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Medtronic’s pulmonary valve can be inserted without open-heart surgery earns FDA approval
July 13th, 201015 Centers join forces to take a detailed look into the treatment of children born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
July 13th, 2010The Pediatric Heart Network and National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute spearheaded an initiative to rigorously study the treatment and outcomes of 555 patients with HLHS from 15 different instituations in the U.S. This is truly a great combined effort of all these institutions.
Here is one of their first studies regarding which type of shunt to use when performing the norwood:
Mothers with BMI greater than 25 have a 15% increase in having a baby with a Congenital Heart Defect.
April 28th, 2010Researchers in New York and National Institutes of Health find a 15% increase in incidence of a Congenital Heart Defect from mothers with a BMI of 25 or greater. They look at births in New York over an 11 year period. The risk of Congenital Heart Defects increases as the severity of obesity increases.
New research investigating a non-invasive method to create a atrial septal defect for babies born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome.
April 28th, 2010Research done on 10 canines, uses real-time ultrasound guidance to create ultrasound pulses to the intact atrial wall to create a hole without heart catheterization. Opening the atrial wall is emergent and life-saving for babies born with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and an intact/restricted atrial septal defect.
The technique used in this research is known as histotripsy. According to the researchers, histotripsy produces “mechanical tissue fractionation” by the use of high-intensity, non-thermal ultrasound pulses.
http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/short/121/6/742?rss=1
Getting closer to finding a Cause for Congenital Heart Defect
February 24th, 2010If we can find a cause then a cure for Congenital Heart Defects will follow. Scientist narrow in on a specific gene.
http://www.health.am/cardio/more/new-gene-linked-to-congenital-heart-defects/
Yale School of Medicine study shows potential for using tissue-engineered vascular grafts
February 24th, 2010When re-routing blood flow in corrective heart surgery a surgeon often uses a synthetic vascular graft. These synthetic grafts carry the risk of clotting. In addition, over time children can out-grow these grafts. This has prompted doctors to study the use of tissue engineered vascular grafts.
This report sheds light on how tissue-engineered vascular grafts work. In this study by a team at Yale School of Medicine, found that the body’s natural immune defense system actually instigated the development of new blood vessels. These new blood vessels could grow with a child.
University Hospital of Munich reports promising outcomes for tissue engineered heart valves
February 24th, 2010As parents of children with Congenital Heart Defects, we know the significance of replacing our children’s malfunctioning heart valves. There is risks with the open-heart surgery phase and the subsequent surgeries to replace the valve as our child grows. We dread the blood-thinner, coumadin, and the laboratory tests that go along with it. We fear the risks of both coumadin and undergoing multiple surgeries. Surgeons work hard to do all they can to avoid replacing the valve.
In the last few years, we’ve seen how close research is to engineering new heart valves using stems cells. This news release from the American Heart Association, offers some of the most promising research to date. The University Hospital of Munich was able to grow a heart valve that in nearing the same ”extra-cellular” markers (collagen, protein, carbohydrate) of an actual cardiac cell. This is a significant finding is bringing researches closer to understanding how to acuatally cross the bridge and use these laboratory engineered heart valves in humans.
Patient Heart Network…intersting website
February 17th, 2010This website produced by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute had some interesting research they have completed and current research that theyare looking for participants for. I thought this was a nice website for families with children with Congenital Heart Defects.
Check it out:
New study argues the long lived belief that undergoing the bypass procedures used during open heart surgery impairs neurological outcomes
February 10th, 2010Deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (DHCA) used during open heart surgery has been attributed to increasing the risk of neurological injury. Generally, DHCA has been reserved for the more complicated repairs as it allows the surgeon to work in a bloodless surgical field.
This new research presented at the annual meeting of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons examined 238 children at age 4. They found the neurological outcomes by testing in the below areas:
They found that the predictors of worse neurological outcome included lower socioeconomic status, preoperative mechanical ventilation and babies that were smaller at the time of first operation. Unfortunately, preoperative mechanical ventilation and babies who are smaller and younger at the first operation is often the scenrio for those who would require DHCA because of their complicated repair.
To read this article: http://www.chop.edu/infant-heart-bypass-procedure-does-not-harm-later-neurodevelopment.html
Falling through the cracks in healthcare
January 20th, 2010Children with congenital heart defect, especially the more complex types, have better outcomes when surgery is done at centers were they treat a high volumes of cases. There are a handful of centers around the country that specialize in pediatric cardiology and surgery. They see the worst of the worst. They offer the most cutting edge choices, and through experience, have the best skills and equipment to treat these special kids. It is truly in the best interest of that baby or child with a severe CHD to travel to these institutions.
In this article from the Washington Post (1-19-2010), The Lemack family is faced with huge medical bills because of choosing Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia to treat their child’s Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. The surgeon that was “in-network” only performs the required surgery (norwood) eight times a year. They had prior apporval to use the surgeon from Philadelphia but still are faced with a large bill from the hospital to cover staff like the critical care physicians and anesthesiologist.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011503110.html
