International Symposium Explores Hybrid Approach to Congenital Heart Disease

June 26, 2007

Interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons from throughout the United States, North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia will gather at Columbus Childrens Hospital from June 27-29, 2007, for the second International Symposium on the Hybrid Approach to Congenital Heart Disease (ISHAC). 

Last year, this conference was the first of its kind dedicated to exploring advancements in Hybrid management strategies which combine surgical and transcatheter therapies in order to minimize the cumulative impact of treatment for complex congenital heart disease (CHD).  In the United States alone, more than 40,000 babies are born with some form of CHD with many requiring high risk surgical procedures.   

During Hybrid procedures, cardiothoracic surgeons and interventional cardiologists work collaboratively to correct defects in the heart, often with the use of stents and devices delivered through limited surgical access.  Columbus Children's Hospital is considered a benchmark institution in this area where two uniquely designed Hybrid Cardiac Catheterization Suites were opened in June, 2004 . the first in the world dedicated to this new therapy. 

The Symposium features lectures and panel discussions from international pioneers in the field, as well as live case demonstrations broadcast from the Hybrid Suites at Columbus Childrens Heart Center.  A unique Skills Workshop will be offered to a limited number of participants providing hands-on experience performing Hybrid procedures. 

Keynote speakers will be Aldo R. Castaneda, MD, PhD, and Michael J. Tynan, MD.  Castaneda is founder of the Pediatric Cardiac Surgical Unit of Guatemala and Professor Emeritus of Surgery at Harvard Medical School.  He received the World Heart Foundation Humanitarian Award in 2004 and was inducted into the Pediatric Cardiology Hall of Fame in 2006.  Tynan is Emeritus Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Kings College, London, and received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the world-renowned Pediatric Interventional Cardiac Symposium in 1998.

Symposium directors are John P. Cheatham, MD, Director of Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Therapy at Columbus Childrens Heart Center, and Mark Galantowicz, MD, Co-Director of The Heart Center and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Childrens.  Both are faculty members of The Ohio State University College of Medicine.  Drs. Cheatham and Galantowicz have organized this world-class event to encourage international discussion for potential Hybrid cardiac procedures that will result in improved outcomes while decreasing risks.  The target audience consists of not only surgeons and interventional cardiologists, but also other members of heart centers who help care for children and adults with CHD. 

The Heart Center at Columbus Childrens Hospital is a regional, national and international referral center for the diagnosis and treatment of all forms of CHD and acquired cardiomyopathy in both pediatric and adult patients.  After opening the unique Hybrid Suites in 2004, a prototype 5 axis positioner and biplane flat panel detectors from Toshiba Medical Systems were installed in July 2005.  Unparalleled patient access, cardiac imaging, and telemedicine capabilities are now possible.  Visitors from around the world visit the Hybrid Suites in order to construct similar facilities at their own institutions.

ISHAC Symposium has received financial support from Toshiba Medical Systems,  AGA Medical Corporation,  Stryker , Cook, Medtronic , Gore, NuMED, Inc., Cordis Corporation, Heartlab , B. Braun Medical, Inc., Beijing Since Medical Scientific Co. Ltd., Boston Scientific, ev3, Maquet, and Mobile Aspects, Inc.  More information on ISHAC is available on the web at www.hybridsymposium.com.

About Nationwide Children's Hospital

Named to the Top 10 Honor Roll on U.S. News & World Report’s 2023-24 list of “Best Children’s Hospitals,” Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of America’s largest not-for-profit free-standing pediatric health care systems providing unique expertise in pediatric population health, behavioral health, genomics and health equity as the next frontiers in pediatric medicine, leading to best outcomes for the health of the whole child. Integrated clinical and research programs, as well as prioritizing quality and safety, are part of what allows Nationwide Children’s to advance its unique model of care. Nationwide Children’s has a staff of more than 14,000 that provides state-of-the-art wellness, preventive and rehabilitative care and diagnostic treatment during more than 1.7 million patient visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Nationwide Children’s physicians train the next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is one of the Top 10 National Institutes of Health-funded free-standing pediatric research facilities. More information is available at NationwideChildrens.org.