ABSTRACT
Almost all heart disease in children is congenital in origin, with a birth prevalence of 8 in 1000 live births. Heart defects account for over 30% of all congenital anomalies. The mortality rate for children with congenital heart lesions has fallen over the last two decades, mainly due to earlier recognition of symptoms, the skill of cardiac surgeons, and the significant improvement in cardiopulmonary bypass techniques. There are eight common structural congenital heart defects (accounting for over 80% of the total) (see Box 21.1), and rhythm disturbances such as heart block and supraventricular tachycardia can also present as congenital lesions.
