Socioeconomic status and impact of treatment on families of children with congenital heart disease

To assess the socioeconomic status, treatment being offered and the impact of congenital heart disease treatment on families. Observational study. The Children's Hospital / Institute of Child Health, Lahore, from 1st March to 31[st] August 2010. All patients undergoing a cardiac surgical or angiographic intervention were enrolled. Socioeconomic status was assessed by Kuppuswamy socioeconomic status scale with income group modification. The impact was measured by the source of financing, effect on family financing source and schooling and health of siblings. Of 211 patients undergoing treatment in the study period, surgery was the definitive treatment in 164 [77.7%] and angiographic intervention in 47 [22.3%] patients. Male to female ratio was 1.5:1. The mean age of the patient was 39.1 +/- 3.2 months [range 01 day to 15 years]. Majority of families belonged to middle [66.4%, n=140] and lower [27%, n=57] socioeconomic class. The mean cost of medicines and disposables was PKR 78378.2 +/- 8845.9 [US$ 933.1 +/- 105.3] in open heart surgery, PKR 12581 +/- 7010.8 [US$ 149.8 +/- 83.5] in closed heart surgery and PKR 69091 +/- 60906 in angiographic interventions. In 63.1% patients, families contributed towards these costs either completely [12.3%] or partly [50.8%] with significant contribution from the hospital. Adverse effect on families ranged from leave without pay to losing jobs or business [46%], and selling their assets [11.3%]. It also affected schooling and health of siblings [22.7% and 26.1% respectively]. Majority of children with congenital heart disease belonged to middle and lower socioeconomic status in this study. Main definitive treatment was surgery. The cost of health care facilities posed a marked socioeconomic burden on those families

Cutaneous vascular anomalies pattern in neonates and infants

To analyze the patterns of cutaneous vascular anomalies in neonates and infants. To identify the complications arising in various vascular lesions. A descriptive hospital based observational study. Dermatology and pediatric department of DHQ and Allied Hospital PMC, Faisalabad From 1 Feb 2005 to 31 January 2006. 72 consecutive newborns and infants of either sex having any vascular anomaly on cutaneous areas were included in the study. The information regarding size, site, type of lesions, sex of patients, with family history and any complication were recorded on a proforma prepared for this study. Out of 72 infants 25 were male [35%] and 47[65%] were females. Family history was present in 12 cases [17%]. The commonly involved sites were head and neck 45 [62.5%], trunk 18[25%] and upper limb 9[12.5%]. In 59 children [82%] it was single and in 13[18%] the lesions were multiple. The complications observed were ulceration in 13[18%], infection in 8[11%], haemorrhage in 3[4%] and visual impairment in 4[5%], while 56[78%] had no complications