[Interruption of the aortic arch: a neonatal emergency. Report of 50 cases ].
Interruption of the aortic arch, associated with curable cardiovascular anomalies (8 times out of 10) was observed over a period of 8 years in 50 children aged less than 10 days in 80% of cases. They presented with congestive heart failure, with variable degree of shock in most cases, suggesting the diagnoses of left ventricular hypoplasia or coarctation syndrome. Diagnosis was established with ultrasound and angiocardiography. Evolution was lethal in 21 children who were not operated on. 20 children were operated on: before treatment with prostaglandin E1, 9 attempts ended up in 78% immediate mortality and 89% global mortality; after treatment with prostaglandin. E1, these figures were respectively reduced to 45% and 55% (20 cases). This malformation should therefore be recognized as an emergency and then treated with prostaglandin up to surgery.