Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Extra Innings

Jennifer — Fri, 24 May 2019 15:27:00 +0000

Extra Innings Jennifer May 24, 2019

Extra Innings

At 1 year old, Stevie Wisz was diagnosed with aortic stenosis, the severe narrowing of the aorta as it branches out from the heart. Her aortic valve was one-sixteenth the size it should have been. Over the years, she received two open heart surgeries and a pacemaker at UCLA Medical Center.

Now 21, Stevie has reached a point where her heart is 100% reliant on her pacemaker. If the pacemaker stops, she collapses. The leakage in her aorta is again severe. And yet she’s a Division I athlete at UCLA—the very place that she says saved her life. “I don’t like being told not to do something. Or that I can’t do something,” she said.

Read the full story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

May 24, 2019

5th-grader’s heartbeat makes history at Phoenix Children’s

Jennifer — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 16:31:00 +0000

5th-grader’s heartbeat makes history at Phoenix Children’s Jennifer Feb 7, 2019

5th-grader’s heartbeat makes history at Phoenix Children’s

After young patient Gabriel was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy (when the left ventricle of the heart — the chamber responsible for pumping blood to the lungs and body — becomes enlarged and weakened), doctors determined that his tired heart had run out of time. He needed a brand new heart.

STS member Daniel Velez, MD, Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Phoenix Children’s, advocated on behalf of Gabriel. Dr. Velez petitioned for Gabriel to be fitted for an artificial heart, which was approved only for adult use. The lifesaving device serves as a “bridge” for patients waiting for a heart transplant, routing the circulation of blood to the lungs and other parts of the body. But, it had never been installed in a patient as young as Gabriel. The operation was a success and he became the youngest patient in the world to receive the artificial heart.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Feb 7, 2019

Sofia Receives Both Birthday Wishes: Drake Visit & Heart Transplant

Jennifer — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 16:55:22 +0000

Sofia Receives Both Birthday Wishes: Drake Visit & Heart Transplant Jennifer Oct 2, 2018

Sofia Receives Both Birthday Wishes: Drake Visit & Heart Transplant

Two wishes came true for an 11-year-old girl with cardiomyopathy: she received a surprise visit from rapper, Drake, and she underwent a successful heart transplant operation, performed by STS member Dr. Carl Backer at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. “The new heart so far seems to be working perfectly. Normal function, normal heart rhythm,” Dr. Backer said.

Read the full story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Oct 2, 2018

Surgeons to use 'hologram' goggles to see inside children's hearts

Jennifer — Fri, 31 Aug 2018 13:32:13 +0000

Surgeons to use 'hologram' goggles to see inside children's hearts Jennifer Aug 31, 2018

Surgeons to use 'hologram' goggles to see inside children's hearts

Technology similar to 3D gaming headsets will help the smallest of patients whose “hearts can be the size of a strawberry,” said STS member Dr. Rafael Guerrero. “Hologram” goggles will allow surgeons to carry out the most delicate children’s operations with maximum precision. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in the UK and Microsoft are behind the groundbreaking HoloLens, which may be in operating rooms soon.

Read the full story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Aug 31, 2018

At 5 months old, baby is the youngest heart and lung transplant recipient in decade

Jennifer — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 14:34:06 +0000

At 5 months old, baby is the youngest heart and lung transplant ... Jennifer Aug 20, 2018

At 5 months old, baby is the youngest heart and lung transplant recipient in decade

A Kansas City infant is thriving after becoming the youngest heart/lung transplant recipient in a decade. STS member Pirooz Eghtesady, MD (St. Louis Children’s Hospital) performed the transplant, along with a procedure to widen the baby’s aorta.

Read the full story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Aug 20, 2018

This 3-year-old has ‘a sparkle’ in her heart: The world’s smallest mechanical heart valve

Jennifer — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:00:00 +0000

This 3-year-old has ‘a sparkle’ in her heart: The world’s smallest ... Jennifer Apr 13, 2018

This 3-year-old has ‘a sparkle’ in her heart: The world’s smallest mechanical heart valve

A young patient with atrioventricular canal defect and other heart problems is now thriving with a “sparkle” in her heart. That sparkle is the world’s smallest mechanical heart valve, placed a few years ago by STS member Jonathan Chen, MD, of Seattle Children’s Hospital, as part of a clinical trial. The tiny heart valve was approved by the FDA in March 2018. Read the story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Apr 13, 2018

Nemours Children’s readies new specialty app for newborns with a rare heart defect

Jennifer — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 20:15:08 +0000

Nemours Children’s readies new specialty app for newborns with a rare ... Jennifer Mar 20, 2018

Nemours Children’s readies new specialty app for newborns with a rare heart defect

STS member Christian Pizarro, MD, Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at Nemours Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, has been a strong force behind a new mobile application for high-risk pediatric heart patients and their caregivers. The app—expected to be released early this summer—layers real-time data with medical records, along with videos from parents, allowing clinicians to observe the patient at home and identify any potential complications.

Learn more.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Mar 20, 2018

Baby Jack is beating the odds; KC family holds out hope as he awaits new heart, lungs

Jennifer — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 14:52:00 +0000

Baby Jack is beating the odds; KC family holds out hope as he awaits ... Jennifer Mar 19, 2018

Baby Jack is beating the odds; KC family holds out hope as he awaits new heart, lungs

STS member Pirooz Eghtesady, MD, cardiothoracic surgeon-in-chief at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has offered hope to the Palmer family whose son Jack was born Jan. 16, 2018, with serious congenital heart defects including hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact atrial septum and severely damaged lungs. Jack now needs a heart and lungs transplant.

According to Dr. Eghtesady, there’s no telling how long it will take to locate organs that are a good match for Jack.

“It’s tough,” Dr. Eghtesady said. “It’s not uncommon where I run into scenarios where I and other clinicians have to seriously discuss whether we should do something for a child or baby. But if I don’t, what’s the point of me doing what I’m doing? What’s the point of me being a physician?”

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Mar 19, 2018

Doctor Walks a Mile in the Snow to Get to His Patients at Atlanta Children's Hospital

Jennifer — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 18:04:00 +0000

Doctor Walks a Mile in the Snow to Get to His Patients at Atlanta ... Jennifer Jan 23, 2018

Doctor Walks a Mile in the Snow to Get to His Patients at Atlanta Children's Hospital

STS member Dr. Dean McKenzie, Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, recently refused to let snowy conditions stop him as he walked a mile to get to his patients at a local hospital.

Read the full story.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Jan 23, 2018

Like Snapchat from the operating room, new app eases anxiety for patient families

Jennifer — Wed, 19 Jul 2017 20:05:00 +0000

Like Snapchat from the operating room, new app eases anxiety for ... Jennifer Jul 19, 2017

Like Snapchat from the operating room, new app eases anxiety for patient families

STS member, Dr. Pirooz Eghtesady, chief cardiothoracic surgeon at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, has spent years trying to figure out how to make the operating room more accessible to his patients and their families. He finally found the answer in a smartphone app, EASE, now available for every heart surgery at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. The new app, which works likes Snapchat in that it displays the information for only a short period of time, allows families to receive video, text, and photo updates from the surgical staff while their child is in surgery.

Read the full story here.

Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease

Jul 19, 2017