Abstract #4331

Do DTI Indices Correlate with Neurological Status of Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease Before & After Cardiopulmonary Bypass Surgery?

Rabia Liamlahi¹, Walter Knirsch¹, Bea Latal², Michael von Rhein³, Ianina Scheer⁴, Hintendu Dave⁵, Achim Schmitz⁶, Vera Bernet⁷, Christian Kellenberger⁴, Malek I. Makki⁴

¹Cardiology, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; ²Child Development, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; ³Child Development Center, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; ⁴Diagnostic Imaging, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; ⁵Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery, University Children Hospital, Zurich; ⁶Anesthesia, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland; ⁷Pediatric Intensive Care, University Children Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

Using DTI we studied the cortico-spinal tracts (posterior limb internal capsule, cerebral peduncle and inferior cortico-spinal) of neonates with severe congenital heart disease before and after cardiopulmonary bypass surgery during first weeks of life. In addition we performed neurodevelopmental assessment, and generated a combined score of bearing, muscle tone and movement, and correlated it with white-matter microstructural changes. Before surgery there was no significant correlation between any DTI indices (ADC, FA, parallel and perpendicular diffusions). After surgery, our results clearly demonstrate an association between low FA in the left cerebral peduncle and poor motor fucntion (p < 0.001).