The Echocardiographic and Radiographic Characteristics of Children with Clinically Confirmed Congenital Heart Disease: An Observational Study

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study evaluate the echocardiographic and radiological profile of
clinically diagnosed congenital heart disease in children
Methods: The Prospective, Observational study was conducted in the Department of
Pediatrics, Vardhman institute of medical sciences, Pawapuri, Nalanda, Bihar, India, for
1 year. 100 Children from 1 month to 18 years of age with clinically suspected cases
of CHD were included in this study. All children in the age group of 1 month to
18years of age with complaints of recurrent chest infection, respiratory distress, cyanotic
spells, squatting episodes, poor feeding, failure to thrive and other relevant history and
examination findings suggestive of CHD were included in this study. Informed consent
was taken from parents or caregivers.
Results: Out of 4588 patients selected for study 120 patients were found to have
CHDs and the hospital incidence of CHD is 2.62%. In our study in clinical features,
breathlessness was the commonest and it was in 65% followed by cough in 80% and
fever 42 % of cases. In our study the distribution of CHD cases by clinical diagnosis
was 70% for ACHD and 30 % for CCHD cases. In our study as per the chest x-ray
findings following were there cardiomegaly, Increased pulmonary vascular markings (
Pulmonary plethora), Decreased Pulmonary vascular markings ( Pulmonary oligemia),
RVH/LVH, Pneumonia in 73 %, 41 %, 33 % 51 %
and 15 % respectively. In our study the correlation of clinical profile with chest x-ray
was 81 %. The clinical diagnosis correlating with echo was 81%.
Conclusion: The most common presenting symptoms in CHD were cough and breathlessness. Chest X-ray is important corroborative evidence in the diagnosis of CHD
and was abnormal in 81% of cases with the presence of cardiomegaly in 73 % of all cases.