CURRENT TRENDS OF CARDIAC SEPTAL DEFECTS IN CHILDREN IN EASTERN INDIA: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) is the most common among all congenital anomalies. CHDs are majorly classied into either cyanotic or acyanotic variety and both may have septal defects. Isolated cardiac septal defects mainly constitute the acyanotic CHDs namely Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) and Endocardial Cushion Defects (ECD). With recent advances and ease of availability of diagnostic aids and specialists, CHDs have become a common disease entity faced by Paediatric practitioners today. Acyanotic cardiac septal defects are relatively easier to manage and treat as compared to the cyanotic and complex CHDs. Still data detailing the epidemiology of these defects in India are scarce. This study was aimed to typify ndings from pediatric CHD patients with septal defects at a medical college hospital in northern part of West Bengal, catering to a previously understudied demographic. A sequence of CHD cases, picked contiguously from the pediatric indoor and outdoor patients over a period, were surveyed. Data was recorded under multiple headings including demographics, clinical ndings, investigations and outcomes