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ABSTRACfVarious investigative methods used in diagnosis, in 200 children with pneumonia, were analyzed to establish the diagnostic superiority. Lung juice aspirate culture yielded 52.4% positivity and laryngeal swab culture 52%. Gastric aspirate culture was positive in 36% cases and blood culture positivity was in 10% cases only. Thus laryngeal swab culture is as effective as lung-juice aspiration culture in the isolation ofthe organisms causing lower respiratory tract infections. Gastric aspirate smear examination for polymorphonuclear leucocyte count is helpful in screening bacterial pneumonias. MJAFI 1995; 51 : 13-16

Twenty patients with various forms of congenital heart disease admitted to Army Hospital Delhi Cantt were studied. After detailed clinical examination and routine investigations they were subjected to two dimensional and subsequently colour Doppler echocardiography. Two patients were operated on the data obtained by echocardiographi. studies only. Seven patients required preoperative catheterisation in addition to echographic examination. The operative procedures confirmed the lesions delineated on colour Dopplerechocardiography. Three patients are on echocardiographic review and remaining seven are awaiting surgery to further confirm the diagnosis otTered on colour Doppler echo. One pateint of complex lesion died before detailed evaluation could be carried out. Thus colour Doppler echocardiography, though considered highly accurate and non invasive investigation for assessment of congenital heart disease is still in the stage of infancy in paediatric set up and requires a high degree of expertise before it can replace preoperative catheterisation in majority of cases.