Transcatheter cardiac interventions in neonates with congenital heart disease: A single centre experience

OBJECTIVE: Percutaneous cardiac catheterization has been used as a diagnostic tool and as a therapeutic option in neonates with congenital heart disease (CHD). This study aimed to evaluate the procedural and short-term follow-up data of newborns who underwent cardiac catheterization procedures. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed demographic, diagnostic and clinical data from the medical records of newborns who underwent percutaneous transcatheter interventions to treat CHD. RESULTS: Forty-six newborns were included in the study. The median gestational week and weight were 35.0 weeks and 2723 g, respectively. The median time to the procedure was 7.6 days. Aortic and pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty, ductal stenting, atrial balloon/blade septostomy and coronary fistula embolization procedures were used. The overall success rate was 73.9% (34 of 46 patients) with a complication rate of 28.3% (13 of 46 patients). Eleven patients (23.9%) underwent reinterventions after initial catheterization. Five patients (10.9%) died in the first 48 h after their procedures. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional cardiological procedures applied during the neonatal period provide alternative life-saving methods to surgery, especially in developing countries where surgical outcomes are poor and newborn mortality rates are high.