digitoxin and Infant--Newborn--Diseases

Multiple cystic brain lesions in neonates have been described as a result of a variety of causes. All events described thus far in association with multicystic encephalomalacia (MCE) seem to point to hypoxic-ischaemic injury as the common factor for this particular form of central nervous system damage. We describe a neonate in whom repeated, prolonged episodes of intrauterine tachycardia had been documented. Congestive heart failure and fetal hydrops were present at birth and MCE at the age of 13 wk. The obvious relationship between this child's intrauterine tachycardia and his MCE points to the fact that any fetus with prolonged tachycardia should be considered at risk of severe brain damage.

Topics: Adult; Cesarean Section; Digitalis; Encephalomalacia; Female; Fetal Diseases; Humans; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Labor, Induced; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Pregnancy; Tachycardia; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The treatment of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) in infancy with digitalis, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and verapamil is reported. Treatment was successful in about 90% of the patients treated with ATP and verapamil and in 61--71% of the patients treated with digitalis (Lanatoside C). Verapamil terminated the tachycardia within 2 minutes of administration in most instances and ATP in less than 1 minute. Digitalis, however, took as long as 2 hours; it was therefore excluded as the drug of first choice in emergencies, and is better suited for treating patients with poor hemodynamics. Side effects with ATP are common but short-lived. With verapamil, side effects are rare, but may be serious if certain contraindications are not taken into account. Digitalis in the dose used in this trial rarely produced side effects. We conclude that ATP or verapamil is the drug of first choice for quick termination of PSVT in infancy.

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphate; Child; Child, Preschool; Digitalis; Female; Heart Rate; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Lanatosides; Male; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Verapamil

Topics: Adolescent; Cerebral Hemorrhage; Child; Child, Preschool; Digitalis; Electrocardiography; Embolism, Air; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Arrest; Heart Rate; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Mortality; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Postoperative Complications; Prognosis; Pulmonary Edema; Statistics as Topic; Stimulation, Chemical; Transposition of Great Vessels

Topics: Adenosine Triphosphatases; Adolescent; Adult; Age Factors; Animals; Calcium; Cell Membrane; Child; Child, Preschool; Digitalis; Digitalis Glycosides; Digoxin; Heart Failure; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Kidney Diseases; Myocardium; Ouabain; Plants, Medicinal; Plants, Toxic; Sodium; Tritium

Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anticoagulants; Aortic Coarctation; Bradycardia; Chlorothiazide; Diet, Sodium-Restricted; Digitalis Glycosides; Digitoxin; Digoxin; Drug Tolerance; Electrocardiography; Endocardial Fibroelastosis; Furosemide; Heart Block; Heart Defects, Congenital; Heart Failure; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases; Lanatosides; Myocarditis; Organomercury Compounds; Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; Potassium Chloride; Pulmonary Edema; Tachycardia; Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Transposition of Great Vessels

Topics: Atrial Flutter; Digitoxin; Drug Therapy; Electric Countershock; Electrocardiography; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Newborn, Diseases