"Y" incision and rectangular patch enlargement of aortic annulus and valve reconstruction with autologous pericardium in congenital aortic stenosis.

Surgical aortic valve replacement in children who have undergone prior balloon or surgical valvuloplasty or both is a formidable challenge. The aortic annulus is small, there is no ideal prosthesis and lifelong anticoagulation is highly undesirable. A "Y" incision and rectangular patch enlargement of the aortic annulus introduced by Dr. Bo Yang in 2020 combined with aortic valve reconstruction introduced by Dr. Shigeyuki Ozaki in 2011, is feasible, as described in this case.

Congenital Rubella: A Salient Cause of Congenital Heart Defects in Infants.

BACKGROUND: Structural congenital heart defects (CHD) take a huge toll of congenital defects in children in India. Limited information is available regarding modifiable risk factors for its causation. This study was planned with an aim to determine the prevalence of congenital rubella infection in Indian infants with structural CHD's. METHODOLOGY: This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India over 1 year period (1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017). Infants <6 months with structural CHD were enrolled after taking informed consent from their mothers. Blood samples were collected from mother-child binomials and tested for rubella IgM and IgG antibodies. RESULTS: A total of 80 infants (M : F = 56 : 24), having mean age 69.4 (±56.5) days; were enrolled. In these infants, prevalence of congenital rubella infection (either infant's IgM rubella positive or infant's IgG rubella titers higher than mother's) was 8.75% (7/80). A total of 12.5% of studied mothers were seronegative for rubella IgG antibodies. Statistically significant association was found between the occurrence of congenital rubella and cataract (p = 0.0039), splenomegaly (p = 0.007) and microcephaly (p = 0.0084) in infants having structural CHD. CONCLUSIONS: Congenital rubella syndrome still remains an important modifiable cause for structural CHD in India. Sincere efforts for rubella elimination via further strengthening current vaccination strategy would help in decreasing burden of structural CHD in India.

Benefits of perioperative sildenafil therapy in children with a ventricular septal defect with pulmonary artery hypertension on early surgical outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: Pulmonary hypertension is a common association in children with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defect. It increases perioperative mortality and morbidity. Oral sildenafil is an effective pulmonary vasodilator. In this study, we assessed effects of perioperative oral sildenafil therapy on pulmonary artery pressure and early surgical outcomes. METHODS: This was a single centre, prospective randomized control study. Thirty children with nonrestrictive ventricular septal defects with pulmonary hypertension were divided into two groups. In the sildenafil group (n = 15, mean age 23.3 months), oral sildenafil was administered two weeks before surgery. In the control group (n = 15, mean age 36 months), preoperative sildenafil was not given. Sildenafil was continued postoperatively in both groups, provided the postoperative pulmonary artery pressure was over 50% of systemic pressure. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality, pulmonary hypertensive crisis and there were no intolerable side effects related to sildenafil in either group. Mean pulmonary artery pressure showed a reduction in both groups. Sildenafil group showed statistically significant improvement in duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (100.27 ± 21.09 min vs. 125.40 ± 26.83 min, p = .008), mechanical ventilation requirement (22.79 ± 17.13 h vs. 30.53 ± 13.05 h; p = .04), epinephrine requirement (22% patients vs. 48% patients; p = .03) and hospital stay (6.13 ± 1.40 days vs. 7.53 ± 1.92 days; p = .05). CONCLUSION: Oral Sildenafil therapy is an inexpensive and well-tolerated method for reducing pulmonary hypertension secondary to non-restrictive ventricular septal defect. It has noteworthy advantages regarding early surgical outcomes like reduced cardiopulmonary bypass time, improved mechanical ventilation time, lower inotrope requirement and shorter hospital stay if used preoperatively in select patient population.

Sentinel Surveillance for Congenital Rubella Syndrome - India, 2016-2017.

Rubella infection during pregnancy can result in miscarriage, fetal death, stillbirth, or a constellation of congenital malformations known as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). The 11 countries in the World Health Organization (WHO) South-East Asia Region are committed to the elimination of measles and control of rubella and CRS by 2020. Until 2016, when the Government of India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Indian Council of Medical Research initiated surveillance for CRS in five sentinel sites, India did not conduct systematic surveillance for CRS. During the first 8 months of surveillance, 207 patients with suspected CRS were identified. Based on clinical details and serologic investigations, 72 (34.8%) cases were classified as laboratory-confirmed CRS, four (1.9%) as congenital rubella infection, 11 (5.3%) as clinically compatible cases, and 120 (58.0%) were excluded as noncases. The experience gained during the first phase of surveillance will be useful in expanding the surveillance network, and data from the surveillance network will be used to help monitor progress toward control of rubella and CRS in India.

Coagulation F13A1 V34L, fibrinogen and homocysteine versus conventional risk factors in the pathogenesis of MI in young persons.

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of myocardial infarction (MI) involves environmental and genetic risk factors, with the latter putatively playing significant roles in younger patients. Genetic variability in coagulation factors comprises one such group. The coagulation factor 13 subunit A (F13A1) Val34Leu polymorphism (rs5985) has yielded variable findings in literature, with no prior South Asian data. METHODS: We studied the frequency of this polymorphism using the amplification-created restriction-enzyme site (ACRES) polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 101 MI patients aged below 40 years and 103 controls along with plasma fibrinogen and serum homocysteine levels. RESULTS: The distribution of Val/Val, Val/Leu and Leu/Leu genotypes was similar among cases (72.3%, 26.7% and 1.0%) and controls (78.6%, 19.4% and 1.9%, respectively). Val and Leu allele frequencies were 85.6% and 14.4% among patients and 88.3% and 11.7% among controls, respectively (p = .416). Mean plasma fibrinogen was higher in patients vis-à-vis controls (3.1 versus 3.7 g/l; p < .001) but homocysteine was elevated in both patients (52%) and controls (67%) (p = .225). Multivariate analysis revealed hypertension (p < .001, OR 6.16) and smoking (p < .001, OR 5.48) to impart strongest risk followed by positive family history, plasma fibrinogen levels and male gender. CONCLUSIONS: Despite its small sample size, this first South Asian study suggests neither protective nor deleterious effects of the F13A1 Val34Leu polymorphism on the risk of MI in young persons. The Leu allele frequency is intermediate to that reported from the West and the Far East. Traditional risk factors contribute greatly to risk even in younger MI patients in South Asia.

Transcatheter closure of large patent ductus arteriosus using custom made devices.

There has been a paradigm shift in the transcatheter closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) over the last 45 years. With the availability of various coils, plugs and occluders, PDA of almost all shapes and sizes are amenable to transcatheter closure. However, very large PDA diagnosed late in life are being referred for surgical closure in the absence of availability of large size devices, especially in developing countries. In this case series, we have described four patients with large PDA, three of which were closed by transcatheter custom made PDA occluders. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Variant origin and course of left circumflex coronary artery.

Variant origin of left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) from right aortic sinus is a well-recognized coronary variation, usually without any clinical consequences. However, the variant origin and trajectory of the artery may have major implications during percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery surgery, aortic and mitral valve replacement procedures. We observed a variant LCx in a heart specimen belonging to 45-year-female with no history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease. The artery arose along with the right coronary artery from a common ostium in right aortic sinus and depicted a retroaortic course. The vessel was located at the level of aortic annulus and 6.6 mm above mitral valve annulus. The degree of luminal stenosis in variant LCx was higher than that in right coronary artery (RCA) and left anterior descending artery (LAD). Appropriate anatomical knowledge of the location and course of variant LCx is important for successful coronary interventions and valve replacement procedures.

Endovascular transluminal stent grafting: Treatment of choice for post lumbar spine surgery iliac arterio-venous fistulae.

Iliac vessels are prone to injury during lumbar spine surgery due to their proximity to the lumbar spine. Arterio-venous fistula formation during lumbar spine surgery is an uncommon complication and can present as an asymptomatic incidental finding to rapidly deteriorating hemodynamics leading to cardiopulmonary collapse. We have reported three patients who had symptomatic iliac arterio-venous fistula detected soon after lumbar spine surgery. All these patients were successfully treated by endovascular transluminal stent grafting. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Infliximab is the new kid on the block in Kawasaki disease: a single-centre study over 8 years from North India.

This was a single-centre study to evaluate the usefulness of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) blocker, infliximab (IFX), for treatment of Kawasaki disease (KD) in children in Northern Indian. The study was carried out in the Paediatric Allergy-Immunology Unit, Advanced Paediatrics Centre, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. The study period was January 2007 to March 2015. Review of records of 23 children with KD who had received IFX was carried out. Median age at presentation was 2 years (range 2 months to 12 years). Indications for using IFX were intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) resistance (12/23 patients); severe KD especially when coronary artery abnormalities (CAAs) had developed in spite of IVIg (9/23 patients); retinal vasculitis in association with KD (1 patient) and economic reasons (1 patient). Twenty one (21/23) patients had received IVIg (2 g/kg) as first line therapy. A dose of IFX was 5-7 mg/kg given intravenously. Screening tests for tuberculosis (chest xray, Tuberculin test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold test) were not carried out prior to IFX infusion in any patient. Duration of follow-up was 0-20 months in 13 patients; 21-40 months in 5 patients and >40 months in 6 patients. Mean follow-up was 28.78±25.49 months, range 1-84 months. Eleven of 12 patients (11/12) who had IVIg resistance showed prompt resolution with IFX. Nineteen patients (19/23) in the cohort had CAAs. Of these, 12 showed improvement over mean follow-up of 28.78±25.49 months (range 1-84 months) and 4 showed normalisation. No adverse reactions were noted during infusion of IFX. On follow-up, none of these patients has developed tuberculosis or any other significant infection over a cummulative follow-up of 662 months. IFX can be considered as a useful adjunct in treatment of children with KD.

Pro-brain natriuretic peptide (ProBNP) levels in North Indian children with Kawasaki disease.

The diagnosis of Kawasaki disease (KD), a common pediatric vasculitis, is based solely on clinical criteria. There is a need for a robust laboratory marker that can help differentiate KD from other acute, febrile, childhood illnesses and also to predict cardiac involvement. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 25 consecutive patients admitted with diagnosis of KD from January 2013 to April 2014 and compared them with age- and sex-matched febrile controls. We studied the serum pro-brain natriuretic peptide (ProBNP) [ProBNP and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-ProBNP) levels], a marker of myocardial dysfunction, in children with KD in acute and convalescent phases of disease. These levels were also estimated in febrile controls for comparison. The ProBNP (ProBNP and NT-ProBNP) levels were much higher in the acute phase of the KD patients compared to levels in the convalescent phase of KD (p = 0.000014). Similarly, the levels in the acute phase were higher when compared to the age- and sex-matched febrile controls (p = 0.000126). The receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis for the ProBNP levels in the acute phase of KD yielded an area under the curve of 0.954 ± 0.034 (p < 0.000, 95 % CI 0.886-1.0). Based on ROC analysis, a cutoff of 1025 pg/mL for ProBNP levels in the acute phase of KD had 88 % sensitivity and 96 % specificity for the diagnosis of KD. A lower cut-off of 514 pg/mL yielded a 100 % sensitivity and 80 % specificity for the diagnosis of KD. The ProBNP levels were higher in those with coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) compared to those without CAA in both acute (p = 0.013) and convalescent (p = 0.045) phases. ProBNP levels may be used as a surrogate marker for the differentiation of KD from other febrile, infectious illnesses and may also predict the involvement of coronary arteries.

Perioperative echocardiography-derived right ventricle function parameters and early outcomes after tetralogy of Fallot repair in mid-childhood: a single-center, prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Right ventricular (RV) function alterations are invariably present in all patients after tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair. Unlike the developed world where most of the patients with TOF are corrected in infancy, average age of presentation and thus surgery for these patients in the developing world may be higher. We aimed to study the correlation between RV function parameters such as tricuspid annular peak systolic excursion (TAPSE), fractional area change (FAC), and tricuspid annular peak systolic velocity (S') with early outcome variables after intracardiac repair for TOF. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty patients with a preoperative diagnosis of tetralogy of Fallot scheduled for corrective surgery were included in this single-center, prospective observational study. A preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram was performed to measure RV function parameters (FAC0, TAPSE0, S'0). Transthoracic echocardiography was repeated postoperatively to measure FAC1, TAPSE1, S'1 (day 1) and FAC2, TAPSE2, and S'2 (day 3). The relationship between preoperative and postoperative RV function parameters with in-hospital mortality, duration of mechanical ventilation, and intensive care unit stay was studied. RESULTS: The median age of patients was 6 years (range 1-14 years). Multiple stepwise logistic regression analysis showed RV FAC as best predictor of clinical outcome. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for postoperative RV function parameters, that is, FAC, TAPSE, and S' to predict early or delayed recovery was 0.944, 0.875, and 0.655, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Among the RV function parameters studied, RV FAC best predicted the early outcome variables after TOF repair, followed by TAPSE while lateral tricuspid annular velocity S' being the least predictive.

Comparison of Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion scintigraphy and exercise F18-FDG imaging in detection of myocardial ischemia in patients with coronary artery disease.

BACKGROUND: Direct ischemia imaging with F18-FDG can potentially overcome many limitations of SPECT-MPS inherent to "cold imaging". We compared SPECT-MPS with exercise F18-FDG PET in detection of ischemia in patients with suspected CAD. METHODS: 45 patients with clinical suspicion of CAD without the history of myocardial infarction were prospectively included. All patients underwent Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT-MPS and exercise F18-FDG PET imaging within 7 days of SPECT-MPS, and both modalities were compared with coronary angiography for detecting ischemia. RESULTS: 27 patients had an abnormal coronary angiography (at least one coronary artery with stenosis >50%). Exercise F18-FDG performed better than SPECT-MPS in LAD and LCX territory with comparably good performance in RCA territory. Exercise F18-FDG performed better in single-vessel disease and equally good in multi-vessel disease compared to SPECT-MPS. Performance of exercise 18F-FDG study was significantly better than SPECT-MPS (P = .0014) in the analysis of the 81 vascular territories in the 27 patients with abnormal coronary angiography. Performance of exercise F18-FDG was significantly better than SPECT-MPS in detecting ischemia in suspected CAD patients. CONCLUSION: Exercise F18-FDG imaging is a potentially useful ischemia imaging modality which offers the advantages of direct ischemia imaging in CAD patients.

Perioperative Follow-Up of Patients With Severe Pulmonary Artery Hypertension Secondary to Left Heart Disease: A Single Center, Prospective, Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: A substantial portion of the Indian cardiac surgery population experiences rheumatic valve disease that progresses to severe pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in a few patients. Right ventricular (RV) function, particularly in the perioperative period, has been studied sparsely. The authors describe serial RV function and clinical variables in the perioperative period in patients with severe PAH secondary to left heart disease. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: University hospital. PARTICIPANTS: Patients with PAH. INTERVENTIONS: The study comprised consecutive patients referred for open cardiac surgery from January 2012 to June 2013 who also had an estimated right ventricular systolic pressure≥50 mmHg on referral echocardiogram. Composite echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular size and linear/two-dimensional tissue Doppler systolic function and diastolic function analysis were performed at predetermined intervals. Data from right heart catheterization, inotrope use, fluid requirements, mechanical ventilation logs, and intensive care stay also were acquired. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A complete dataset was obtained in 20 of 22 patients enrolled in the study. Serial comparison of most RV echocardiographic function variables were noted to be abnormal at baseline, deteriorating further in the immediate postoperative period and trending to a partial recovery at discharge from the intensive care unit, particularly for longitudinal assessment of the RV. Fractional area change, although abnormal, was noted to be preserved. Pulmonary artery systolic pressures registered significantly declined after intervention. The clinical course was largely uneventful. CONCLUSION: Although linear echocardiographic RV function was grossly abnormal in the perioperative period in this patient subset with PAH, there was apparent disjunction with the clinical course.

Study of spatial relationship of phrenic nerves with cardiac structures relevant to electrophysiologic interventions.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation with catheter ablation in treating atrial fibrillation carries the risk of injury to phrenic nerve (PN). Left PN (LPN) stimulation continues to be one of the common complications of transvenous left ventricular lead placement during cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). METHODS AND RESULTS: In 30 formalin-fixed cadavers, spatial relationship of PNs with PV ostia, left atrial appendage (LAA), and cardiac veins was observed. Segmental location of LPN and cardiac vein crossover was also noted. Right and left PNs coursed abutting the ostium of right superior and left superior PVs in five (16.6%) and one (3.33%) cases, respectively. LPN coursed along the lateral surface of LAA in 20 (66.66%) cases and behind LAA in one (3.33%) case. Out of 18 (60%) cases having two cardiac veins draining free wall of left ventricle (LV) and suitable for CRT lead placement, both cardiac veins were crossed by LPN in two (6.66%) cases. LPN-cardiac vein crossover was located in midlateral segment in 10 (33.3%) cases; mid posterolateral segment in five (16.7%) cases; apical lateral segment and apical posterolateral segment in three (10.0%) cases each. CONCLUSION: PN is highly susceptible to either injury during catheter ablation or stimulation with LV pacing in certain critical locations. Detailed knowledge of spatial relationship of PNs with cardiac structures could help minimize inadvertent complications during these transcatheter electrophysiological procedures.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators for primary prevention in cardiomyopathies.

BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) are often used as primary prevention strategy for sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young individuals. This study analyzed appropriate therapies, complications and inappropriate shocks in the real-world Indian population. METHODS: All patients in the cardiomyopathy cohort under follow up who had ICD implanted as a primary prevention strategy were studied. The objective was to assess the incidence of appropriate ICD therapies, inappropriate therapies and complications. ICD was interrogated and stored electrograms analyzed. Underlying arrhythmia or conditions resulting in appropriate or inappropriate ICD therapy were studied. Correlation and regression studies was done to assess for the predictors of appropriate therapy. RESULTS: Fifty patients were followed up for a mean follow-up duration of 4.4 ± 3.1 years with total follow up of 220.2 patient years. Appropriate ICD therapy was delivered in 16 out of 50 (32%) patients, with 65 appropriate therapies (median 2 per patient, range: 0-20). Inappropriate therapy delivered in 7 of the 50 (14%) patients, with 44 inappropriate therapies (median 5 per patient, range: 0-20). Complications occurred in 8 of the 50 (16%) patients. Overall, the rate of appropriate therapy was 29.5 per 100 patient years, that of inappropriate therapy was 19.9 per 100 patient years and the rate of complications was 3.6 per 100 patient years. CONCLUSIONS: When implanted for primary prevention in patients with cardiomyopathies over a mean period of 4.4 ± 3.1 years, appropriate ICD therapy was delivered in 32% patients. However, inappropriate therapy (14% patients) and complications (16% patients) were also common.

A large type I right pulmonary artery to left atrium fistula: underwent successful percutaneous device closure with duct occluder-a rare case report.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary artery to left atrium fistula is an unusual structural cause of silent cyanosis. Only less than 100 cases have been reported so far. A high index of clinical suspicion and proper evaluation with bubble contrast echocardiography and cardiac computed tomography (CT) will help to detect this treatable anomaly. The advent of safer percutaneous closure methods has replaced the need for more invasive surgical closure. CASE PRESENTATION: We report an adolescent boy, who presented with long-standing cyanosis and progressive dyspnea with normal clinical cardiovascular examination. On evaluation, echocardiography and bubble contrast study revealed a large right pulmonary artery (RPA) to left atrium (LA) fistula. Cardiac CT confirmed the same with normal pulmonary venous drainage s/o a large 20 mm Type I RPA LA Fistula. He underwent successful percutaneous closure of the fistula tract with a 22 × 24 mm Cera™ duct occluder via transseptal approach uneventfully. CONCLUSION: Our case enlightens the methodological approach to diagnosing this rare anomaly as well as the feasibility of percutaneous intervention in such cases as it is one of the largest fistula tracts closed percutaneously to date.

Successful Management of a Very Unusual Coronary Pattern in Transposition of the Great Arteries.

Coronary artery anatomy is the key to a successful arterial switch operation in transposition of the great arteries. We came across an unusual coronary pattern in a child with transposition in which the three major coronary arteries were seen arising from all three aortic sinuses. This coronary pattern is the first of its kind in transposition, and this case report emphasizes the difficulty in translocating such a rare coronary pattern while performing an arterial switch operation.

Comparison of nitrate augmented Tc-99m tetrofosmin gated SPECT imaging with FDG PET imaging for the assessment of myocardial viability in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Of various nuclear medicine techniques, F-18/flourodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) is considered as the best modality for the assessment of viable myocardium (VM). In this study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of nitrate augmented Tc-99m tetrofosmin gated G-single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) with FDG PET. METHODS: 54 consecutive cases of angiographically proven CAD with severe LV dysfunction were enrolled in the study. The patients underwent Tc-99m tetrofosmin G-SPECT and FDG PET as per the standard protocols and were compared. RESULTS: SPECT data analysis indicated functional abnormalities in 661/918 myocardial segments. F-18 FDG PET revealed VM in 496/661 segments. The diagnostic accuracy of baseline NAC, postnitrate NAC, baseline AC, and postnitrate AC Tc-99m tetrofosmin SPECT was 84%, 87%, 90%, and 94%, respectively. κ values for NAC baseline, NAC postnitrate, AC baseline, and AC postnitrate Tc-99m tetrofosmin G-SPECT were 0.65, 0.70, 0.77, and 0.85, respectively. Attenuation correction revealed viability additionally in 46 segments which were non-viable on NAC postnitrate study (P < .001). Nitrate augmentation showed viability additionally in 25 segments which were non-viable on AC baseline scan (P = .004). On patient-based analysis FDG PET changes the management only in 13% (7/54) of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Nitrate augmented AC Tc-99m tetrofosmin G-SPECT shows excellent (κ = .85) agreement with FDG PET. FDG PET changes management only in 13% of the patients. Tc-99m tetrofosmin G-SPECT being more widely available and cheaper imaging modality can be reliably used to detect VM where FDG PET is not available.

Functional echocardiographic preload markers in neonatal septic shock.

BACKGROUND: There are no established clinical or laboratory markers of preload adequacy and fluid responsiveness in management of neonatal shock. Functional echocardiographic preload markers are evaluated in children and adults, but there is no data in neonatal septic shock. We evaluated five functional echocardiographic preload markers during intravenous volume resuscitation in neonatal septic shock. OBJECTIVE: (1) To compare baseline functional echocardiographic preload markers between neonates with septic shock and their "matched" healthy controls. (2) To compare echocardiographic preload markers before and after intravenous volume resuscitation. METHODS: In this cohort study, we enrolled neonates with septic shock (cases) and recorded five preload markers - inferior vena cava collapsibility index (IVC-CI), left ventricular end-diastolic (LVEDV) & end-systolic volume (LVESV) and their indices (LVEDVI, LVESVI) - before initiation of intravenous fluid resuscitation (baseline evaluation). An equal number of "matched hemodynamically stable" controls were recruited, who underwent functional echocardiographic assessment once. In neonates with shock, we recorded these markers again after volume resuscitation. RESULTS: We analyzed 46 neonates (23 cases and 23 controls). Neonates with shock had significantly elevated baseline IVC-CI as compared to controls [53% (21, 100) vs. 20% (15, 24) respectively, p-value = .01). Rest 4 echocardiographic markers (LVEDV, LVESV, LVEDVI, and LVESVI) were comparable between cases and controls. Sixteen neonates (70% of 23) received intravenous fluid resuscitation and rest 7 (30%) were started directly on vasoactive drugs. None of the preload markers changed significantly after volume resuscitation as compared to the baseline values including IVC-CI, which was almost significant [74% (33, 100) at baseline to 48% (13, 93) after 10 mL/kg and 50% (40, 69) after 20 mL/kg, (p = .05). All preload markers were comparable between survivors and non-survivors. CONCLUSION: Neonates with septic shock had significantly elevated IVC-CI at baseline as compared to hemodynamically stable neonates. None of the preload markers changed significantly after volume resuscitation as compared to the baseline values including IVC-CI, which was almost significant.