[Usefulness of electrocardiographic screening in a neonatal population].

Introduction: Congenital long QT syndrome is a rare disease, but is responsible for nearly 10% of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. It is characterized by an abnormal prolonged QT interval in the basal electrocardiogram (ECG) with life-threatening arrhythmias which occur in previously asymptomatic patients and are preventable with an appropriate treatment.

Aims: The impact of introducing ECG-screening in newborns is studied and main ECG-measurements are described in our population.

Material And Methods: Twelve-lead ECG was carried out.

Measurements: RR, PR and QT interval, heart rate corrected QT interval, R wave voltage in V1, AVR and AVL, Q wave in I and AVL, P amplitude and voltage, right bundle branch block and ST elevation (Brugada pattern) and delta wave. It was considered pathological: QTc >0.44 or <0.30 seconds; R >12 in V1 and >8mm in AVR; R >7.5mm in AVL; Q >25% QRS in I and AVL; Brugada pattern; delta wave.

Results: A total of 1061 healthy children were born in our hospital between 29 May 2007 and 12 December 2008, of which 50.3% were males. An ECG was performed on 1006 (94.8%). Five ECG were pathological (0.5%): 2 long QT interval, 2 Wolf-Parkinson-White, 1 pathological Q-wave. A second ECG confirmed except for 2 long QT. No structural heart disease was found.

Conclusions: ECG-screening in newborns is an innocuous, low-cost and parent-well-accepted test that allows us to diagnose asymptomatic but potentially lethal and preventable heart disease; main intervals and waves in our population are describes in this study.