RESUMO
To study the pattern of Congenital Heart Diseases [CHD] in children referred to Ahmed Gasim Cardiac Center] in Khartoum. This is a prospective cross-sectional, clinic based study conducted over a six months period. The children were referred to the Cardiac Centre because of suspected heart problems. Cases of congenital heart disease were identified via history taking, clinical examination and echocardiography. Of the 180 patients suspected to have heart problems were seen in the centre, 37of them were excluded because they either had acquired heart disease [n=20] or innocent murmur [n=17]. Out of the 143 remaining patients, ventricular septal defect [VSD], was found to be the commonest [n = 49 [34.3%]] CHD, followed by tetrology of Fallot [TOF] [n = 19 [13.3%]]. The male to female sex ratio was 1.2:1.0. Males were predominant in VSD, multiple lesions, TOF and Coarctation of Aorta [COA]. Females were predominant in ASD, PS, PDA, Complete Atrio Ventricular Septal Defect [CAVSD] and Transposition of the Great Arteries [TGA] but there was equal sex distribution in Single Ventricle, Primary Pulmonary Hypertension [PPHTN] and Total Anomalous of Pulmonary Venous Return TAPVR. Down syndrome is the most common extra-cardiac anomaly associated with CHD [n =23[16.1%]] of the study group. The frequency of CHD reported in this study is in consistent with other studies done in Sudan and other part of the world. Although congenital heart diseases are diagnosed in the neonatal period, but a significant number of CHD [83.3%] presented throughout infancy and childhood. The association of CHD and extra-cardiac anomalies is found in a significant number [22.4%] of patients in this study. Echocardiography proved to be important for confirmation of CHD in this study. Early referral of suspected cases of congenital cardiac anomalies is mandatory for better management till establishment of cardiac centers at different regions of the country