Importancia del diagnóstico prenatal de las cardiopatías congénitas

Abstract

According to latest official statistical results for 2015, the second cause of child death in Mexico is congenital malformation, most of which are congenital heart diseases. The neonatal period is the phase in which most deaths associated with this condition occurs. During 2013 alone, a total of 3,593 children under 1 year of age had a reported death in Mexico due to congenital heart diseases, and more than 50% of them occurred while they were newborns. Diagnosing critical heart diseases during the foetal period in countries with a structured prenatal screening process have shown a decrease in deaths during newborn stages. Foetal diagnosis of this group of diseases is crucial in order to provide proper treatment and improve prognosis for people suffering from them in our country. The National Perinatology Institute has developed a methodology for the timely diagnosis during foetal stages and the perinatal management of heart diseases, and aims to launch a national screening program for this group of diseases. Collaborating with the Nacional Health Institute, where cardiovascular surgeries are performed on paediatric patients, this program aspires to improve both the care and prognosis for patients with heart diseases.