Congenital cardiopathies in Arab children.

661 consecutive children below the age of 14 years underwent open and closed heart surgery at the Saudi Heart Centre during a 4-year period for congenital cardiopathies of simple and complex nature with an average mortality rate of 10.5%. Congenital cardiopathies in Saudi Arabia differ from those seen in the Western world by the relative frequency of cyanotic heart disease, the presence of multiple complex congenital anomalies together, the advanced pulmonary hypertension, a rather aggressive nature of the cardiac diseases, and late referral of the children who often suffer also from congestive heart failure, reduced general condition and a malnutritional state.

Early cardiac catheterisation and coronary angiography in acute myocardial infarction.

79 consecutive patients with documented acute myocardial infarction were admitted. 29 of these patients underwent early cardiac catheterisation, coronary arteriography and intracoronary streptokinase injection usually in response to post-myocardial infarction angina. Satisfactory reperfusion occurred in 80% of the patients with the least morbidity and mortality rate compared with medically anticoagulation treated group. 32 patients underwent elective catheterisation and coronary angiography between 1-16 days (average 7.6 days). 18 patients were not catheterised at all. This study evaluates our results of early thrombolytic, angioplastic or surgical revascularisation, and reviews the risk benefit value of early cardiac catheterisation and coronary angiography in patients with acute myocardial infarction.