A STUDY ON THE ASSOCIATION OF HYPERTELORISM AND POSTERIORLY PLACED PINNA IN CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL ACYANOTIC HEART DISEASES

Objective: To diagnose undetected cases of asymptomatic congenital acyanotic heart disease by measuring intercanthal distance (ICD) and angle of ear inclination (AEI). Methods: A comparative study was conducted over a period of 2011-2012 in the Department of Paediatric Medicine, Medical College Hospital, Kolkata. 100 patients (Cases: 50 patients with congenital acyanotic heart disease. Control: 50 patients without it) of age group 3 months to 12 years were examined clinically. Echocardiography was done. Intercanthal distance was measured by Vernier’s sliding caliper and angle of ear inclination by photogrametry. Results: Among 50 cases, 7(14%) male and 14(28%) female patients had hypertelorism, 10(20%) male and 16(32%) female patients had posteriorly rotated pinna. Among 50 controls, 4(8%) male, and 6(12%) female patients had hypertelorism and 2(4%) male, and 6(12%) female patients had posteriorly rotated pinna. In both the group female patients had higher incidence. Conclusion: Every child with hypertelorism and obliquely placed pinna should be properly screened for congenital acyanotic heart disease to decrease the morbidity.