Connecticut medicine
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Connecticut medicine · Jun 2003
Surgery for congenital heart disease in low-birth weight neonates: a comprehensive statewide Connecticut program to improve outcomes.
Low-birth weight (LBW) remains a significant risk factor in surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD). The timing of surgery and the choice of complete repair vs palliative measures are controversial issues. Delay of surgery to achieve weight gain may result in poorer outcomes. ⋯ A strategy of early surgical intervention favoring primary repair, or surgical palliation for those patients with single ventricle, results in good overall survival in symptomatic low-birth weight neonates with congenital heart disease. Delay in surgery due to LBW may not be beneficial in most cases and could result in lower overall survival and increased cost. A program utilizing statewide resources results in excellent outcomes for this challenging group of patients.