ORIGINAL: General and Emergency Presentations of Children with Congenital Heart Defect and Factors Affecting it as Seen in A Tertiary Health Institution in Enugu

West Afr J Med. March 2025; 42 (3): 202-207 PMID: 40845081

Authors

  • I. O. Arodiwe Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
  • I. A. Nwafor Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • F. A. Ujunwa Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
  • B. O. Edelu Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
  • J. M. Chinawa Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
  • T. A. Oguonu Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria
  • N. Ezemba Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
  • J. C. Eze Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.

Keywords:

Children, Congenital, Emergency, Heart defects, Presentation

Abstract

Background and objectives: The pattern of emergency presentations in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) is changing. The aim of our study was to identify the pattern and its associated factors.

Methods: It is a retrospective study of medical records of 252 children with CHD admitted as emergency cases from June 2018 - May 2023. Inclusion criteria were children with presentations from the CHD and those with no direct presentations were excluded. Data collected included age, gender, pre-existing diagnosis, main complaint and patient condition at discharge. The children were divided into two groups; cyanotic and acyanotic groups. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Fishers exact -test was used for continuous variables and the χ2 test for nominal variables, p < 0.05 was taken to be statistically significant.

Results: The participants were 252; 131 (51.8%) were males The age range was 1 month -18 years, with a mean of 9.3 ± 9.1 years. There were more children in acyanotic group, 167 (66.3%). The main presentations in acyanotic group were symptoms of heart failure 71 (43.1%) and lower respiratory tract infection 51 (31.1%) while in cyanotic group the presentations were failure to thrive 29 (34.1 %) and cyanosis 23 (27%). The main causes of heart failure were uncorrected lesions and pulmonary hypertension. There was no significant difference in mortality between both groups. All required cardiac surgery, however only 13 (5%) had the intervention.

Conclusion: Children with CHD presented with varied manifestations which are type and age-specific. Improved knowledge of the common presentations in emergencies will help management.

Downloads

Published

2025-03-31

Issue

Vol. 42 No. 3 (2025): The West African Journal of Medicine

Section

Articles