| INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGY SAVES THE LIVES OF CHILDREN WITH CONGENITAL HEART CONDITIONS |
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Until relatively recently, children diagnosed with congenital heart conditions uniformly needed to undergo lengthy and sometimes risky open-heart surgery to correct their defects.
Today, thanks to state of the art advances being utilized by Children and Women's Physicians of Westchester's (CWPW) Interventional Cardiology in Valhalla, its pediatric cardiologists are able to pinpoint specific heart problems in children and treat them effectively—without the trauma of a traditional operation.
Michael H. Gewitz, MD, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, explains the growing field of Pediatric Interventional Cardiology that allows physicians to treat cardiac disorders less invasively but still with outstanding results.
“It's done with a small needle puncture in the arms or legs, with no chest incision,” Dr. Gewitz says. “Devices are used to close holes in the heart and open up blocked arteries like the aorta and abnormal heart valves as well,” he adds. Using special X-ray equipment, these tools can be precisely located within the beating heart.
In most cases, Interventional Cardiology treatment is performed on an outpatient basis; occasionally a one-night stay in the hospital is necessary. “This has allowed for significant improvement in patient quality outcomes, satisfaction and ease on the family,” Dr. Gewitz says.
CWPW has 13 cardiologists on staff, with three among them experienced in the new field. Newborns as well as older patients are eligible for interventional procedures.
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CWPW cardiologists recently saved a young child's life using the new procedure. “It's an important step in reducing morbidity,” Dr. Gewitz adds.
Parents who might believe their child has a heart condition should consult with their regular pediatrician, who can make a referral to the pediatric cardiology experts at CWPW.
Symptoms can occur from infancy and can include growth delay, feeding problems, and complexion issues such as pallor or a blue-ish color to the extremities (“cyanosis”).
CWPW performed upwards of 200 pediatric cardiovascular procedures last year, including the minimally invasive treatments. “It's an increasing number,” Dr. Gewitz says of the latter. He also notes that cardiac surgeons are teaming up with interventional cardiologists to perform ‘hybrid' procedures in complex cardiac cases.
“Many procedures that heretofore would require multiple staged sessions can now be performed using the hybrid approach,” Dr. Gewitz says, “with shorter time required to get good results.”
In addition, thanks to interventional cardiology, Dr. Gewitz points out that now, adults too, who suffer from later stages of the consequences of congenital heart disease are being diagnosed and treated with minimally invasive procedures.
“These are exciting times in the care of children and adults with congenital heart disease,” Dr. Gewitz says. “Interventional Cardiology has taken the pediatric cardiac field many steps further along to the great benefit of patients of all ages and their families.”
In addition to CWPW, Dr. Gewitz is Executive Director / Physician in Chief at Maria Fareri's Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center and Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at New York Medical College.
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For more info. on CWPW's Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Click Here.
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