Evaluation of a Newborn With a Murmur

Abstract

The incidence of murmurs in children has been reported to be as high as 90% (Frommelt, 2004). However, the prevalence of structural heart disease is only 8 to 10 per 1000 live births, with approximately one quarter of these children having critical congenital heart disease (CHD), defined as requiring surgical or catheter intervention in the first year of life (Mahle et al., 2009). Therefore it is the job of the primary care provider to identify the newborns who require investigation of their murmur.