A clinical observation of term infants with critical cardiovascular disorders.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disorders are known to be the major causes for infants requiring intensive care. The consequences of the treatment given to these infants suffering from congestive heart failure and/or cyanosis need to be evaluated. METHODS: A total of 210 infants both at term suffering from critical cardiovascular problems were hospitalized in the pediatric and neonatal ICU between July 1990 and December 1993. The etiology, clinical data, emergency procedures and outcomes of infants with or without congestive heart failure or cyanosis were analyzed. RESULTS: Congenital cardiac defects were the most common cause of critical cardiovascular disorders in infancy. These included ventricular septal defect in 42 (20%), Tetralogy of Fallot in 22 (10.5%), Dtransposition of the great arteries in 20 (9.5%) cases, etc. The most common symptoms and signs observed were congestive heart failure in 162 (77.1%) and cyanosis in 137 (65.2%) cases. In spite of aggressive medical and surgical treatments, the outcomes were still unsatisfactory. The mortality rate was found to be the same in infants with or without congestive heart failure, but was significantly higher in infants with cyanosis than in those without cyanosis, after operation (28.5% vs 5.5%, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Infants suffering from critical cardiovascular disorders need urgent medical and surgical treatments in intensive care units. In spite of treatment, the outcomes are still unsatisfactory.