PATHOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN THE LUNGS IN CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS IN CHILDREN
The aim of the research. To study the pathomorphological features of the respiratory system lesions in children with congenital heart defects. Materials and methods.The study included data from 36 deceased children with diagnosed congenital heart disease at the age from 1 month to 3 years (2.3 ± 4.9 months) with diagnosed congenital heart disease, of which 11 (31%) girls and 25 (69%) boys. Antenatal and postnatal clinical characteristics of the observation group were given on the basis of clinical and anamnestic parameters. Descriptive macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of histological sections of the lung tissue of children with congenital heart defects complicated by heart failure are presented, cytomorphometry of alveolar tissue (length and width of alveoli, thickness of interalveolar spaces) was performed.Statistical data processing was carried out using the Microsoft Excel 2007, Statistica v.10.0 software package. Results. In the presence of congenital cardiovascular disorders, the development of pulmonary heart diseases was the main cause of death among children.Morphological signs of the presence of congestive heart failure and pulmonary hypertension are intraalveolar and interstitial edema, perivascular fibrosis, peribronchial vessel pericalibration. Signs of remodeling of the wall of the bronchial tree are dystrophic changes in the cells of the mucous membrane, edema of the walls of the bronchi, dilation and plethora of blood vessels, hemorrhages, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of the smooth muscle component. In children with congenital heart defects, the hickness of the interalveolar septa is 2 times greater, the alveoli are reduced in size, their length is 2.6 times and their width is 1.8 times less than in children of the comparison group (p <0.05). Conclusion. The data obtained indicate the presence of pathomorphological changes in the wall of the bronchi and the architectonics of the alveoli in children with congenital heart disease with hypervolemia of the pulmonary circulation.