James Strainic, MD, Pediatric Cardiologist, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
Learning a child has a congenital heart defect (CHD) — a structural heart problem that develops before birth — can be challenging and scary. Fortunately, families can get expert care at the Pediatric Heart Center at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. The Center’s multidisciplinary team of
cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiolo gists, obstetricians, geneticists and other pediatric specialists provides a full continuum of comprehensive, stateoftheart diagnostic and treatment services for children with congenital heart defects and other heart conditions.
“We offer familycentered care starting before birth through to adulthood in one convenient center,” says James Strainic, MD, pediatric cardiologist. “Parents, families, patients, physicians, nurses and other staff members who provide CHD services work together to help patients lead the most normal lives possible.”
Peter Kouretas, MD, PHD, Chief, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
CHDs can affect the chambers and walls of the heart, the heart valves or the blood vessels to and from the heart. Specialists often diagnose severe CHDs during routine ultrasounds before birth or shortly after babies are born. Less severe conditions often are detected when patients are older.
Diagnosis and Treatment
The Pediatric Heart Center has a full array of technologies that help physicians make accurate and timely diagnoses. They may use pediatric echo cardiography, cardiopulmonary stress testing, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, cardiac computed tomography and other noninvasive tests.
They also may perform invasive tests — such as hemo dynamic and interventional cardiac catheterizations or diagnostic and interventional electrophysiology procedures — to diagnose and treat CHDs.
Treatment varies depending on the severity of the patient’s condition. Some forms of CHDs require no treatment or can be easily corrected during a single procedure. Many patients need medications, interventional therapies, surgery or a combination of these treatments. People with complex CHDs sometimes need multiple surgeries during their lives.
Exceptional Surgical Outcomes
Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons may reposition blood vessels, repair or replace heart valves, close holes in the heart or perform other surgeries to correct CHDs. They are widely recognized for their expertise in performing surgery in stages for complex conditions, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, which occurs when structures on the left side of the heart do not form completely.
“We try to do more than fix heart problems,” says Peter Kouretas, MD, PhD, Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery. “Surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, intensivists and other pediatric specialists work together to minimize complications and maxi mize cardiac and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Our goal is to improve the overall quality and satisfaction of our patients’ lives and their families.”
Long-Term Management
Staff at the Pediatric Heart Center monitors patients with CHDs throughout their lives to assess the status of their hearts, evaluate treatments, address residual or new complications and maximize heart function. They often manage care for adult patients with CHDs or consult with cardiologists who treat adults with these defects.
“Some patients with CHDs have certain limitations, but most patients live relatively full and active lives,” Dr. Strainic says.
Rainbow Resources Make a Difference
Pediatric heart and maternalfetal medicine physicians at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital and UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital cooperate to help families prepare for the birth of babies with CHDs. They also work together to safely deliver babies with CHDs and provide immediate care, if necessary. Sick newborns receive care in the hospital’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), ranked fourth in the nation by U.S.News & World Report.
“We have an integrated system to support babies with CHDs and their families,” Dr. Kouretas says. “And patients with CHDs have access to the full array of services and resources available at University Hospitals facilities throughout the region.”