[Medico-surgical management of childhood cardiopathy: results of the Liège experience]. / Prise en charge médico-chirurgicale des enfants cardiopathes: résultats de l'expérience liégeoise.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluation of the results obtained in the management of congenital heart diseases in Liège. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated the results, the mortality and the morbidity of diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization, and of the cardiac surgery in the 123 cardiac children who were referred to us during the three first years of operation of our medico-surgical team. RESULTS: 89 children underwent a catheterization, including 12 therapeutic interventions, whereas 68 were operated. In the two domains, the results are completely comparable with those of the established centers. CONCLUSIONS: The widening of the activity of paediatric cardiology and the creation of an activity of pediatric cardiac surgery in Liège appeared important to us for the quality of management of the cardiac children. This goal could be reached only if our results were comparable with those of the literature. The bet seems to be held. The ultimate objective is to contribute by an adequate policy of management to the quality of life and the health of the cardiac children.