Objective:

To describe the types of cardiac catheterization that are performed in the only pediatric catheterization laboratory within the public health network of El Salvador, in collaboration with non-profit organizations.

Material and method:

A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from May 2022 to January 2023, reviewing the records of all patients who underwent cardiac catheterization.

Results:

54 procedures were performed in the catheterization room, 37 female patients. The weight was 20.6 ± 14.5 kg, of the procedures, 47 (87%) were therapeutic and 7 (13%) diagnostic. Occlusion of the ductus arteriosus was performed in 46% of the patients. No complications were reported, the patients were discharged after 12 hours, all supplies were donated by non-profit foundations.

Conclusions:

Our catheterization laboratory performs procedures of varied complexity without reporting any major complications to date. We are limited due to the high cost of some devices, the low frequency of their use and the impossibility of acquiring them in the national market.

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