Congenital Heart Disease Associated With Gastrointestinal System Malformations In The Newborn: Is It Sufficiently Evaluated?

Purpose: We aimed to reveal the difference in the rate of congenital heart disease (CHD) presence between the neonates with and without cardiac murmurs in neonates with congenital gastrointestinal malformations (CGM). Patients and methods: We report on 115 infants treated between 1995-2000 with CGM. In group A, echocardiographies were performed only to those with murmurs. Group B, all patients had undergone echocardiography (ECHO) examination. Results: CHD diagnosis was established in 6% and 18% of group A and B patients, respectively (x2: 3.95, p<0.05). Conclusion: It has been shown that physical examination itself is not reliable in diagnosing CHD. We recommend routine ECHO evaluation with or without murmur in all neonates with CGM.