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Natural history of ventricular septal defects in Nigerian Children
Abstract
Results: Most of the patients were female 35 (57.4 %), the mean age at presentation was 11.2 ± 5.2 months while the commonest type of VSD was the perimembranous 39 (63.9%). Almost half 28 (45.9%) of the patients had spontaneous closure. Spontaneous closure rate was highest in muscular VSD (82.4%) and in the small sized defects (95.0%). Incidental presence of a murmur, absence of heart failure and bronchopneumonia were good clinical predictors of closure. Only 3(4.9%) patients had surgery abroad and 2 (3.3%) mortality was recorded in the entire series.
Conclusion: In conclusion, spontaneous closure readily occurs in small sized defects and muscular VSDs. Most patients with moderate to large VSDs are confined to long term medical management, highlighting the need for indigenous surgical capacity in Nigeria.
Author's affiliations
Wilson Ehidiamen Sadoh, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria
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Article History
Date published: 2010-03-31
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