%0 Journal Article
%T Congenital Heart Diseases Diagnosed on Transthoracic Echocardiography: Perspectives from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
%A Faruk Buba
%A Mohammed A. Talle
%A Charles O. Anjorin
%A Mohammed M. Baba
%A Bello A. Ibrahim
%J World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery
%P 55-65
%@ 2164-3210
%D 2017
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/wjcs.2017.74007
%X In a retrospective study of 1224 transthoracic
echocardiograms performed between January 2011 and December 2013, we evaluated
the spectrum of congenital heart disease
(CHD) diagnosed at a tertiary referral centre in Maiduguri,
north-eastern Nigeria. Diagnosis of CHD was made in 88 (8.3%) subjects,
comprising 23 (26.1%) adults and 65 (73.9%) aged less than 18 years. Forty six
(52.3%) of those with CHD were females, while 42 (47.7%) were males. The
frequencies of the CHD in decreasing order were: ventricular septal defect 23
(26.1%), tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) 14 (15.9%) and atrial septal defect (ASD) and
atrioventricular septal defect (AVSD) were 11 (12.5%) each. One of the patients
with AVSD had Ellis Van Creveldt syndrome. Six (6.8%) cases of patent ductus
arteriosus (PDA) were diagnosed in those younger than 18 years, while all the 5
(5.7%) cases of Ebstein¡¯s anomaly were diagnosed in adults. There were 6 (6.8%) cases of Eisenmenger syndrome involving three
cases of AVSD, one case of ASD and two cases of Ebstein¡¯s anomaly. Timely
definitive cares for these patients are still lacking in Nigeria and many areas
of sub-Saharan Africa. We recommend sensitization of all relevant clinicians to
actively look for congenital heart defects. Pulse oximetry and postnatal echocardiographic
new-born screening which were previously validated should be implemented at
secondary and tertiary levels, and efforts should be made towards providing the needed care for
patients with CHD.
%K Congenital Heart Disease
%K Transthoracic Echocardiography
%K Nigeria
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=75775