ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Congenital heart diseases (CHD) when detected in primary or secondary health care levels are almost always referred to the tertiary hospitals where more competent diagnostic evaluation is carried out. The burden of the CHDs is enormous to the patient; parents and the health sector since the facilities for definitive surgical interventions are not readily available in Nigeria resulting in indefinite conservative palliative management for those who cannot afford such surgical interventions abroad. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this prospective study is to determine the pattern of the CHDs presenting to Delta State University Teaching Hospital (DELSUTH); Oghara; a major tertiary care referral centre for the entire Delta State of Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS : Outpatient and inpatient cases of all CHDs at DELSUTH; OGHARA were determined and the pattern of presentation with respect to age; sex; type of CHD; as confirmed to echocardiography were analyzed from November 2010 to February 2012. RESULTS:A total of 18 cases were seen in DELSUTH; Oghara. Ages at presentation were from 3 months to 9 years; males were 10 (55.6) and Females 8 (44.4). Thirteen of the eighteen CHD patients (72) presented in complications that required immediate admission for in patient care