Effects of perinatal lesions of central nervous system on the functional state of neonatal cardio-vascular system according to electrocardiography

Objective: to evaluate changes in the results of electrocardiography of newborns with perinatal lesions of central nervous system (CNS) of different origin. Materials and methods: the case histories of 57 newborn infants with diagnosis of cerebral ischemia were retrospectively analysed. Depending on the severity, the patients were divided into4 groups: 1) “isolated” cerebral ischemia in the 1st - 2nd degree, 2) cerebral ischemia in combination with kefalogematomy 3) cerebral ischemia in combination with intraventricular hemorrhage in the 1st - 2nd degree, 4) cerebral ischemia in combination with nataltrauma. All children underwent the 12-lead electrocardiography. Findings: 29 children(50.8 %) had tachycardia with a heart rate (HR) over 160 per minute. 11 children (20 %) had bradycardia with HR 100-109 per minute. 18 children (31.6 %) had violation of intraventricular conduction. Overloading and signs of right heart hypertrophy were found in 24 children (42 %). Violation of repolarization was found in 6 cases (10.5 %). 16 children (28 %) had both tachycardia and intraventricular conduction disorders. 10 children (17.5 %) had tachycardia and overload of the right heart. Patients in group 3 had tachycardia or bradycardia most frequently, they also had a combination of disorders of intraventricular conduction and repolarization. There were 25 % of such cases. 22 % of children in group 1 had bradycardia. About 80 % of children in group 2 revealed tachycardia and overload of the right heart in combination with the violation of intraventricular conduction. Conclusions: all children with perinatal CNS have functional disorders of cardiovascular system. Nature and severity of the changes which were recorded on electrocardiogram in children with perinatal lesions of CNS depend on the severity of CNS lesions.