Persistent pulmonary hypertension of non cardiac cause in a neonatal intensive care unit

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Rocha, G (Author) Other; Baptista, MJ (Author) Other; Guimarães H (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Pulmonary Medicine

Vol. 2012

Pages: 1-6

ISSN: 2090-1836

Publisher: Hindawi

Indexing

Scopus - 16 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-008-AGF

DOI: 10.1155/2012/818971

Abstract (EN): Parenchymal lung diseases are the main cause of persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN). We aimed to assess the non cardiac conditions associated to PPHN in the newborn and the survival rate over the last 15 years, at our center. A retrospective chart review of the neonates admitted for PPHN from 1996 to 2010 was performed. New therapies were introduced in 2003, and the survival rates between two periods (1996-2002 and 2003-2010) were compared. Out of 6750 newborns, 78 (1.1%) had the diagnosis of PPHN of non cardiac cause. The most prevalent causes were associated to pulmonary hypoplasia (30.7%), infection (24.3%), and aspiration syndromes (15.3%). Many other causes were identified in 33.3%. The overall survival rate was 68%. There was a significant difference on survival rates between the two periods (1996-2002 = 63.8% and 2003-2010 = 71.4%, P = 0.04). Our study showed a myriad of non cardiac aetiologies for PPHN of the newborn, most of them related to lung disease or lung hypoplasia. We observed an improvement in survival rate since 2003, which was associated to the use of new therapies. © 2012 Gustavo Rocha et al.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific