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 28-30, 2006, for the inaugural International Symposium on the Hybrid Approach to Congenital Heart Disease (ISHAC). This conference is the first of its kind dedicated to exploring advancements in Hybrid management strategies which combines 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 constructed opened in June, 2004 - the first in the world dedicated to this new therapy.
The two-day Symposium will feature lectures and panel discussions from international pioneers in the field, as well as live case demonstrations broadcast from Miami Childrens Hospital, University of Chicago Comer Childrens Hospital, and the Hybrid Suites at Columbus Childrens Heart Center. A special hands-on workshop will be offered to a limited number of participants on the third day.
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 to 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 and B.Braun Medical, Inc. More information on ISHAC is available on the web at www.hybridsymposium.com.
International Symposium Explores New Hybrid Approach to Congenital Heart Disease
June 27, 2006
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.