Sudden Death due to Congenital Heart Disease- A Case Report

Birth defects have become the most important cause of mortality and morbidity in the perinatal period. Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect which includes varying forms of cardiac abnormalities with an incidence of 1 per 100 live births. We present a case where 6 month old Afghan national male baby brought to India for higher treatment with a history of failure to thrive and rapid heart beating. He was diagnosed with Atrio-Ventricular Septal Defect, Pulmonary artery hypertension and advised pulmonary artery banding as soon as possible. Baby fell unconscious on board and shifted to Safdarjung hospital where he was declared brought dead and post mortem examination confirmed the diagnosis. Here an attempt has been made to put forward such a case with relevant discussion on such potentially life-threatening malformations which warrant careful clinical follow-up both in antenatal and postnatal period.