Congenital cardiopathies in Arab children.

661 consecutive children below the age of 14 years underwent open and closed heart surgery at the Saudi Heart Centre during a 4-year period for congenital cardiopathies of simple and complex nature with an average mortality rate of 10.5%. Congenital cardiopathies in Saudi Arabia differ from those seen in the Western world by the relative frequency of cyanotic heart disease, the presence of multiple complex congenital anomalies together, the advanced pulmonary hypertension, a rather aggressive nature of the cardiac diseases, and late referral of the children who often suffer also from congestive heart failure, reduced general condition and a malnutritional state.