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Objectives: Hemodynamic abnormalities and brain development disorders have been reported previously in fetuses and infants with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum (TGA‐IVS). A ventricular septal defect (VSD) is thought to be an additional risk factor for adverse neurodevelopment, but literature describing this population is sparse. The objectives of this study were to assess fetal cardiac hemodynamics throughout pregnancy, to monitor cerebral hemodynamics and oxygen metabolism in neonates, and to compare these data between patients with TGA‐IVS, those with TGA‐VSD and age‐matched controls. Methods: Cardiac hemodynamics were assessed in TGA‐IVS and TGA‐VSD fetuses and compared with healthy controls matched for gestational age (GA) during three periods: ≤ 22 + 5 weeks (GA1), 27 + 0 to 32 + 5 weeks (GA2) and ≥ 34 + 5 weeks (GA3). Left (LVO), right (RVO) and combined (CVO) ventricular outputs, ductus arteriosus flow (DAF, sum of ante‐ and retrograde flow in systole and diastole), diastolic DAF, transpulmonary flow (TPF) and foramen ovale diameter were measured. Aortic (AoF) and main pulmonary artery (MPAF) flows were derived as a percentage of CVO. Fetal middle cerebral artery and umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility indices (PI) were measured and the cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) was derived. Bedside optical brain monitoring was used to measure cerebral hemoglobin oxygen saturation (SO2) and an index of microvascular cerebral blood flow (CBFi), along with peripheral arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), in TGA‐IVS and TGA‐VSD neonates. Using hemoglobin (Hb) concentration measurements, these parameters were used to derive cerebral oxygen delivery and extraction fraction (OEF), as well as an index of cerebral oxygen metabolism (CMRO2i). These data were acquired in the early preoperative period (within 3 days after birth and following balloon atrial septostomy) and compared with those of age‐matched healthy controls, and repeat measurements were collected before discharge when vital signs were stable. Results: LVO was increased in both TGA groups compared with controls throughout pregnancy. Compared with controls, TPF was increased and diastolic DAF was decreased in TGA‐IVS fetuses throughout pregnancy, but only during GA1 and GA2 in TGA‐VSD fetuses. Compared with controls, DAF was decreased in TGA‐IVS fetuses throughout pregnancy and in TGA‐VSD fetuses at GA2 and GA3. At GA2, AoF was higher in TGA‐IVS and TGA‐VSD fetuses than in controls, while MPAF was lower. At GA3, RVO and CVO were higher in the TGA‐IVS group than in the TGA‐VSD group. In addition, UA‐PI was lower at GA2 and CPR higher at GA3 in TGA‐VSD fetuses compared with TGA‐IVS fetuses. Within 3 days after birth, SpO2 and SO2 were lower in both TGA groups than in controls, while Hb, cerebral OEF and CMRO2i were higher. Preoperative SpO2 was also lower in TGA‐VSD neonates than in those with TGA‐IVS. From preoperative to predischarge periods, SpO2 and OEF increased in both TGA groups, but CBFi and CMRO2i increased only in the TGA‐VSD group. During the predischarge period, SO2 was higher in TGA‐IVS than in TGA‐VSD neonates, while CBFi was lower. Conclusions: Fetal cardiac and neonatal cerebral hemodynamic/metabolic differences were observed in both TGA groups compared with controls. Compared to those with TGA‐IVS, fetuses with TGA‐VSD had lower RVO and CVO in late gestation. A higher level of preoperative hypoxemia was observed in the TGA‐VSD group. Postsurgical cerebral adaptive mechanisms probably differ between TGA groups. Patients with TGA‐VSD have a specific physiology that warrants further study to improve neonatal care and neurodevelopmental outcome. © 2022 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We investigated how electroencephalography (EEG) quantitative measures and dysglycemia relate to neurodevelopmental outcomes following neonatal encephalopathy (NE)., Methods: This retrospective study included 90 neonates with encephalopathy who received therapeutic hypothermia. EEG absolute spectral power was calculated during post-rewarming and 2-month follow-up. Measures of dysglycemia (hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and glycemic lability) and glucose variability were computed for the first 48 h of life. We evaluated the ability of EEG and glucose measures to predict neurodevelopmental outcomes at ≥ 18 months, using logistic regressions (with area under the receiver operating characteristic [AUROC] curves)., Results: The post-rewarming global delta power (average all electrodes), hyperglycemia and glycemic lability predicted moderate/severe neurodevelopmental outcome separately (AUROC = 0.8, 95%CI [0.7,0.9], p < .001) and even more so when combined (AUROC = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,0.9], p < .001). After adjusting for NE severity and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain injury, only global delta power remained significantly associated with moderate/severe neurodevelopmental outcome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), gross motor delay (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), global developmental delay (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .04), and auditory deficits (OR = 0.9, 95%CI [0.8,1.0], p = .03)., Conclusions: In NE, global delta power post-rewarming was predictive of outcomes at ≥ 18 months., Significance: EEG markers post-rewarming can aid prediction of neurodevelopmental outcomes following NE., (Crown Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) are at higher risk of perinatal morbidities and glycemic instability, but the impact of maternal diabetes on neonatal and neurological short-term outcomes of neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) remains poorly described. Our objective was to determine the impact of maternal diabetes on neonatal and neurological short-term outcomes following neonatal HIE., Study Design: This was a retrospective single-center study including 102 term neonates with HIE who received therapeutic hypothermia (TH) treatment between 2013 and 2020. Multiple regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the presence of maternal diabetes and short-term outcomes., Results: Neonates with HIE and maternal diabetes exposure had a significantly lower gestational age at birth (38.6 vs. 39.7 weeks of gestation, p  = 0.005) and a significantly higher mean birth weight (3,588 ± 752 vs. 3,214 ± 514 g, p  = 0.012). IDM with HIE were ventilated for longer duration (8 vs. 4 days, p  = 0.0047) and had a longer neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) stay (18 vs. 11 days, p  = 0.0483) as well as took longer time to reach full oral feed (15 vs. 7 days, p  = 0.0432) compared with neonates of nondiabetic mother. Maternal diabetes was also associated with an increased risk of death or abnormal neurological examination at discharge in neonates with HIE (odds ratio: 6.41 [1.54-26.32])., Conclusion: In neonates with HIE, maternal diabetes is associated with an increased risk of death or short-term neonatal morbidities, such as longer duration of ventilation, prolonged neonatal stay, greater need for tube feeding, and being discharged with an abnormal neurological examination. Strategies to prevent, reduce, or better control maternal diabetes during pregnancy should be prioritized to minimize complications after perinatal asphyxia., Key Points: · Maternal DB is associated with unfavorable outcomes.. · IDM have longer ventilatory support and tube feeding.. · IDM have higher risk of abnormal neurological examination.., Competing Interests: None declared., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Therapeutic hypothermia (TH) without sedation may lead to discomfort, which may be associated with adverse consequences in neonates with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE). The aim of this study was to assess the association between level of exposure to opioids and temperature, with electroencephalography (EEG) background activity post-TH and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain injury in neonates with HIE., Methods: Thirty-one neonates with mild-to-moderate HIE who underwent TH were identified. MRIs were reviewed for presence of brain injury. Quantitative EEG background features including EEG discontinuity index and spectral power densities were calculated during rewarming and post-rewarming periods. Dose of opioids administered during TH and temperatures were collected from the medical charts. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the associations between cumulative dose of opioids and temperature with EEG background and MRI while adjusting for markers of HIE severity., Results: Higher opioid doses (β = -0.21, p = 0.02) and reduced skin temperature (β = 0.14, p < 0.01) were associated with lower EEG discontinuity index recorded post-TH. Higher opioid doses (β = 0.75, p = 0.01) and reduced skin temperature (β = -0.39, p = 0.02) were also associated with higher EEG Delta power post-TH. MRI brain injury was observed in 14 patients (45%). In adjusted regression analyses, higher opioid doses (OR = 0.00; 95%CI: 0-0.19; p = 0.01), reduced skin temperature (OR = 41.19; 95%CI: 2.27-747.86; p = 0.01) and reduced cooling device output temperature (OR = 1.91; 95%CI: 1.05-3.48; p = 0.04) showed an association with lower odds of brain injury., Conclusions: Higher level of exposure to opioids and reduced skin temperature during TH in mild-to-moderate HIE were associated with improved EEG background activity post-TH. Moreover, higher exposure to opioids, reduced skin temperature and reduced device output temperature were associated with lower odds of brain injury on MRI., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of European Paediatric Neurology Society.)

Purpose: Children with complex congenital heart disease (CHD) experience high incidence of perioperative seizures. Population-based studies also report high epilepsy co-morbidity in CHD. Given the increasing survival of patients with CHD and the interference of seizures and epilepsy with the long-term outcomes, characterizing them in this population is of high relevance. This study investigated the incidence and risk factors of perioperative clinical seizures (CS) and epilepsy in a prospective cohort of children with complex CHD who underwent cardiac surgery., Methods: We included 128 consecutive children with CHD, followed for at least two years at the neurocardiac clinic of Montreal's Sainte-Justine University Hospital Center. We collected perinatal, surgical, critical care and clinical follow-up information and performed logistic regression to reveal risk factors of CS and epilepsy., Results: Ten patients (7.8%) experienced perioperative CS. Four of them (40%) developed epilepsy. The incidence of epilepsy was therefore 3.1%. Higher surgical complexity scores, delayed sternal closure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) use, longer intensive care and hospital stay were associated with CS. ECMO use and hospital stay were also associated with epilepsy. Nine (90%) patients with CS had brain injuries: five strokes, one white matter and three hypoxic-ischemic injury (HII). All patients with HII developed epilepsy, which became intractable in one of them., Conclusion: Our study reports high incidence, surgical risk factors and brain injury patterns underlying CS and epilepsy in CHD. Further studies are needed to investigate how epilepsy interferes with neurodevelopment and quality of life in CHD., (Copyright © 2018 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)