G. Sabatino et al., PERSISTENTLY LOW CARDIAC-OUTPUT PREDICTS HIGH MORTALITY IN NEWBORNS WITH CARDIOGENIC-SHOCK, Panminerva Medica, 40(1), 1998, pp. 28-32
Background. Cardiogenic shock is an acute ''unstable'' state of circul
atory dysfunction. Objective. To evaluate the haemodynamic aspects of
45 newborn infants affected by cardiogenic shock, in relation to etiol
ogies and the mortality rate. Design. Retrospective, correlation study
of etiologies, mortality rate and haemodynamic measurements by Dopple
r ultrasound parameters. Patients. 45 newborn infants with cardiogenic
shock, Gestational Age (GA) 37 (34-41), Birth Weight (BW) 2750 (1600-
3600) g and a control group of 20 neonates [GA 38(34-40) wks, BW 2960
(1750-3800) g]. Measurements. Left ventricular Cardiac Output (CO) was
measured by a duplex scanner with pulsed Doppler and color now mappin
g echocardiography in the first 48 hours of life. Results, In healthy
newborns CO was 240 mL/min/kg (210-280), in newborns with cardiogenic
shock CO was 170 mL/min/kg (130-200), p<0.01. The Stroke Volume was 1.
80 mL/kg (1.70-1.90) in the control group and 1.20 (1.15-1.80) in the
shocked group (p<0.05); Heart Rate was 146 beats/min (130-160) and 160
beats/mm (140-194), (p<0.01) respectively. Twenty-nine infants with c
ardiogenic shock had CO less than or equal to 150 mL/min/kg and 5 of t
hem (17.2%) died; 16 neonates had CO>150 mL/min/kg and only one (6.2%)
died (p< 0.01). Twenty-six of 36 newborns with perinatal asphyxia had
CO less than or equal to 150 mL/min/kg and 5 of them died, while only
one of 10 infants with CO>150 mL/min/kg died. Conclusions. Our result
s show that persistently low CO (less than or equal to 150 mL/min/kg)
during the first 48 hours of life, in newborns with cardiogenic shock
due to perinatal asphyxia is associated with a significantly higher mo
rtality.