Mortality of Critical Congenital Heart Disease in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Benghazi Pediatric Hospital

Background: The neonatal period, which encompasses the 1st twenty-eight days of life for an infant, is a period of extreme vulnerability during which newborns might develop specific serious problems that result in mortality. Aim: To assess the clinical characteristics of neonates with critical congenital heart disease (CHD) who have been admitted to neonatal care unit. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective investigation carried out on 44 newborns hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the hospital of children in Benghazi for two years. Results: 25% of patients had cyanosis, 18.2% had respiratory distress, 18.2% had circulatory collapse, 6.8% had heart failure, and 31.8% had cyanosis + RD. The mean PO2 of the studied group was 80.02±11. 44. 27.3% of patients had PO2 below 75%, 43.2% had PO2 75-85%, 20.5% of patients had PO2 85-94, and 9.1% had PO2 more than 95%. 95.5% of patients had normal syndrome, and 4.5% had another syndrome. 4.5% of patients had associated congenital anomalies. 36.4% of patients had prostaglandin infusion; the mortality rate of studied group was 11.4%. Conclusion: Critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) is a major reason for newborn death, often due to transposition of the great arteries. Neonatologists and pediatric cardiologists play a crucial role in understanding and managing these defects, emphasizing the importance of prenatal diagnosis and follow-up. Screening newborns for CCHD using PO2 and prompt referral to specialized centers can improve patient outcomes.