Pediatric cardiovascular surgery

Pediatric cardiovascular surgery consists of performing procedures that correct malformations of the heart structure present at birth, that cause alterations in its functioning.

The medical-surgical team treats heart defects of any degree of complexity in newborns, preschoolers, children in elementary school, and adolescents. Compared to adult surgery, heart repair in children represents an additional challenge. It requires specific and highly specialized training, and the use of very particular techniques, with cutting-edge technology.

Currently, about 30% of congenital heart malformations must be treated surgically during the first month of life.

Aware of our capacity to care for neonatal patients, including those with the most complex malformations or very low weight, we have made an effort to capture patient referrals early, even prenatally, to offer them the best life expectancy.

Our surgical team was a pioneer in Mexico for the successful treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome with the Norwood procedure, in addition to having vast experience in the management of other diseases such as transposition of the great arteries, coarctation of the aorta with aortic arch hypoplasia, interruption of the aortic arch, anomalous connection of the pulmonary veins, and many other diseases that ideally require early surgery.

Approximately 10% of congenital heart malformations’ main characteristic is that the heart, instead of having two ventricles that are responsible for sending blood to the lungs and the body respectively, has only one.

These hearts, collectively called “univentricular” hearts, represent a group of diseases for which it is necessary to establish surgical treatment, which requires several surgeries during the first years of life, as well as close and specialized medical follow-up.

Our surgical team’s experience in this area is very extensive and has allowed us to offer these patients the best possible quality of life.

There is a group of patients with certain characteristics (cardiac malformation, age, and weight) that allow correction through an incision in the right armpit. This results in a scar under the arm as opposed to the traditional incision, which leaves a scar on the front of the chest. Schedule an appointment with a pediatric cardiovascular surgeon at the ABC-Kardias Pediatric Heart Center.

The pediatric cardiovascular anesthesiologist is a specialist who requires several years of training to care for patients with congenital heart disease from the neonatal stage (hours of birth) to adolescence. However, it must also optimally manage adult patients with congenital heart disease.
They have multidisciplinary training to care for people who will undergo not only surgery but also electrophysiological procedures, cardiac catheterizations, cardiological (transesophageal echocardiography), and diagnostic imaging (CT scan or MRI).

Must have extensive knowledge of pediatric extracorporeal technology (cardiopulmonary bypass machine, ECMO, among others), and must also have extensive knowledge of non-cardiac surgery in patients who still have congenital heart disease or when a partial or total correction has already been performed and requires any other type of surgery (e.g.: abdomen, trauma, orthopedics, etc.). All our specialists have had extensive training in pediatric cardiovascular anesthesia, and even have had training abroad.

Pediatric extracorporeal circulation technology helps perform highly complex procedures. Our team has personnel trained in maintaining all vital organs in an optimal state during heart surgery, especially pediatric ones. The specialists have experience in managing very small patients (newborns) and also have experience in other extracorporeal technologies in children such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricular support. The surgery (or cardiology, interventionism, intensive care, or imaging) – anesthesia – perfusion triangle interacts very closely for our patient’s benefit.