Abstract

Introduction: Neonatal arrhythmias (NA) are rare in the neonatal period but cause mortality and morbidity. NA often occurs as a continuation of arrhythmias in the fetal period. The aim of this study is to retrospectively evaluate the incidence, prenatal diagnosis rate, clinical features and treatment outcome of NA in our neonatal intensive care unit.

Materials and Methods: The data of neonates with atrial or ventricular extrasystole, conduction system abnormality, hereditary arrhythmia, bradyarrhythmia and tachyarrhythmia treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Uludağ University Faculty of Medicine for ten years were retrospectively reviewed and included in the study. Patients with sinus tachycardia and sinus bradycardia were excluded from the study.

Results: NA was detected in a total of 39 of 3703 patients. The most common arrhythmia was supraventricular tachycardia (n=15, 38.5%). Fourteen patients were diagnosed in the prenatal period, while seven patients had multiple arrhythmias. The most common etiologic cause (n=20, 51.2%) was congenital heart disease, while two patients had a history of maternal systemic lupus erythematosus. Antiarrhythmic treatment was required in 25 (64.1%) patients. Cardioversion or defibrillation was performed in three patients. In 16 patients, the arrhythmia was under control at follow-up, and 5 patients continued antiarrhythmic therapy.

Conclusion: Cardiac arrhythmias can already begin in the prenatal period and be accompanied by various underlying cardiac or systemic diseases. These patients usually do not respond to first-line drug therapy and are controlled by second-line or multi-medication therapy. Cardioversion, on the other hand, is rarely necessary. Appropriate treatment initiated in a timely manner is of great importance for neonates.