• Surraiya Bano, Saleem Akhtar, and Uzma Khan.
• Dr. Surraiya Bano, MBBS, MCPS, FCPS (Peds). Department of Emergency Medicine, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
• Pak J Med Sci. 2020 Mar 1; 36 (3): 333-337.

ObjectiveTo observe presentation of Pediatric congenital cardiac defects to the Emergency Department (ED) of a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan.MethodsThis is a retrospective chart review of patients under the age of 16 years with congenital cardiac defects presenting to the Emergency Department of Aga Khan University Hospital over a period of eighteen months, from January 2012 to June 2013. Study population was divided into two groups; first group constituted children with undiagnosed congenital cardiac defects, whereas second group constituted children with diagnosed congenial cardiac defects presented to ED. In previously diagnose cases each visit was counted as a separate encounter.ResultsOut of 133 children, 44 (33.5%) were diagnosed congenital cardiac disease for the first time (Group-1) in ED, while 89 (66.5%) children were diagnosed cases of congenital heart disease (Group-2). Among Group-1; main reasons for ED visits were cyanosis, cardiac failure, murmur evaluation and cardiogenic shock where as in Group-2; main presentations were cardiac failure, hyper cyanotic spells, gastroenteritis, lower respiratory tract infection, and post-operative issues. There were total 13 deaths.ConclusionHigh index of suspicion is necessary for early diagnosis and management of children with congenital heart disease in the pediatric emergency department.Copyright: © Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences.

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