Management of dilated cardiomyopathy in children in a resource poor setting

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in children is characterized by left ventricular dysfunction in the absence of chronic increased afterload or volume overload. There is no local study describing DCM in children. Diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion as it may easily be missed or diagnosed late which results in high morbidity and mortality. We present 2 cases of female infants admitted with DCM to our paediatric intensive care unit at MP Shah Hospital who did well on medical management. Determining the etiology of DCM remains a challenge in resource limited setting as imaging, viral markers and genetic studies may not be readily be available, hence clinical judgement remains the key in diagnosis and management.  Cardiorespiratory therapies and vasoactive medication such as diuretics, inotropes and vasopressors and vasodilators used in management have
shown to improve outcomes.