[Congenital cardiopathies in a tropical environment. Study of 259 cases seen at Abidjan from 1969-1976].

The authors report the study of 259 cases of congenital heart disease observed at Abidjan between 1969-1976. The average age of the patients was 7-8 years ranging from the newborn to 41 years. The principal malformations encountered in their order of frequency were: ventricular septal defect 38.6 p. 100, atrial septal defect 13.8 p. 100, Fallot's tetralogy 8.8 p. 100, pulmonary stenosis 8.1 100, patent ductus arteriosus 7.7 p. 100, atrioventricular canal 7.7 p. 100, transposition of the great arteries 3.8 p. 100, coarctation of the aorta 2.3 p. 100. There were associated malformations in 31 cases. 42 patients were catheterised at Abidjan, 28 were operated, 12 at Abidjan. These statistics are compared to those already reported of congenital heart disease in tropical and western countries. There is little difference in the distribution of the various cardiac malformations. Two congenital malformations appear to be less frequent in the Tropics: coarctation of the aorta and aortic stenosis.