Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Findings in Asphyxiated Neonates

Background: The myocardium is vulnerable to ischemic injury in acute perinatal asphyxia. Asphyxial cardiomyopathy increases mortality. Clinical assessment alone is not sufficient to evaluate myocardial injury. Methods: This study was conducted over 2 years on neonates at the gestational age of 34 weeks or more with perinatal asphyxia. Electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic changes were studied with clinical details. Results: The study population comprised 57 neonates. Among them, 33 (57.9%) were male, 23 (40.4%) were born by cesarean section, and 3 (5.3%) were delivered via assisted vaginal delivery. Twenty-six neonates (45.6%) were intubated in the delivery room, and 15 (26.3%) required bag-and-mask ventilation at birth. The mean birth weight was 2679 g (461 g), and the mean gestation period was 38.4 weeks (1.6 wk). Central nervous system, hepatic, and renal involvement was observed in 53 (93%), 35 (61.4%), and 26 (45.6%) cases, respectively. Cardiac dysfunction was observed in 30 neonates (52.6%). Twenty cases (35.1%) required mechanical ventilation. ECG changes were observed in 44 neonates (77.1%). Grade I changes were observed in 10 cases (17.5%), Grade II in 14 (24.6%), and Grade III in 20 (35.1%). In 13 cases, ECG was normal. Twenty-six neonates (45.6%) had echocardiographic changes. Tricuspid regurgitation was observed in 8 cases (14%) and pulmonary artery hypertension with tricuspid regurgitation in 16 (28.1%). Mitral regurgitation with global hypokinesia was observed in 2 neonates, who eventually succumbed. Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that ECG changes occurred in about three-fourths of asphyxiated neonates, and nearly half of the asphyxiated neonates had echocardiographic changes. Mitral regurgitation with global hypokinesia was associated with the worst outcome.