What are the symptoms of heart failure in newborns?

Neonatal heart failure symptoms mainly include impaired cardiac function, pulmonary congestion, and systemic congestion.

1. Impaired Cardiac Function

Changes in heart rate occur—early on, the heart rate exceeds 160 beats per minute. Excessive tachycardia leads to abnormal ventricular diastolic filling. In late stages, the heart rate drops below 100 beats per minute. Infants often present with poor appetite, excessive sweating, and easy fatigability. Enlarged or thickened heart can be detected via chest X-ray and echocardiography.

2. Pulmonary Congestion

Neonatal heart failure can also cause pulmonary congestion. Infants experience respiratory distress, including tachypnea; severe cases may develop cyanosis, nasal flaring, and grunting. Symptoms worsen when lying flat but are somewhat relieved when held upright.明显的肺部啰音are evident, and examinations typically reveal interstitial pulmonary edema and alveolar exudation.

3. Systemic Congestion

Symptoms of systemic congestion commonly include jugular venous distension and reduced urine output, with some infants developing varying degrees of edema. Hepatomegaly may occur due to venous congestion, with rapid enlargement over a short period; the liver gradually shrinks once heart failure is controlled.