Parameters of heart failure in the pediatric age group

ABSTRACT

This is a comprehensive study about heart failure [HF] in pediatric age group. Ninety-two patients [51 males and 41 females] with HF were submitted to clinical and electrocardiographic examinations, chest X- ray, arterial pH and blood gases estimation. Echocardiography was performed to all patients with special emphasis on left ventricular systolic function. According to age, patients were segregated in 2 groups Group I included 35 infants and group II included 57 children. Rheumatic heart disease was the commonest entity causing HF in 70% of patients of group II, followed by congenital heart diseases in 38% of all patients and dilated cardiomyopathy found in 18.4% of all patients. Left ventricular systolic function was found to be the lowest in dilated cardiomyopathy. It is recommended to expand the surgical repair of valvular rheumatic heart lesions and to assess left ventricular function by echocardiography in all patients with HF. It is crucial to establish a center for cardiac transplantation to manage those patients who have no available other alternative