Congenital heart disease in Zimbabwean children.
A descriptive study was undertaken to document the pattern, management and immediate outcome of surgery in children with congenital heart disease referred to the cardiology clinic. On presentation a physical examination, chest radiogram, electrocardiogram and cross-sectional echocardiogram were performed. Two hundred and eighty-six children seen over a period of 18 months between 1990 and 1992 were included in the study. Their ages ranged from 2 days to 15 years (median 23 months) and the male to female ratio was 1:1.1. The predominant lesions were ventricular septal defect (32.9%), tetralogy of Fallot (19.6%) and patent ductus arteriosus (11.9%). Seventy-three children (26%) had surgery, with a mortality of 5.5%. There was a pattern of late presentation (68.2% after 1 year of age) accompanied by a high rate of complications. There was also an under-representation of lesions which have a high mortality in infancy.
Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
C H
CH
Bannerman
W
W
Mahalu
D000293:Adolescent; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004374:Ductus Arteriosus, Patent / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology