Is pre-discharge echocardiography indicated for asymptomatic neonates with a heart murmur? A retrospective analysis.

Although most asymptomatic neonates with heart murmurs have normal hearts, a small percentage may have significant heart disease. The decision to refer an asymptomatic newborn with a murmur for echocardiography before discharge from the hospital remains controversial and must be supported by other evidence such as murmur characteristics and local trends in parental compliance with follow-up well-baby visits.