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.

Paediatric cardiology in a sub-regional cardiothoracic unit.

The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of referrals the number of admissions, cardiac catheterisations and surgical procedures-including outcome-in infants and children referred to a sub-regional cardiothoracic unit during a 6-year period. The unit is served by one paediatric cardiologist and four general cardiothoracic surgeons, two of whom undertake paediatric surgery. Referrals were received from within the Trent Regional Health Authority, and from three other health Regions.