OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of congenital heart diseases in Mauritanian children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our population was composed of children referred by the different cardiologists of the country on the occasion of two missions of pediatric cardiologists in December 2001 and November 2002. All patients had physical examination, chest radiogram, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. RESULTS: There were 84 patients aged between 2 months and 16 years. Mean age was 6.1 +/- 5.0 years. Forty eight children (57.1%) were males and 36 (43.9%) females (sex ratio was 1.3). Ventricular septal defect (17%), tetralogy of Fallot (13%) and pulmonary stenosis (12%) were the predominant pathologiese. Surgery was initially indicated for in 61 infants (73%), realized in 22 of them (26%) and considered out of date in 10 patients (12%). CONCLUSION: Congenital heart diseases pose a major problem of treatment in Mauritania. They are dominated by the left to right shunts. The age of diagnosis is relatively late (6 years) exposing to the risk of complications. Therefore, a team of paediatric cardiologists on the spot and the setting up of cardiovascular surgery facilities are necessary.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiological profile of congenital heart diseases in Mauritanian children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Our population was composed of children referred by the different cardiologists of the country on the occasion of two missions of pediatric cardiologists in December 2001 and November 2002. All patients had physical examination, chest radiogram, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. RESULTS: There were 84 patients aged between 2 months and 16 years. Mean age was 6.1 +/- 5.0 years. Forty eight children (57.1%) were males and 36 (43.9%) females (sex ratio was 1.3). Ventricular septal defect (17%), tetralogy of Fallot (13%) and pulmonary stenosis (12%) were the predominant pathologiese. Surgery was initially indicated for in 61 infants (73%), realized in 22 of them (26%) and considered out of date in 10 patients (12%). CONCLUSION:Congenital heart diseases pose a major problem of treatment in Mauritania. They are dominated by the left to right shunts. The age of diagnosis is relatively late (6 years) exposing to the risk of complications. Therefore, a team of paediatric cardiologists on the spot and the setting up of cardiovascular surgery facilities are necessary.