Ventricular septal defects at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: a review of echocardiogram records

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the prevalence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) and to determine the age and gender distribution of this defect and its common associated congenital cardiac anomalies among patients referred for echocardiographic examination at the echocardiography laboratory of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. Echocardiogram reports from the 10-year period February 1991-September 2001 were analysed. There were 2486 echocardiogram scans with an additional 334 repeat scans; 593 subjects had congenital anomalies, of which 165 (28%; 98 males and 67 females) had VSDs. The highest prevalence of VSDs (118; 70%) was in children age 0-9 years although VSDs were found in adults aged up to 50 years and above. Persistent ductus arteriosus and atrial septal defect were the commonest associated congenital anomalies. The study has shown that VSD is a relatively common congenital heart disease and that many patients present with VSD in adult life. There is a need for thorough scrutiny to be made for other cardiac anomalies in all patients with VSD, as well as for corrective surgery to be made affordable to those affected by this defect and other associated anomalies.

Synopsis of congenital cardiac disease among children attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku Ozalla, Enugu

“…Ejim and colleagues [10] evaluated the prevalence of ventricular septal defect (VSD) among patients referred for echocardiographic examination at the echocardiography laboratory of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria over a 10-year period. They noted that of 2486 echocardiogram scans done; 593 subjects had congenital anomalies, of which 165 (prevalence of 0.28) had VSDs.…”

A systematic review of trends and patterns of congenital heart disease in children in Nigeria from 1964-2015

“…[9][10][11][12][13][14][15] While ventricular septal defects (VSD) were reported as the commonest defects in all such studies, there were wide variations in the relative frequencies of the other congenital heart diseases. [9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Thus, we sought to review all studies on patterns of congenital heart disease diagnosed by detailed clinical examination(inclusive of follow up), angiography, necropsy and/or echocardiography in Nigeria and determine through a trend analysis if there have been any variations in these patterns from 1964 to 2015.…”

Pattern and clinical aspects of congenital heart diseases and their management in Cameroon

“…We found that the most encountered congenital pathologies in all the centres was VSD. It was also most frequently found by Bannerman and Mahalu [1] and Ejim et al [3]. Clinically, the triad mostly encountered was precordial murmur, dyspnoea on exertion, and failure to thrive.…”