ABSTRACT
Background: Complex congenital cardiac abnormalities are rare among children and contribute to mortality and morbidity. The prevalence and pattern of presentation vary from lace to place.Materials and Methods: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical profile and pattern of presentation of complex congenital cardiac malformations among children attending a tertiary hospital in Enugu State. A cross-sectional retrospective study in which a review of the records of children who attended the children outpatient clinic of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH); Ituku-Ozalla; Enugu State over a 5-year period (January 2007-June 2012) was undertaken. Results: Thirty one thousand seven hundred and ninety-five (31;795) children attended the outpatient clinic of the hospital over the study period; of these; 65 had cardiac diseases; from which 16 were found to have congenital complex cardiac abnormalities of various types; giving a prevalence of 0.05. Complex abnormalities seen in these children are Tricuspid atresia with various associations; cor triatriatum; single ventricle; and large ASD (atrio-septal defect) with complete AVCD; cor triatriatum sinistrum with cardiomyopathy; DORV (double outlet right ventricle) with left sided aorta; hypoplastic tricuspid valve with a PDA (patent ductus artriosus); TOF (tetralogy of fallot); prolapse of aortic valve; and pulmonary regurgitation. One of these complex cardiac anomalies presented with Turner's syndrome and another with VACTERAL association. Conclusions:The results of this study show that 0.05 of children who presented at cardiology clinic of a teaching hospital in Enugu State had congenital complex cardiac abnormalities and that the commonest forms seen were those with cor triatriatum and TOF