Congenital heart diseases at autopsy of still-born and deceased children in the Central Bohemian Region.

In 1952-1976 autopsy was performed of all 3 734 still-born and 12 809 deceased children in the Central Bohemian region. Congenital heart disease (CHD) was found in 1 067, i. e. 6.45%, of all autopsies. The death rate from CHD in live-born and in still-born infants was 2.1/1000 and 22/1000, respectively. Of all congenital malformations CHD represented 41.4% in the deceased and 21.2% in the still-born infants. The incidence of congenital malformations involving other systems in CHD was 41.4%, the highest incidence being associated with anomalous position of the heart, endocardial cushion defect and ventricular septal defect. The most common associated malformation were congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract. Down's syndrome was identified in 11.5% of all CHD ending in death. Ventricular septal defect, transposition of the great arteries and hypoplastic left-heart syndrome were the most frequent CH diseases. 85.7% of children with CHD leading to death died within the first year of life; 27.3% of CHD infants had a low birth weight.