Clinical examination and routine investigation versus echocardiographic study in diagnosis of some heart disease in children

ABSTRACT

The study has been carried out on 55 cardiac patients [31 males and 24 females]. Their ages ranged from one day to 15 years old. The diagnosis was based on history taking, complete phyisical examination, electrocardiographic and radiological examinations. Then, all cases were subjected to echocardiographic examination with its modalities M- mode, two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography. The patients were divided according to the final diagnosis as following 27 cases of congenital acyanotic heart disease, 13 cases of congenital cyanotic heart disease and 15 cases of rheumatic heart disease. By using history and complete physical examination, the final diagnosis was reached in 14 cases of congenital acyanotic heart disease, and in 4 cases of congenital cyanotic heart disease, and in 9 cases of rheumatic heart disease. Using ECG over history and physical examination was helpful in diagnosis of an additional one case of endocardial cushion defect. Using radiological examination of the chest and heart over history, physical examination and ECG was helpful in diagnosis of additional 2 cases, which were one case of Fallot's tetralogy and one case of transposition of great arteries. By echocardiography, all the studied cases were diagnosed and the diagnosis was further confirmed by cardiac catheterization in 5 cases