L.A. Bockeriya, E.B. Milievskaya, S.M. Krupyanko. O.A. Manerova
Bakoulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow

Abstract. Russia currently faces the following crucial problems and circumstances that affect organization and availability of cardiology care after surgical treatment of congenital heart disorders: geographical remoteness, regional climate patterns, transport connections, staffing problems, irregularity of geographical distribution of cardiology hospitals.

The aim is to analyze influence of geographical remoteness of patients with congenital heart disorders from the cardiology surgical hospitals where the surgery was performed on the availability of high-quality cardiology care to such patients.

Methods and data. The unit of observation was represented by a patient with congenital heart disorder under 18 years old treated at the Bakoulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery from January 2005 to March 2012 (n=18346). The survey covered families of 1346 patients with congenital heart disorders residing in the Central Federal District.

Results. Availability of cardiology care to patients after surgical treatment of congenital heart disorders depends upon certain number of factors and circumstances, including: territorial peculiarities of the Russian regions, remoteness of the health facility that provides specialized cardiology care from the patient’s residency; transport connections; non-profitability of cardiology care delivery in small settlements.

In the country’s regions there is a significant shortage of pediatric cardiologists and specialists of functional diagnostics qualified to interpret results and provide counseling to this category of patients. This problem is characteristic not only to rural areas but to big cities as well.

Lack of qualified specialists leads to the situation when out-patient stage often becomes a transitional one for the patient; counseling services are provided by the hospital where surgery was performed.

In general, the number of cardiology surgery clinics in the Russian Federation that provide the whole range of surgeries for patients with congenital heart disorders is insufficient, with existing ones being unevenly distributed along the Russian regions.

Keywords: congenital heart disorder; cardiology surgery clinic; transport connections; cardiology care; survey of families.

References:

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