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Arrhythmia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

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Abstract

A random sample of 457 neonates was prospectively studied in order to identify the incidence, common types, and risk factors for arrhythmias in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A 12-lead EKG was studied in all neonates (n = 457). A total of 139 Holter studies was done in every fourth baby with a normal EKG (n = 100) and in all babies with an abnormal EKG (n = 39). Of the 100 infants who were thought to be arrhythmia-free by EKG, nine infants demonstrated an arrhythmia on Holter studies. When we correlated screening results with maternal, obstetrical, and neonatal risk factors; arrhythmias were significantly associated with male gender, more mature gestational age, lower glucose levels, maternal smoking, high umbilical artery lines, and the use of the nebulized β-2 adrenergic treatment, whereas umbilical venous lines and dopamine infusion did not relate to arrhythmia. We conclude that arrhythmias are more common in the NICU than in the general neonatal population. Compared to Holter monitoring, the sensitivity of the EKG was only 89%.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Cynthia Poindexter for her work in revising this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neonatology, Cairo University Children’s Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

    Nadia Badrawi

  2. Department of Cardiology, Cairo University Children’s Hospital, Cairo, Egypt

    Ranya A. Hegazy, Wael Lotfy & Fadia Mahmoud

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Edisa Tokovic

  4. Department of Newborn Services, Children’s National Medical Center, George Washington University, 900 23rd Street, NW, Suite G2092, Washington, DC, 20037, USA

    Hany Aly

Authors
  1. Nadia Badrawi
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  2. Ranya A. Hegazy
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  3. Edisa Tokovic
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  4. Wael Lotfy
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  5. Fadia Mahmoud
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  6. Hany Aly
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hany Aly.

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Badrawi, N., Hegazy, R.A., Tokovic, E. et al. Arrhythmia in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Pediatr Cardiol 30, 325–330 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-008-9355-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-008-9355-4

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