Low-bandwidth teleconsultations for patients with complex congenital heart diseases.

We have reviewed our experience with a low-bandwidth paediatric telecardiology link (using ISDN at 128 kbit/s) between a tertiary centre in Belgrade and a tertiary centre in London. Over a two-year period, 12 videoconferences were held, during which 40 case histories of 38 patients were presented from Belgrade. The patients were aged 7 days to 20 years, and most of them had complex congenital heart defects. Changes in diagnosis and/or therapy occurred in 21 cases. Clinically relevant changes in diagnosis occurred in 2/40 cases (5%). In 12 cases, there were slight differences in opinion which resulted in minor changes in therapy for 9 of the patients. In another 9 patients, major changes in therapy occurred. There were no major problems with the quality of image and sound in any of the videoconferences. Our experience suggests that when there are experienced paediatric cardiologists at both ends of the connection, transmission via a single ISDN line is safe and accurate.