CLINICAL MANIFESTATIONS OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASES IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS: DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT CHALLENGES

Abstract

Congenital heart defects are structural malformations of the heart that occur during fetal development, significantly affecting pediatric morbidity and mortality. Diagnosing and treating these conditions pose complex clinical challenges due to their wide variety of symptomatic presentations and the need for specialized interventions starting in childhood. Clinical manifestations can range from mild symptoms to severe hemodynamic compromise, requiring precise diagnostic approaches and timely therapeutic interventions to improve clinical outcomes. Objective: To systematically review recent literature to explore the diverse clinical manifestations of congenital heart disease in pediatric patients, focusing on diagnostic challenges and treatment strategies used. Methodology: The review followed the PRISMA checklist guidelines. The PubMed, Scielo and Web of Science databases were used to search for articles published in the last 10 years. Descriptors included "congenital", "cardiopathy", "child", "clinical manifestations" and "treatment". Inclusion criteria were studies that specifically investigated children with congenital heart defects, case reports and clinical trials. Exclusion criteria were studies that did not focus on pediatric patients, duplicate studies, and case reports not relevant to clinical outcomes. Results: The main topics identified included the diversity of clinical manifestations, such as cyanosis, heart failure and arrhythmias, in addition to contemporary therapeutic approaches, such as corrective surgeries and pharmacological interventions. The review highlighted the importance of early detection and multidisciplinary management to optimize clinical outcomes in pediatric patients with congenital heart defects. Conclusion: In summary, the systematic review emphasized the complexity of the clinical manifestations of congenital heart disease in children and the need for integrated diagnostic and treatment strategies to improve prognoses. This study contributes to an updated understanding of these conditions and may guide future clinical practices toward better outcomes for affected pediatric patients.