Congenital Anomalies Admitted to Intensive Neonatal Care Unit in Babylon Maternity and Pediatric Teaching Hospital……………………………………………………...……………………………

Abstract

background: The number of recognizable patterns of malformations havemore than tripled during the last 25 years. The potential prenatal effect ofvarious drugs, chemicals and environmental agents is better appreciated andthe number of genetic and non genetic defects has increased.Aim of the study: to study the prevalence of the structural defects in the livenewborns in Babylon city.Materials and Methods: Our study provides the structural defects that have beendetected in live newborns referred from the labor room and operative theater to theNeonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) within one year. Information were taken fromthe caregivers in a uniform list, examination of the newborn by pediatrician andanalysis of the data using chi square.Results: During one year, 70 live newborns with birth defects admitted to NICU.Thirty- four of them with neural tube defects (49%), cleft lip and / or cleft palate ninecases (12.8%), achondroplasia six cases(8.5%), Down Syndrome five cases(7.1%),ambiguous genitalia three cases( 4.3%), arythrogryposis multiplex three cases( 4.3%),imperforated anus two cases(2.9%), Prunbelly Syndrome two case(2.9%),phacomelia, genovalgum, congenital heart disease, icthyosis each one case (1.4%).Conclusion: Most patients with congenital anomalies had neural tube defects,necessitating stress on preconception folate supplementation