An echocardiography audit to determine and characterise rheumatic heart disease lesions seen in 2012

Introduction: Rheumatic heart disease is still a common problem in Zimbabwe. It has a significant mortality rate due to heart failure, stroke or endocarditis. Timely surgical interventions can reduce mortality. An echocardiography audit was performed to determine the proportion of patients referred for echocardiography who had a diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease, the pattern of valvular involvement and the presence of surgical indications on echocardiography. Objective: To determine the number of echocardiograms done in 2012 and the proportion with a diagnosis of rheumatic heart disease. To determine which valve lesions were present and whether there were any echocardiographic indications for surgical intervention.

A medical research paper on rheumatic heart disease lesions as evidenced in Zimbabwe.