Malformation of the great vein of Galen with neonatal heart failure. Report of two cases.

The clinical and patholgoical findings in two neonates with the malformation of the great vein of Galen are given. They both reported with serious neonatal heart failure suggesting congenital heart disease. In one of them cardiac catheterization revealed a foetal pattern of circulation causing cyanosis. A bruit and in one of them a thrill over the skull gave the clinical diagnosis of an intracranial arteriovenous aneurysm. They died 48 and 144 hours after birth in spite of medical treatment. The outlook for patients having malformation of the great vein of Galen and suffering neonatal heart failure treated conservatively, seems hopeless.