A service for grown up patients with congenital heart disease (GU CH) in Malta

Abstract

Untreated congenital heart disease takes a heavy toll for those born with such anomalies, with approximately 65% dying in infancy and 15-20% reaching adolescence and adulthood. J Malta has had the same incidence of congenital heart disease in live births as other European countries, i.e. 0.8/ 1000 live births 2 It has been fortunate to be able to give children optimal therapy by the ability to send infants and children to London for treatment including open heart surgery over the last 40 years. The majority have returned improved or cured, with diminishing mortality rates (figure 1) and increasing survival rates in the region of 95%.3 Many have passed adolescence becoming parents and even grandparents, and are or have been in full employment, contributing to the community.