Echocardiographic findings in children with surgically correctable non-cardiac congenital anomalies.
BACKGROUND
Congenital cardiac anomalies may co-exist with non-cardiac congenital malformations and, for those requiring surgical correction, there can be an anaesthetic risk.


OBJECTIVE
To estimate the burden of congenital heart disease (CHD) in children with surgically correctable non-cardiac congenital malformations.


METHODS
Records of 120 children aged between 1 week and 11 years [mean (SD) 0.6 (1.5) years] undergoing corrective surgery for non-cardiac congenital malformations were examined. Results of clinical cardiac examination and surgical and echocardiographic findings were analysed.


RESULTS
Cleft lip or palate was the commonest surgical anomaly (46, 38.3%), followed by ano-rectal malformation (32, 26.7%). Forty-two children (35.0%) had an abnormal echocardiographic scan. A cardiac abnormality was detected clinically and confirmed by echocardiography in ten patients (8.3%), which represents 24% of all the cardiac abnormalities. The commonest cardiac anomalies were atrial septal defect (ASD) (30 children, 25%), followed by ventricular septal defect (VSD) (seven children, 5.8%). The frequency of ASD was highest in children with a cleft lip or palate (14/46, 30.4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Over one-third of patients undergoing surgical correction of congenital malformations have co-existing CHD. Echocardiography is important for pre-surgical evaluation. No association between type of CHD and specific non-cardiac congenital malformations was found.
Oyati
A I
AI
Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria. oyatialbert@yahoo.com
Danbauchi
S S
SS
Ameh
E A
EA
Mshelbwala
P M
PM
Anumah
M A
MA
Ogunrinde
G O
GO
Anyiam
J O
JO
Azuh
P C
PC
D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002971:Cleft Lip / Q000601:surgery; D002972:Cleft Palate / Q000601:surgery; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies