Abstract
Neonates who present in high output heart failure secondary to vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation can be difficult to manage medically due to the complex physiology that results from the large shunt through the malformation. Though the cardiac function is often normal, right ventricular dilation, severe pulmonary hypertension, and systemic steal can result in inadequate organ perfusion and shock. This report recommends medical management for stabilization of neonates prior to definitive management with endovascular embolization.
Impact
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Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is a rare intracranial arteriovenous malformation, which can present in the neonatal period with high output heart failure.
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Heart failure secondary to VGAM is often difficult to manage and is associated with high mortality and morbidity. Despite optimal medical management, many patients require urgent endovascular embolization for stabilization of their heart failure.
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This report offers discrete recommendations that can be used by clinicians as guidelines for the medical management of heart failure in newborns with VGAM.
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Funding
R. Savani holds the William Buchanan Chair in Pediatrics and L.C. is supported by NIH Grant 1R01NS102617. No financial support was received for the development of this review.
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M.J.C. and D.A. contributed to the concept of the paper, wrote the initial and revised drafts of this manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. R. Sillero, R. Savani, and L.C. contributed to the conceptualization of the paper, reviewed and revised the manuscript, and approved the final manuscript as submitted. P.D. and L.M. reviewed the manuscript, made corrections and edits, and approved the manuscript as submitted.
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R. Savani is on the Scientific Advisory Council of Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, which had no role in the development of this review. The other authors declare no competing interests.
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Cory, M.J., Durand, P., Sillero, R. et al. Vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation: rationalizing medical management of neonatal heart failure. Pediatr Res 93, 39–48 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02064-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-022-02064-1
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