Strategy for the care of newborns with congenital heart disease in Belize

Abstract

Congenital heart diseases have a worldwide incidence, according to the WHO, of approximately 6 – 8 per 1,000 live births, of which 3 x 1,000 would be considered critical, with a 70% probability of dying in the first month of life if any type of palliative surgery is not performed during that time. One of the challenges that underdeveloped countries face is being able to guarantee these expensive treatments, which also require a well-coordinated health system, which is sometimes difficult to achieve. To make solidarity aid from countries with the conditions to provide this care to economically disadvantaged countries more effective, the latter must have a minimum of cardio-pediatric care that facilitates early diagnosis. The orientation, by the medical team to the future mother, of her birth in a prenatal reception medical center with conditions for the best care of her at the time of birth is essential. Under the current conditions of Belize, the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, which has a team made up of obstetricians, neonatologists and cardio-pediatricians, supported by the conditions of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), is the reference institution.