Cardiac surgery for children in war and disaster zones: global experiences and lessons
Paediatric cardiac surgery encompasses operative management of CHD in children, as well as acquired conditions such as rheumatic heart disease and infective endocarditis.
1 In conflict and disaster zones, the need for paediatric cardiac surgery remains constant, but access to timely diagnosis and surgery is severely disrupted.
2 Infants with critical duct-dependent lesions often die before reaching specialist care and are therefore underreported, while older children present later with advanced and more complex pathology.
3 The overall burden of disease is further heightened by a rising prevalence of acquired cardiac conditions, e.g., rheumatic heart disease resurges where primary prevention and antibiotics are disrupted.
4 Infective endocarditis and tuberculous or bacterial pericarditis increase in overcrowded and low-resource settings.
5 Conflict-related trauma may also cause cardiac injuries in older children and adolescents, adding to the caseload.
