Congenital heart disease in Nigeria. Necropsy study of 47 cases.

The present study of 47 necropsy cases of congenital heart disease has revealed that cardiac defects occur as frequently in the African as in the non-African. The types of congenital heart disease and the associated non-cardiac malformations are similar to what has been described in non-Africans. Tetrad of Fallot was the commonest type of multiple defect and ventricular septal defect the most common isolated defect in the present series. Two rare types of defects (an accessory third ventricle and congenital tricuspid incompetence) were encountered. The aetiologicalfactors in congenital heart disease in the African environment require further studies.