ABSTRACT 506

Abstract

Background and aims: The outcome of patients presented with cardiac failure admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) depends on the underlying disease. Aims: The aim of this study was to examine clinical characteristics, severity of illness, and assess the outcome of children diagnosed with cardiac disease (CD) in Albania. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Are included children diagnosed with cardiac disease during the period January 2011-december 2012. We evaluated clinical characteristics, severity of illness according scoring systems (PRISM, PELOD, GCS) and mortality. Results: During the study period, 81 children with cardiac disease are admitted at our PICU (7.1% of all admissions). Congenital heart diseases 81.5%, cardiomyopathy (12.3%), and supraventricular tachycardia (6.2%) were the leading causes of CD among patients without MV. Surgical correction has underwent 57.7% of congenital heart disease with 11% mortality. Age (p< 0.01) and GCS (p< 0.4) differed among disease sub cohorts, but none of the severity of illness or intervention scores. The PRISM and PELOD scores (p< 0.01) were significantly higher and the GCS lower (p< 0.001) in patients who needed intubation. Cardiac patients admitted to our multidisciplinary PICU had low mortality (2% of admission). Cardiomyopathy and complex congenital heart disease were the main causes of mortality. Conclusions: In patients with CD severity of illness, intervention scores are higher among those who need intubation. Mortality, age and support differ among various causes of CD. Prenatal diagnosis, innovations in cardiothoracic surgical techniques, and improvements in perioperative management have contributed to increased survival of infants with CD.