Spectrum of congenital heart disease in neonates in a tertiary care centre of Northern India

Abstract

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in children representing a major global health burden. Not much of Indian data is available particularly from this part of the country. So, authors conduct a retrospective study to know the spectrum of congenital heart disease in our set up.Methods: A retrospective hospital based study was carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit of SMGS Hospital, Jammu from January 2017 until December 2017 to see the spectrum of CHD.Results: There were 5552 neonates admitted during the study period out of which 68 were found to have CHD. The prevalence was 12.24 per 1000 admitted neonates. Out of 68 admitted neonates, 41were males (60.3 %) and 27 females (39.7%). Clinically Respiratory distress (51.47%) was the commonest presenting symptom followed by Cyanosis (16.18%), refusal of feed (13.23%) and murmer (10.3%).46 (67.65%) newborn had acyanotic and 22 (32.35%) cyanotic congenital heart lesions. Ventricular septal defect (27.94%) was the commonest acyanotic congenital heart defects whereas Tetrology of Fallot (14.70%) was the commonest cyanotic congenital heart diseases. Cleft lip and Cleft Palate was found in 12.5% followed by Down’s syndrome in 3.57% of cases of newborns with CHD. The mode of delivery was spontaneous in 64.71% followed by Elective LSCS were 23.53% and Emergency LSCS were 11.76%.Conclusions: There is an urgent need for government and non‑government organizations to establish well‑equipped cardiothoracic surgical centers across the country especially in Jammu to cater for children with CHDs.