Cardiac Catheterization in the Young:Experience at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre

Abstract

To determine the incidence and pattern of heart diseases and to evaluate the technique and results of cardiac catheterizations at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, data on 591 children who underwent 620 catheterizations during 1976 to 1981 were reviewed. Congenital heart disease was found in 82 percent and acquired heart disease in 18 percent. Rheumatic heart disease accounted for 96 percent of acquired heart disease. The incidence of rheumatic heart disease declined from 21 percent between 1976 and 1980 to 3 percent in 1981. Among the congenital diseases, ventricular septal defect was the most common lesion (20 percent), followed by pulmonary stenosis (12 percent), patent ductus arteriosus (10 percent), tetralogy of Fallot (8 percent), and single ventricle (8 percent). The marked incidence of single ventricle in this series is quite striking when compared with the experience of others. Complex cyanotic congenital heart disease was found in 16 percent. Of the patients with congenital heart disease, 21 percent had one or more types of noncardiac congenital defects. Femoral venous or arterial percutaneous catheterization was successful in 97 percent and the saphenous cut-down technique was required only in 3 percent. Palliative or corrective cardiovascular surgery was carried out in 97 percent. Only 3 percent were found to be inoperable; 2 percent were late referrals and had irreversible obstructive pulmonary vascular disease secondary to longstanding left-to-right shunts, and the other 1 percent had inadequate anatomy for any type of surgery. Minor and transient complications occurred in 3 percent of the total catheterized group and mortality was 0.3 percent.MK Mardini,