Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in
newborns. Cardiovascular dysfunction (CVD), including biventricular impairment,
altered vascular tone, and elevated pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), is a frequent
complication. Aim: To evaluate CVD in neonates with NS admitted to the NICU at
Benha University Hospital. Subjects and Methods: This prospective observational
research included neonates with NS in the NICU between July 2024 and December
2024, alongside an age- and sex-matched control group. All participants underwent
functional echocardiography (f-Echo) for cardiac assessment. Results: In both NS
and control groups, 50% were male. Birth weight ranged from 2.2–3.5 kg (mean 2.9 ±
0.3 kg). Thrombocytopenia was observed in 63.3% of NS cases, leukocytosis in
16.7%, and 36.7% exhibited significant neutrophil shift. Echocardiography
demonstrated notable CVD in NS patients, which improved significantly following
sepsis resolution (MAPSE) mitral annular plane systolic excursion, (TAPSE) tricuspid
annular plane systolic excursion (1.71, 1.81) after resolution of sepsis (1.99, 2.11).
There is significant association between (f-Echo) parameters and mortality, ejection
fraction 64% in survivors 53% in non survivors. Conclusion: NS is associated with
marked CVD, detectable and monitorable via f-Echo, highlighting the importance of
cardiac evaluation in septic neonates.
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