Prenatal diagnosis of critical CHDs and planned peripartum care is an emerging concept in resource-limited settings.

To report the impact of prenatal diagnosis and planned peripartum care on costs of neonatal cardiac care in a resource-limited setting.

Prospective study (October 2019 to October 2020). Consecutive neonates undergoing surgery or catheter-based interventions included. Patients were divided into prenatal (prenatal diagnosis) and post-natal (diagnosis after birth) groups. Costs of cardiac care (total, direct, and indirect) and health expenses to income ratio were compared between study groups; factors impacting costs were analysed.

A total of 105 neonates were included, including 33 in prenatal group. Seventy-seven neonates (73.3%) underwent surgical procedures while the rest needed catheter-based interventions. Total costs were 16.2% lower in the prenatal group (p = 0.008). Direct costs were significantly lower in the prenatal group (18%; p = 0.02), especially in neonates undergoing surgery (20.4% lower; p = 0.001). Health expenses to income ratio was also significantly lower in the prenatal group (2.04 (1.03–2.66) versus post-natal:2.58 (1.55–5.63), p = 0.01);, particularly in patients undergoing surgery (prenatal: 1.58 (1.03–2.66) vs. post-natal: 2.99 (1.91–6.02); p = 0.002). Prenatal diagnosis emerged as the only modifiable factor impacting costs on multivariate analysis.

Prenatal diagnosis and planned peripartum care of critical CHD is feasible in resource-limited settings and is associated with significantly lower costs of neonatal cardiac care. The dual benefit of improved clinical outcomes and lower costs of cardiac care should encourage policymakers in resource-limited settings towards developing more prenatal cardiac services.

Care of children with functionally univentricular hearts is resource-intensive.

To analyse pregnancy and early post-natal outcomes of fetuses with functionally univentricular hearts in the setting of a low–middle-income country.

A retrospective study was conducted during the period of January 2008–October 2019. Study variables analysed included gestational age at diagnosis, maternal and fetal comorbidities and cardiac diagnosis including morphologic type of single ventricle. Outcomes analysed included pregnancy outcomes, type of post-natal care and survival status on the last follow-up.

A total of 504 fetuses were included. Mean maternal age was 27.5 ± 4.8 years and mean gestational age at diagnosis was 25.6 ± 5.7 weeks. Pregnancy outcomes included non-continued pregnancies (54%), live births (42.7%) and loss to follow-up (3.3%). Gestational age at diagnosis was the only factor that impacted pregnancy outcomes (non-continued pregnancies 22.5 ± 3.5 vs. live births 29.7 ± 5.7 weeks; p < 0.001). Of the 215 live births, intention-to-treat was reported in 119 (55.3%) cases; of these 103 (86.6%) underwent cardiac procedures. Seventy-nine patients (36.7%) opted for comfort care. On follow-up (median 10 (1–120) months), 106 patients (21%) were alive. Parental choice of intention-to-.treat or comfort care was the only factor that impacted survival on follow-up.

Prenatal diagnosis of functionally univentricular hearts was associated with overall low survival status on follow-up due to parental decisions on not to continue pregnancy or non-intention-to-treat after birth. Early detection of these complex defects by improved prenatal screening can enhance parental options and reduce resource impact in low-and-middle-income countries.

Prenatal diagnosis and planned peri-partum care is an unexplored concept for care of neonates with critical CHDs in low-middle-income countries.

To report the impact of prenatal diagnosis on pre-operative status in neonates with critical CHD.

Prospective observational study (January 2017–June 2018) in tertiary paediatric cardiac facility in Kerala, India. Neonates (<28 days) with critical CHDs needing cardiac interventions were included. Pre-term infants (<35 weeks) and those without intention to treat were excluded. Patients were grouped into those with prenatal diagnosis and diagnosis after birth. Main outcome measure was pre-operative clinical status.

Total 119 neonates included; 39 (32.8%) had prenatal diagnosis. Eighty infants (67%) underwent surgery while 32 (27%) needed catheter-based interventions. Pre-operative status was significantly better in prenatal group; California modification of transport risk index of physiological stability (Ca-TRIPS) score: median 6 (0–42) versus 8 (0–64); p < 0.001; pre-operative assessment of cardiac and haemodynamic status (PRACHS) score: median 1 (0–4) versus 3 (0–10), p < 0.001. Age at cardiac procedure was earlier in prenatal group (median 5 (1–26) versus 7 (1–43) days; p = 0.02). Mortality occurred in 12 patients (10%), with 3 post-operative deaths (2.5%). Pre-operative mortality was higher in postnatal group (10% versus 2.6%; p = 0.2) of which seven (6%) died due to suboptimal pre-operative status precluding surgery.

Prenatal diagnosis and planned peri-partum care had a significant impact on the pre-operative status in neonates with critical CHD in a low-resource setting.

To examine the utility of decline in arterial partial pressure of oxygen after exercise as a marker of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease in patients with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension.

Treadmill exercise was performed in 18 patients with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. Arterial blood gas samples were obtained before and after peak exercise. A decline in the arterial pressure of oxygen of more than 10 millimetres of mercury after exercise was considered significant based on preliminary tests conducted on the controls. Cardiac catheterisation was performed in all patients and haemodynamic data sets were obtained on room air, oxygen, and a mixture of oxygen and nitric oxide (30–40 parts per million).

There were 10 patients who had more than a 10 millimetres of mercury drop in arterial partial pressure of oxygen after exercise and who had a basal pulmonary vascular resistance index of more than 7 Wood units per square metre. Out of eight patients who had less than a 10 millimetres of mercury drop in arterial partial pressure of oxygen after exercise, seven had a basal pulmonary vascular resistance index of less than 7 Wood units per square metre, p equals 0.0001. A decline in arterial partial pressure of oxygen of more than 10 millimetres of mercury predicted a basal pulmonary vascular resistance index of more than 7 Wood units per square metre with a specificity of 100% and a sensitivity of 90%.

A decline in arterial partial pressure of oxygen following exercise appears to predict a high pulmonary vascular resistance index in patients with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension. This test is a useful non-invasive marker of pulmonary vascular obstructive disease in this subset.