ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the morbidity of congenital heart defects(CHDs) in children with anorectal malformation, and to summarize appropriate treatment. METHODS: The clinical data and echocardiographic findings of 155 children with congenital anorectal malformations from the Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University during January 2016 and October 2019 were reviewed. According to the surgical findings of anorectal malformations, the patients were categorized as the high/intermediate group and the low group; the CHDs were classified as minor CHDs and major CHDs. Multiple logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation of wingspread classification, and extracardiac malformations with the severity of CHDs. RESULTS: Out of 155 children with anorectal malformations, 47 (30.3%) had different types of cardiac structural malformations, including 18 cases of minor CHDs (11.6%) and 29 cases of major CHDs (18.7%). Sixty children (38.7%) had extracardiac malformations, of which 38 cases (24.5%) had a single extracardiac malformation, 15 cases (9.7%) had multiple extracardiac malformations, 6 had trisomy 21 syndrome, and 1 had VATER syndrome. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that wingspread classification of anorectal malformation and extracardiac disorders were independent risk factors for major CHDs. The probability of major CHDs in children with high/intermediate anorectal malformation was 4.709 times higher than that with low anorectal malformation (OR=4.709, 95% CI: 1.651-13.432, P<0.01). The probability of major CHDs was 3.85 times higher for increasing each additional grade of extracardiac malformations(without, with single, or multiple malformations) (OR=3.850, 95% CI: 2.065-7.175, P<0.01). According to the presence and severity of CHDs, children with anorectal malformations were classified into three categories: without CHDs, with minor CHDs and with major CHDs, for differential treatment and management. Anorectal malformations would be treated and managed in children without CHDs and with minor CHDs following the original plan; however, children with minor CHDs may require cardiac follow-up after surgery. In children with major CHDs, the personalization tactics were developed based on the principle of emergency first. There were increased perioperative infection rate (P<0.05), longer hospital days (P<0.01), reduced cure rate (P<0.05) and increased mortality (P<0.05) in children with major, compared with those without CHDs and minor CHDs. CONCLUSIONS: The morbidity of major CHDs is higher in severe cases with high/intermediate anorectal malformation and acute cases without fistula or with obstructed fistula and cases with multiple congenital disorders. Echocardiography can define the type and severity of CHDs, which are useful to develop the optimal diagnosis and treatment plan for children with anorectal malformation.
