Does 2D Echocardiography Tally With Clinical Diagnosis In The Management Of Congenital Heart Disease

Background: The objective of this study was to determine if clinical diagnosis of cardiac abnormalities tally with 2 D Echocardiography findings. Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study in which a review of the records of all children attending children outpatient clinics including cardiology clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu over a five year period (January 2007-June 2012) was undertaken. All children presenting with cardiac anomalies were included in the study and the cases were investigated using 2 D Echocardiographic studies. Results: A total of 31,795 children attended the children outpatient clinics of the hospital over the study period. Of these, seventy one (71) had cardiac diseases. Among children with cardiac disease ,thirty five Percent ( 35%) of all the patients had their clinical diagnosis not tallying with 2 D Echocardiography while 21 (29.5%) had clinical diagnosis in tandem with 2 D Echocardiography. Thirty five and half percent had no 2 D Echocardiograph done for them for financial reasons. Conclusions: Despite the fact that clinical diagnosis may not always tally with 2 D Echocardiography in the diagnosis of congenital heart disease ,it should not be downplayed.