HISTOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF THE VENTRICULAR MYOCARDIUM IN 62 CASES OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE

Abstract

Histological examinations were carried out on 62 structurally malformed hearts for evidence of irreversible degenerative changes. Of these, 37 showed minor pathological appearances not considered to be of any significance. Only 5 of the hearts showed gross changes, and one of these had been explored surgically. The other 4 showed necrosis and fibrosis in the interventricular septum as well as elsewhere in the ventricular walls. Because of the smallness of the series it was concluded that it was not possible to predict the type of abnormality most likely to be associated with gross degenerative changes in the myocardium and that in any case the percentage affected was so small as not to influence the time of surgical correction.