Role of Echocardiography in Neonatal Care in a Tertiary Care Centre and the Challenges.

Background: Role of echocardiography at present is not restricted to detect congenital heart disease only in neonates. It has become an integral part in managing neonates with diagnosing other functional abnormality as well. Our aim was to describe the indication of echocardiography and the positive findings in echocardiography resulting change in clinical management. Methods: It is a prospective and hospital-based study. Was done in special care newborn unit (SNCU) and newborn intensive care unit (NICU), Department of Paediatrics, MKCGMCH, Berhampur, Odisha from Nov’2020 – Oct’2021. Results: Total number of babies referred for echocardiography were 146. Which was 3% of total newborn admission. The median birth weight was 2545 gm (965-5235gm), gestational age 38wk(28-43wk) and postnatal days scan done was D7(D3- D28). Most common indication for echo referral was for cardiac murmur 63(43.15%). The echocardiography findings which change the management plan were structural heart disease 73(50%), minor 29(19.86%), functional18(12.34%) and normal 26(17.80%). 17(24%) of total structurally abnormal heart required referral for early cardiac surgery. Conclusions: Our finding’s showed echocardiography is an essential tool in newborn care for differentiating cardiac from noncardiac cause for similar symptoms and signs. Neonatologist and Paediatricians should be trained regarding point of care cardiac echocardiography for quick and timely management of the newborns [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]