Long-term follow-up of persistent truncus arteriosus: Kuwait experience.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term results of patients in Kuwait who were operated for persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The following data were collected for retrospective analysis from 24 medical records of consecutive patients with PTA in Kuwait between August 1993 and August 2009: demographics, morphology, management and outcome. Major associated abnormalities included interrupted aortic arch in 1 patient and abnormal coronary artery anatomy in 2. RESULTS: Of the 24 patients, 16 underwent total intracardiac repair. The age at operation ranged from 15 days to 5 years (mean 166.19 ± 438.63 days) and weight ranged from 2.5 to 15 kg (mean 4.3 ± 3.01 kg). The right ventricle to pulmonary artery continuity was established with aortic homograft in 11, pulmonary homograft in 4 and by implantation of a Contegra conduit in 1 patient. Four patients had moderate truncal valve regurgitation requiring concomitant truncal valve repair. After a mean follow-up period of 81.81 ± 61.58 months (range 3-166) there was no death. Eight of the 16 (50%) patients underwent redo homograft operations. One patient who had concomitant truncal valve repair subsequently underwent aortic valve replacement. CONCLUSION: The data showed that complete repair of PTA in the neonatal and early infancy period was the treatment with the best potential for survival. The homograft remained one of the conduits of choice to establish continuity between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery in spite of the high incidence of conduit redo operations.

Impact of the Gulf war on congenital heart diseases in Kuwait.

BACKGROUND: There has been concern over the increase in the number of babies born with congenital heart diseases (CHD) in Kuwait after the Gulf War. METHODS: We evaluated retrospectively the number of Kuwaiti infants who were diagnosed to have CHD within the first year of life. The comparison was made between those presented from January 1986 to December 1989 (preinvasion) and those presented after the liberation of Kuwait (from January 1992 to December 2000). The number of cases was considered per 10,000 live births in that year. RESULTS: The numbers of cases were 2704 (326 before the invasion and 2378 after liberation). The mean annual incidence of CHD was 39.5 and 103.4 (per 10,000 live births) before and after the Gulf War, respectively (P<0.001). There was an increase in the number of babies with CHD during the immediate 3 years postliberation with a relative reduction in the trend from 1995 to 2000, in some types of CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In our series, there was an increased incidence of CHD almost immediately following the end of the Gulf War period. The cause of this increase remains relatively obscure. Environmental pollution may be a contributing factor; others such as possible psychological trauma remain subject to speculation.

The utilization of a paediatric emergency room in a general hospital in Kuwait.

A descriptive study was conducted in Al-Amiri Hospital, Kuwait to evaluate the use of the paediatric emergency room (PER) by children under 12 years of age over an 11-week period. Socio-demographic data on the families, reasons for the visits, the pattern of referral and the diagnoses were reviewed and analyzed. A total of 277 children were enrolled in the study, the majority of whom (81%) were generally well, only 4% requiring admission to hospital. The paediatrician in the emergency room considered that 64% of visits were not emergencies. Some form of treatment and one to two routine investigations were needed in 21% and 21.6%, respectively. Stated reasons for seeking medical care were: symptoms of the child (34%), unavailability of primary clinic at night (22%) and perceived better services in hospital (20%). The median of parental satisfaction at the end of the visit was 95%. We conclude that most visits to the PER at Al-Amiri Hospital are inappropriate and that intensive health education is required to improve use of the PER and to increase public awareness of the difference between primary care and paediatric emergency facilities.