Effectiveness and safety of paediatric interventional cardiac catheterisation in a subregional cardiothoracic unit.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness and safety of paediatric interventional cardiac catheterization during the development of the service. SETTING: Sub-regional Paediatric Cardiothoracic Centre. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All paediatric admissions for cardiac catheterisation between January, 1985 and December, 1992. Data were collected on all patients in whom interventional cardiac catheterisation was performed excluding babies undergoing balloon atrial septostomy. Results were compared with those reported previously by the larger centres. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy eight interventional procedures were performed in 158 patients, progressing from pulmonary valvuloplasty (1985) and aortic valvuloplasty (1986) to arterial duct occlusion and coil embolisation of shunts (1991). During the study period there was a rise in the number and variety of conditions for which interventional cardiac catheterisation was performed. In terms of morbidity, mortality and technical success, results compared favourably with those published from larger centres. CONCLUSIONS: Interventional cardiac catheterisation in children can be established effectively and safely in a relatively smaller set up.