ASSOCIATION OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE AND ORO- FACIAL ANOMALIES

Abstract

Frequent occurence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in children with cleft lip and palate has been reported. The incidence of congenital heart disease in patients with oro-facial anomalies has been studied. Data Bank Records of 838 consecutive patients referred to Center for Craniofacial Anomalies Clinic were analyzed for the incidence of congenital heart disease. Diagnosis of congenital heart disease was made in 71 (8.5%) patients, a much higher frequency than that found in the general population. The 71 patients included 30 with cleft lip and palate alone, 12 with facial clefts associated with other syndromes 12 Craniofacial syndromes without clefts, and 17 with congenital palato-pharyngeal incompetence. Age at diagnosis of the congenital heart disease ranged from birth to 15 years. There were 29 males, 42 females (2 with Turner Syndrome (XO)). Congenital heart disease was confirmed by cardiac catheterization in 53, 6 were diagnosed at autopsy. Cardiovascular surgery was performed in 33. The most common cardiac malformations were: isolated ventricular septal defects in 22 (31%), Tetrology of Fallot in 8 (11%), patent ductus arteriosus in 8 (11)%, atrial septal defect in 6 (8%), and coarctation of aorta in 7 (10%), a combination of ventricular septal with an atrial septal defect or patent ductus arteriosus or coarctation of aorta in 7 (10%) and other malformations (13). No transposition of great vessel was found. The data indicates a high frequency of congenital cardio-vascular defects in patients with Craniofacial anomalies.