Clinical-epidemiologic indications for echocardiographic investigation in the neonatal period. Value of risk groups

PURPOSE: An echocardiographic study was performed in newborns from risk groups, with the aim of to determining prevalence and to evaluate the indications for this test in the neonatal period. METHODS: One hundred fifty six newborns were studied . They were admitted to the Newborn ward of the Department of Obstetric of the HC-FMUSP, in the period of November 91 to April 93, from mothers with congenital heart disease or diabetes, low birth weight newborns, with extracardiac malformations, cardiac signs and/or congenital infections. RESULTS: The observed prevalence was 21.8%, greater than that of the general population (0.8-1.2%). The group composed by 27 children with extracardiac abnormalities presented the largest prevalence when compared with the other groups (40.7%). These data justify the use of echocardiography in high risk newborns for the detection of congenital heart disease.