Pediatric cardiac surgery in Northern Russia. Results from an international cooperative program.

OBJECTIVES

In order to evaluate a Norwegian-Russian clinical cooperation, this study sought to compare the incidence, early mortality and morbidity of surgically treated patients with atrial septum defect (ASD), ventricular septum defect (VSD) and Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) in Norway and Archangels region in Russia.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of patient records of all those surgically treated for ASD, VSD and TOF in Norway and from Archangels region from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2005.

RESULTS

The Norwegian cohort consisted of 191 ASDs, 227 VSDs and 126 TOFs. The Russian cohort counted 128 ASDs, 77 VSDs and nine TOFs. Thirty-days mortality was 0.4% in the Norwegian VSD, 1.6% in the Norwegian TOF and 1.3% in the Russian VSD cohort. Postoperative complications in the Norwegian cohorts were 18.3% (ASDs), 15.9% (VSDs) and 34.1% (TOFs). The corresponding findings in Archangels were 4.7%, 11.7% and 0%.

CONCLUSION

Surgery for ASDs, VSDs and TOFs can be carried out with minimal early mortality in both countries. The discrepancy in early postoperative morbidity illustrates the challenges in comparative studies between different countries, cultures and health care systems. The establishment of a decentralized surgical facility has increased the access to cardiac surgery to the population in Archangels region.