Authors

• Ivan Malčić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-1060-0988
• Dalibor Šarić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Hrvoje Kniewald — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-7750-4563
• Daniel Dilber — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Dorotea Bartoniček — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Darko Anić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-7378-944X
• Višnja Ivančan — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-7282-9753
• Dražen Belina — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Alen Hodalin — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Development of interventional cardiology in treating heart diseases in children in the Reference Centre for Pediatric Cardiology (1) in the last 20 years (1996 - 2015) is presented. Constant growth in the number of heart catheterizations (from 160 to 241) is followed by a relatively higher growth in the number of interventional catheterizations (from 12.5% to 38.1%). While the number of catheterizations (**Table 1**) has increased by 50% (160 to 241 =1,5), the number of interventional catheterizations has increased by more than 200% (12.5 – 38.1% > 3). In our conditions these data point to an absolute increase of interventional treatment when compared to the diagnostic heart catheterization itself, despite the fact that the latest diagnostic methods are still not applied sufficiently (MSCT, MRI, 3D ECHO and other). Providing we decrease the number if diagnostic catheterizations by applying the mentioned new diagnostic methods, and based on the expected number of interventional catheterizations curve, the 50% level may be expected in about 5 years. All age groups from newborns, including prematures, to the age of 18 are represented. That implies a tremendous body mass span, with the lowest birth mass being 2000 grams at the time of diagnostic catheterization, and 2400 grams at the time of interventional catheterization. In the last twenty years 3695 heart catheterizations have been performed, 937 of which were interventional (averagely 26%). ### Table 1: Development of invasive diagnostics and of interventional heart catheterization in the last 20 years (1996-2015) in the Reference Centre for Pediatric Cardiology University Hospital Centre Zagreb. | Year | Number of heart catheterization | Number of interventions | percentage of interventions in the overall number of catheterizations | estimated number of interventions based on the number of interventions in the previous year | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1996 | 160 | 20 | 12,5% | - | | 1997 | 91 | 17 | 18,9% | 11 | | 1998 | 90 | 24 | 26,8% | 17 | | 1999 | 168 | 16 | 9,5% | 45 | | 2000 | 186 | 21 | 11,3% | 18 | | 2001 | 186 | 41 | 22,0% | 21 | | 2002 | 176 | 27 | 15,3% | 39 | | 2003 | 161 | 25 | 15,5% | 25 | | 2004 | 190 | 48 | 25,4% | 30 | | 2005 | 170 | 32 | 18,8% | 43 | | 2006 | 194 | 52 | 26,8% | 37 | | 2007 | 182 | 60 | 33,0% | 49 | | 2008 | 201 | 65 | 32,3% | 66 | | 2009 | 224 | 70 | 31,3% | 72 | | 2010 | 206 | 68 | 33.0% | 66 | | 2011 | 230 | 78 | 33.9% | 76 | | 2012 | 210 | 72 | 34.3% | 71 | | 2013 | 194 | 62 | 31.6% | 67 | | 2014 | 235 | 83 | 35.3% | 75 | | 2015 | 241 | 92 | 38.1% | 85 | | Overall | 3695 | 973 | 26.33% | | In interventional procedures we employed 12 different surgical procedures, thus equaling the developed pediatric cardiology centers in Europe. Cardiac surgeons and anesthesiologists also participate in the work of pediatric cardiologists. Along with statistic data we are also presenting various interventional skills in pediatric cardiology, from balloon atrioseptostomy to stent implantation.

Keywords

interventional cardiology, children, follow-up, development

DOI

Literature

1. Malcić I, Kniewald H, Sarić D, Gjergja Z, Dasović-Buljević A, Anić D, et al. The development of interventional catheterisation in the referral centre for pediatric cardiology of the Republic of Croatia--a retrospective study 1996-2009. Lijec Vjesn. 2011;133(7-8):241–9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22165190/