Experience with Congenital Heart Disease in Children from Developing Countries

The natural history of cyanotic congenital heart disease was described in the 1940s and 1950s from experiences in the United States and other developed nations. [1–3]. Since the advent of palliative procedures (including balloon septostomy), palliative surgery, and corrective surgery, the natural history of cyanotic congenital heart disease has been greatly altered. However, in developing countries around the world, individuals with congenital heart disease still do not receive the benefits of modern therapeutic modalities. In 1980, a program called Lifeline was instituted at North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York. This program was designed to provide care for children with heart disease living in developing countries.