Impact of Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography on Patent Ductus Arteriosus Management in a Canadian Tertiary Care Neonatal Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: Comprehensive assessment of hemodynamic significance of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a common indication to perform targeted neonatal echocardiography (TNE). Impact of implementation of such an assessment on PDA management decisions remains to be reported. The objective of this study is to compare PDA-related hemodynamic information and PDA treatment decisions before and after introduction of TNE service. STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary level neonatal intensive care unit in Southwestern Ontario. We investigated two time periods: Epoch-1 (non-TNE 2013-2016) versus Epoch-2 (TNE 2018-2021). We included neonates < 32 weeks with PDA. Data on baseline clinical characteristics, PDA-related echocardiographic parameters, PDA treatment details, and relevant long-term outcomes were collected. Primary outcome was defined as PDA treatment rates and need for multiple courses. Secondary outcomes included availability of PDA hemodynamic data and neonatal mortality/morbidity (PDA-related) RESULTS: A total of 275 neonates were included. A total of 162 were assessed by conventional echocardiography in Epoch-1, whereas 113 were assessed by TNE in Epoch-2. Baseline clinical characteristics were similar. Epoch-2 had more echocardiographic assessments per patient of 2.7 (±1.8) versus 1.9 (± 1.3), p < 0.001 in Epoch1. The mean postnatal age at first echocardiographic assessment was higher in Epoch-2 (12.7 days [ ± 14.6]) than in Epoch-1 (7.9 days [ ± 10.4]), p < 0.001. Comprehensive hemodynamic assessment of PDA-related echocardiographic parameters such as PDA size, shunt pattern, effect on systemic circulation, and pulmonary circulation were higher in Epoch-2. Overall, PDA treatment rates were comparable in the two time periods. The use of multiple courses of treatment was higher in Epoch-1 than in Epoch-2 (47.8 vs. 31.7%, p = 0.047). In Epoch-1, neonates received PDA treatment earlier than in Epoch-2. CONCLUSION: With the implementation of the TNE service, increased echocardiographic evaluations per patient were completed with availability of more comprehensive hemodynamic information about PDA. PDA treatment rates were similar in the two epochs, but need for multiple courses were less in TNE era. KEY POINTS: · TNE allows comprehensive hemodynamic assessment of PDA.. · Implementation of dedicated TNE service led to increased use of echocardiography to assess PDA.. · Standardized hemodynamic assessment of PDA may allow improved individualization of treatment need..

Echocardiographic Predictors of Ductal Tissue-Related Branch Pulmonary Artery Stenosis in Pulmonary Atresia.

Branch pulmonary artery (PA) stenosis due to ductus arteriosus (DA) tissue (DA-PS) contributes to the morbidity associated with pulmonary atresia (PAtr). We sought to identify preoperative echocardiographic features predictive of DA-PS. Patients consecutively encountered with PAtr and a DA-dependent pulmonary circulation at birth who underwent intervention in our program over a 5-year period were identified and records reviewed. Preoperative echocardiograms were reviewed to identify features that predicted postoperative DA-PS. Seventy patients with PAtr met inclusion criteria and 36 (51%) had DA-PS. At preoperative echocardiography, the proximal diameter of the PA ipsilateral to the DA was smaller in those with versus without DA-PS (Z-score - 4.8 ± 1.7 vs - 1.1 ± 1.7, respectively p < 0.001). PA origins could not be imaged on the same axial plane in 21/36 (58%) with versus 2/34 (6%) without DA-PS. Patients with DA-PS had an obtuse posterior angle of the PA bifurcation compared to those without (128 ± 17° and 87 ± 21°, p < 0.001), and a posterior angle of > 100° best predicted DA-PS with a sensitivity of 97% and specificity of 76%. An abnormal PA relationship and/or an obtuse posterior bifurcation angle had a sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value for DA-PS of 78%, 94%, 90% and 86%, respectively. Finally, DA insertion was into the ipsilateral PA in 26/36 (72%) of cases with DA-PS. A smaller proximal ipsilateral PA diameter, inability to image the PAs in the same plane, a posterior PA bifurcation angle of > 100°, and insertion of the DA in the ipsilateral PA demonstrated by echo are useful in identifying patients at risk for DA-PS.

Epidemiology of paediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in Ontario, Canada.

Background: There are no Canadian epidemiological studies of Paediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (POHCA) for ≥20 years. Understanding the epidemiology of POHCA is key to prevention, education, and management strategies. Methods: We applied a validated algorithm to hospital administrative databases to describe paediatric (age 1 day to ≤18 years) atraumatic OHCA in Ontario from 2004-2020. Results: The cohort included 1,839 paediatric patients with atraumatic POHCA occurring at a median (IQR) age of 2 (0-12) years with 721 (39.2%) POHCA events in <1-year-olds. Males accounted for 71.1% (n = 1123) of the cohort. Crude incidence of children with POHCA who were transported to an Emergency Department was 4.2/100,000 with an increase annually over the study period (p = 0.0065). Thirty percent (n = 560) lived in a neighbourhood with the lowest income quintile, while 13.6% (n = 251) lived in a neighbourhood with the highest income quintile, 78.6% (n = 1444) presented to a non-academic hospital, and the majority (n = 1533, 83.4%) did not have significant comorbidities. Survival to hospital discharge was achieved in 167 (9.1%). Less than 6 (<3.6%) patients had a repeat POHCA in the year following the index event. Conclusions: This is the largest Canadian POHCA cohort and the first to describe its incidence, comorbidities, and sociodemographic characteristics. We found an increase in annual crude incidence, POHCA mostly occurred in healthy children, and survival was similar to other cohorts. There were more than double the number of POHCA events in children living in the lowest income quintile neighborhoods compared to the highest. Most children presented to non-academic hospitals first.