[Cerebral complications of congenital cardiopathies].
In children with congenital heart disease, cerebral vascular accidents may have a variety of causes. Beside subacute endocarditis, complications of heart surgery, emboli and hypertensive accidents in some rare non-cyanotic cardiopathies, emphasis must be laid on the complications of chronic anoxia in cyanotic cardiopathies, anoxic spells, ischaemic cerebral accidents and abscesses of the brain. The latter have become rare and should mostly be feared in older children with inoperable cyanotic cardiopathy. Cerebral vascular accidents proper are a greater cause for concern, since they are not uncommon--especially in young children with Fallot's tetralogy or complete transposition of the great vessels awaiting surgery--, have serious sequelae and occur without warning. Their mechanism, and therefore their prevention, differs according to age. They are particularly dangerous in infants and in children below the age of 4. The only effective prevention is early and complete surgical correction of the cardiopathy.
D001922:Brain Abscess / Q000209:etiology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004698:Endocarditis, Subacute Bacterial / Q000150:complications; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D002534:Hypoxia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000150:complications; D014188:Transposition of Great Vessels / Q000150:complications
Accidents cérébraux des cardiopathies congénitales.