Neonatal and infant management
Newborns with AV block should be taken into the intensive care unit for central line placement, optimization of acid/base status, inotropic drug infusions and mechanical ventilation, if necessary; soon after birth if they have impaired cardiac functions and low cardiac output. Planned early pacing of high-risk neonates with CHB potentially reduces the adverse consequences of profound bradycardia and asystole soon after birth in the milieu of increasing metabolic demands. Prematurity, low birthweight, poor hemodynamic status and metabolic acidosis are the factors affecting the performance and success of pacing. In a study by Glatz, et al. [46] early diagnosis, use of maternal steroids, close follow-up and early placement of temporary epicardial pacing leads after planned deliveries for the severely affected newborns with isolated CHB were recommended. The use of temporary epicardial ventricular pacing wires implanted by a minimally invasive approach can be used successfully as a bridge to a permanent pacemaker. Permanent pacemakers were implanted when patients reached a point of clinical stability and achieved a weight deemed suitable for a permanent pacing system (typically >2 kg) [46]. On the other hand, Kelle, et al. [47] demonstrated that implantation of dual-chamber epicardial pacemakers to the neonates with CHB was technically feasible and yielded a stable, long-term pacing system with an excellent outcome [47].