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

Aggressive Coronary Artery Vasculopathy after Combined Heart-Lung Transplantation

Combined heart-lung transplantation remains as a treatment option for patients with cardiopulmonary failure. This article discusses two cases of an aggressive form of cardiac allograft vasculopathy after combined heart-lung transplantation that resulted in the death of both patients.

Access an abstract of this study: Aggressive Coronary Artery Vasculopathy after Combined Heart-Lung Transplantation. Congenit Heart Dis. 2012 Jun 8. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2012.00681.x. [Epub ahead of print]

Combined Heart-Lung Transplantation: A Perspective on the Past and the Future

During the last 20 years, there has been a shift away from combined heart-lung transplantation in favor of bilateral lung transplantation. This article provides a perspective on the past and the future of heart-lung transplantation.

Access an abstract of this study: Combined Heart-Lung Transplantation: A Perspective on the Past and the Future. Pediatr Cardiol. 2012 Jun 10. [Epub ahead of print]

Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation May Not Improve Right or Left Ventricular Function

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI) is an emerging therapy.  This study describe how the therapy impacts right and left ventricular function 3 months and 6 months after discharge.

Access an abstract of this study: Strain Echocardiographic Assessment of Ventricular Function after Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation. Congenit Heart Dis. 2012 Jun 4. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-0803.2012.00680.x. [Epub ahead of print]

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.

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)