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Profile and outcome of congenital heart diseases in children: a preliminary experience from a tertiary center in sokoto, north Western Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) contribute significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality in many developing countries, largely due to late recognition and lack of skill and facilities for definitive intervention. Though data is available from other parts of the country, little is known about the pattern of CHD in the study area. The profile and outcome of CHD among children presenting to Pediatric Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto, North Western Nigeria is described.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
A prospective study was conducted between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2013. Study subjects included all children who presented to our hospital and had clinical and confirmed echocardiographic diagnosis of CHD.


RESULTS
A total of 112 children were diagnosed with CHD during the 2-year study period. Male: Female ratio was 1:1.2, with a median age at presentation of 11months. Ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ducuts arteriosus (PDA) and tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) were the most common lesions seen in 48(42.9%), 21 (18.8%), 13 (11.6%) and 11 (9.8%) patients respectively. Five (4.5%) patients had transposition of the great arteries while three (2.7%) had complete atrioventricular septal defect. Less frequent lesions included truncus arteriosus, total anomalous pulmonary venous return, isolated pulmonary stenosis, tricuspid atresia, single atrium, Ebstein anomaly, bicuspid aortic valve and cor triatriatum sinister. Definitive treatment was possible in only 12 (9.8%) patients whereas 15.3% of the patients who had no intervention died.


CONCLUSION
The spectrum of CHD in our series is similar to reports from other centers in Nigeria. Only a few patients could afford definitive treatment abroad, highlighting the need for urgent establishment of well-equipped and functioning cardiac centers across the country.