Congenital cardiac anomalies in myelomeningocele patients.

OBJECTIVE Myelomeningocele may be isolated but more frequently is associated with other anomalies. Congenital heart disease occurs with different incidence rate in myelomeningocele which is observed more frequently with skeletal malformations. METHODS This study was undertaken in the Children's Hospital Medical Center between 2010 to 2012 to evaluate 75 myelomeningocele patients for cardiac anomalies, with electrocardiography and echocardiography in addition to clinical examination of the cardiopulmonary system. Demographic information, myelomeningocele location and characteristics, orthopedic deformities, neurological deficits and radiographic findings were studied besides cardiologic assessments. RESULTS The ages of the patients ranged from 1 day to 4 years. The myelomeningocele locations were lumbosacral, lumbar and sacral area in most cases. Physical examination of the heart was abnormal in 6 children, but echocardiography revealed cardiac anomalies in only two children. Both children were female patients with severe scoliosis, multiple rib deficiencies and associated vertebral anomalies. CONCLUSION Congenital heart defects are not very common in MMC patients. Female patients with suspicious clinical examinations for cardiac anomalies and associated rib and vertebral anomalies are advised to be investigated by echocardiography to rule out associated cardiac anomalies.