Exceeding expected survival rates

"Neonatal heart transplants are a viable treatment option for congenital heart defects"

Constantine Mavroudis, MD, is
the new Chair of Congenital and Pediatric Cardiothoracic
Surgery.

Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital recently announced that Constantine Mavroudis, MD, world-renowned pediatric cardiovascular surgeon, will join its staff as Chair of Congenital & Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery. In this role, he will be leading pediatric cardiothoracic surgery while also working closely with staff in the Heart and Vascular Institute. He is known for his research and expertise in complex congenital heart repairs, arrhythmia surgery, coronary artery surgery in children and cardiac transplantation. In addition to his work with patients, Dr. Mavroudis also will assume the Ronald and Helen Ross Chair in Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. Patients and families interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Mavroudis can call Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital at 216-445-5015.

For infants with complex congenital cardiac defects, the prognosis used to be bleak. Now, thanks to dramatic advances in heart transplantation, the outlook is more promising - as long as the infant is under the care of experienced transplant experts, such as the ones who are part of the Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital Pediatric Heart Transplant Team. The proven track record of this world-class team is underscored by the fact that its tiny patients have a five-year post-transplant survival rate greater than 90 percent.

When an infant is identified as a heart transplant candidate, the Cleveland Clinic team examines the infant and determines which pediatric specialists will be involved in the case. In accordance with Cleveland Clinic's unique group practice model (see accompanying sidebar), these experts work as a collaborative team that strives for the best possible care and outcome for each patient.

Numerous specialists - including pediatric cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, neurologists, neonatologists, gastroenterologists and pulmonologists - extensively examine the infant to ensure that there are no contraindications to transplantation. As soon as a donor heart becomes available, surgery commences with the aid of a pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist. Post-surgery, the child is transferred to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, where highly-skilled pediatric intensivists, respiratory therapists and skilled critical care nurses are on duty. In addition, the PICU is staffed with board-certified pediatric intensivists 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, setting Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital apart from other pediatric hospitals in the country.

During the infant's recovery period, cardiac biopsies are performed to check the new heart's function and the child receives pediatric cardiac rehabilitation and pediatric physical therapy. Following a more complete recovery and returning to the home environment, the child is monitored monthly for rejection and infection. Due to lifetime risks of coronary artery disease, these patients continue to be observed by Cleveland Clinic specialists. Meanwhile, they have the opportunity to enjoy happy and healthy childhoods and adult lives.

Group Practice Model

Cleveland Clinic is structured as a group practice and unlike the majority of our nation's hospitals, our doctors on staff are salaried employees and are not in private practice. They pool their wisdom and expertise for the benefit of the patient and the community. In 2007, in an effort to further enhance our group practice model, we restructured our practice in to 26 Institutes. By combining specialties surrounding a specific organ or disease system into integrated practice units, our new Institutes promote collaborative patient-centered care.