[Incidence and invasive treatment of congenital heart diseases in Hajdu-Bihar county].

The incidence of congenital heart diseases was evaluated in the period 1994-1998. The number of those who went through therapeutic intervention and those infants dying of congenital heart disease were also assessed. Data were collected retrospectively. During the study period 26,932 live-births occurred in Hajdú-Bihar county and 421 congenital heart disease were diagnosed, 81% of whom were diagnosed under the age of one year. The most frequent diseases were secundum type atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus. 121 therapeutic procedures were performed (109 operations and 12 interventional heart catheterizations). 41 interventions occurred under the age of one and 13 before the age of 28 days. The mean age of children older than 1 year was 6 years at the time of the operation or interventional catheterization. The overall postoperative mortality within 30 days was 8.3%. During the study period 28 infants with significant heart disease died, 20 of whom also had an associated disease (most frequently prematurity). For congenital heart disease 4.5 operations or interventional heart catheterizations were required/1000 live births. The higher rate of diagnosed congenital heart disease is due to the development in diagnostic techniques, especially to Doppler-echocardiography. Owing to the operational waiting list the children's age at the time of operation is higher than optimal. The mortality among infants with heart disease is influenced by many factors, that is why stepping forward is a complex task in this field.