias.
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to evaluate the aetiology, spectrum, course and outcomes of neonates with arrhythmias observed in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit from 2007 to 2012.


METHODS
Neonates with rhythm problems were included. The results of electrocardiography (ECG), Holter ECG, echocardiography and biochemical analysis were evaluated. The long-term results of follow up were reviewed.


RESULTS
Forty-five patients were male (68%) and 21 (32%) were female. Fifty-five patients (83.3%) were term, 11 (16.6%) were preterm, and 34% were diagnosed in the prenatal period. Twenty cases (30.3%) had congenital heart disease. Twenty-three patients (34.8%) were diagnosed during the foetal period. The most common arrhythmias were supraventricular ectopic beats and supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) at 39.3 and 22.7%, respectively. SVT recurred in five patients after the neonatal period.


CONCLUSIONS
Supraventricular ectopic beats and SVT were the most common arrhythmias during the neonatal period. Although the prognosis of arrhythmias in the neonatal period is relatively good, regular monitoring is required.
Medical Faculty, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Çanakkale, Turkey. koksadr@yahoo.com.
Fatih Köksal
FK
Binnetoğlu
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Kadir
K
Babaoğlu
Department of Neonatology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Gülcan
G
Türker
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Gürkan
G
Altun
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male