A pediatric cardiology outreach clinic in a local hospital : an experience review from South A'Sharqiyah, Oman.
المصدر
Oman Medical Journal, v. 39, no. 2, e604 p. [1-5].
مؤلف
Al Senaidi, Khalfan Salim.
الناشر
Oman Medical Specialty Board.
العنوان الأصلي
A pediatric cardiology outreach clinic in a local hospital : an experience review from South A'Sharqiyah, Oman.
الملخص الإنجليزي
Objectives: Specialized pediatric cardiology clinics conducted in local hospitals are an
important part of delivering specialized care to patients close to their homes. This study
aimed to review our experience with a specialized pediatric cardiology outreach clinic
at Jaalan Bani Bu Ali Hospital, South A'Sharqiyah, Oman. Methods: Patient records
for each individual, seen in the outreach clinic between March 2018 and June 2022,
were reviewed to determine demographic information, reason for referral, underlying
diagnosis, and clinic visit outcomes. Results: Over the study period, 29 clinics were
conducted, with 360 patients seen. Of these, 200 (55.6%) were male with a median
age of 13 months. The majority of patients (n = 271; 75.3%) were referred due to a
cardiac murmur. Most patients had a normal cardiac evaluation (n = 177; 49.2%). The
most common congenital heart diseases detected were mild pulmonary valve stenosis
(14.8%) and moderate to large secundum atrial septal defects (13.7%). Significant cardiac
lesions detected included severe pulmonary hypertension (2.2%), tetralogy of Fallot
(1.6%), and cor triatriatum sinistrum (0.5%). Overall, 70 (19.4%) patients were referred
to tertiary care hospitals, and 179 (49.7%) were reassured and discharged. Conclusions:
Conducting specialized pediatric cardiology outreach clinics in overpopulated areas is
effective and well-received by families. It reassures many families and reduces the need
for unnecessary travel to specialized centers. These clinics also play a crucial role in
detecting patients with significant cardiac defects requiring urgent care. Implementing
specialized clinics in primary and secondary health centers could be beneficial for other
subspecialties in reducing long waiting lists.
