Assessment of Cardiovascular Surgery Requirements in Children and Adolescents Admitted With Chest Pain To A Pediatric Emergency Clinic

Abstract

Introduction: Chest pain in children and adolescents is an important symptom in the pediatric emergency clinic. The aim of this study is to assess the characteristics of chest pain and cardiovascular surgery in the pediatric population. Materials and methods: There were 352 children who presented with chest pain to the pediatric emergency department between December 2007 and February 2017. These children were included in this study, which is a retrospective observational study. Results: Among the 352 patients, six patients (1.7%) underwent cardiovascular surgery. Forty-eight patients (13.6%) were diagnosed with cardiac disease, and the most common cardiac causes were myocarditis and pericarditis. Conclusion: Only six patients (1.7%) who were admitted to the emergency department with chest pain needed cardiovascular surgery. The chest pain in children required less surgery, and mortality and morbidity were lower compared with adult cardiac chest pain.