Surgical Palliation and Device-Based Therapies Research

Depending on the severity of the heart defect, children with congenital heart disease may require surgery to repair the heart. Historically, Nationwide Children’s Hospital has been a leader in the field of surgical palliation of congenital heart disease, especially regarding the Hybrid approach. In 2004, Nationwide Children’s Hospital opened the country’s first Hybrid Cardiac Catheterization Lab Suites.

Faculty members continue to investigate new surgical treatment options and ways to improve surgical outcomes.

Surgical Palliation and Device-Based Therapies Research Faculty

John P. Cheatham, MD, FAAP, FACC, FSCAI
Timothy F. Feltes, MD, FACC
Mark Galantowicz, MD, FACS
Patrick I. McConnell, MD

Latest Findings in Surgical Palliation and Device-Based Therapies Research

Pain Management After Surgery for Single-Ventricle Palliation Using the Hybrid Approach

The hybrid surgical approach for managing patients who have hypoplastic left  heart syndrome was pioneered at Nationwide Children’s and is the institution’s preferred approach.  This retrospective study reviewed the institution’s pain-management strategy after stage 1 hybrid procedure and evaluated its efficacy, especially in the setting of early tracheal extubation.

Access an abstract of this study: Pain Management After Surgery for Single-Ventricle Palliation Using the Hybrid Approach. Pediatr Cardiol. 2012 Feb 18. [Epub ahead of print]

An Institutional Approach to Interventional Strategies for Complete Vascular Occlusions

Complete vascular occlusions are rare but potentially lethal. Reports on transcatheter therapy are limited to solitary case reports. The study details a single-center experience between January 2003 and December 2009.

Access an abstract of this study: An institutional approach to interventional strategies for complete vascular occlusions. Pediatr Cardiol. 2011 Aug;32(6):713-23.

Using Echocardiograph to Evaluate Single Right Ventricle Function in Congenital Heart Disease

The evaluation of right ventricular (RV) function is importance than in the congenital heart population, especially in those patients that have a single RV acting as the systemic ventricle. This article discusses how accurate and precise evaluation of RV function will be a major issue in determining clinical care as the complex population of congenital heart disease patients continues to grow.

Access an abstract of this study: Echocardiographic Evaluation of the Single Right Ventricle in Congenital Heart Disease. Circ J. 2011 Dec 3. [Epub ahead of print]

A Single-Center Report of a Transcatheter Approact to Promote Pulmonary Vascular Growth

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect (VSD) continues to be associated with significant morbidity and mortality and therapeutic strategies vary significantly between institutions. This study reports a single center experience utilizing an intensive transcatheter approach to promote pulmonary vascular growth.

Access an abstract of this study: Pulmonary Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect and Multifocal Pulmonary Blood Supply: Does an Intensive Interventional Approach Improve the Outcome? Congenit Heart Dis. 2011 Dec 16. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2011.00590.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Transcatheter Elimination of Left-to-Right Shunts in Infants with Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia is Feasible and Safe

This study tested the hypothesis that transcatheter elimination of left-to-right (L-R) cardiac shunts in former premature infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia is feasible, safe, and is associated with an improvement in respiratory status.

Access an abstract of this study: Transcatheter elimination of left-to-right shunts in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia is feasible and safe. Congenit Heart Dis. 2011 Jul-Aug;6(4):330-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2011.00540.x.

Current Surgical Palliation and Device-Based Therapies Research Grants

Closure of Atrial Septal Defects with the Septal Occluder, AGA Medical Corporation (John P. Cheatham, MD)

The safety and effectiveness of the AMPLATZER Duct Occluder II in patients with a patent ductus arteriosus, AGA Medical Corporation (John P. Cheatham, MD)

Transcatheter pulmonary valve feasibility study, Medtronic, Inc. (John P. Cheatham, MD)