Pattern of congenital heart diseases in children at tertiary care center in Peshawar

ABSTRACT

To assess the age, sex distribution and relative frequency of congenital heart disease in children at tertiary care center in Peshawar, NWFP. Settings Study was conducted in the department of Paediatric and Neonatology, Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar. Design: A study conducted over a period of two years from July 1997 to June 1999. One hundred and fifty children up to fifteen years of age with clinical suspicion of congenital heart disease were subjected to chest X-Ray and Electrocardiography while the final diagnosis was confirmed by Echocardiography. Out of 150 cases, 100 were males [66.66%] and 50 females [33.33%]. Sixty eight% of children with congenital heart disease presented at age less than 5 years and only 2% at age above 10 years. Two-third of the total children had acyanotic cardiac lesions. Ventricular septal defect followed by aortic stenosis, mild pulmonary stenosis, patent ductus arteriosus and atrioventricular septal defect were the commonest acyanotic congenital heart lesions. Tetralogy of Fallot followed by transposition of great arteries and tricuspid atresias were the commonest cyanotic congenital heart lesions. Majority of patient with congenital heart disease detected in a tertiary care center have non-cyanotic CHD. TOF is the commonest cyanotic lesion and VSD non-cyanotic lesion. In order to avoid complications, early detection of congenital heart disease is of utmost importance for proper management. This can be achieved by examining newborns in maternity units, postnatal clinics, special care baby units, immunization centers, primary health care units and at school entry. 2D echo with Doppler examination forms the gold standard for diagnosis