Call to action: prioritizing delivery room care for neonates with critical congenital heart disease

Managing high-risk newborns with critical congenital heart disease (CCHD) in the delivery room is a unique challenge, characterized by complex physiology, heightened urgency, the coordinated efforts of multiple medical teams, and depending on the facility, the infrequent occurrence of such cases. Currently, there is a lack of unified guidance for resuscitation of these newborns in the delivery room. In this commentary, we advocate for an integrated approach involving maternal-fetal medicine specialists, fetal cardiologists, neonatologists, and cardiac intensivists. The proposed approach emphasizes collaborative pre-delivery planning, focusing on anticipated risk factors, postnatal physiology, and clinical management plans. We stress the importance of simulation-based education specifically addressing CCHD scenarios and advocate for research collaborations to establish evidence-based guidelines and track outcomes. Ultimately, a comprehensive, collaborative, and standardized approach, involving prenatal coordination, communication, and education, is essential for optimizing the delivery room management of neonates with CCHD.