[Vein of Galen malformation in a newborn infant with clinical symptoms of a cardiologic emergency].

We report on the management of one term newborn infant with a malformation of the Vena Galeni. The baby suffered from cyanosis and intractable congestive heart failure without evidence of congenital heart malformation at his second day of life. The diagnosis was established by two-dimensional sonography and Doppler examination. However, we thought it necessary additionally to perform an angiography of the intracerebral vessels before surgical intervention. We conclude that a real time two-dimensional imaging system and a range-gated pulsed Doppler velocimeter should be available in newborn intensive care units. Otherwise neonatologists are forced to transport these infants to pediatric heart centers because of inability to detect such an extracardiac origin of heart and circulatory failure.