DOHA: Advanced interventional procedures used to treat adults with congenital heart diseases were discussed in the latest Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar’s (WCMC-Q) Grand Round.
Professor Ziyad M Hijazi, Acting Chief Medical Officer and Chair, Department of Paediatrics, Sidra Medical and Research Centre, spoke about latest developments in interventional therapies to repair common congenital and structural heart disorders such as atrial and ventricular septal defects (also known as hole in the heart), pulmonary valve stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve), aortic valve stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve) and patent foramen ovale, which is when an opening between the upper two chambers of the heart does not close after birth as it should.
Prof Hijazi, also Director, Sidra Cardiovascular Centre of Excellence, explained how cardiac interventionalists use advanced techniques, equipment and instruments to repair heart defects, often using a sophisticated catheter device to access the heart through an artery or vein in the groin, removing the need for opening the chest cavity.
Each year, about 5,000 children are born with atrial septal defects in the US. An estimated one million children and one million adults in the US have some form of congenital heart disease.
Speaking to an audience of physicians, researchers, students and healthcare professionals, Prof Hijazi said, “One of the nice things about the patient remaining conscious for this procedure is that we can allow them to be accompanied by a loved one during the operation, which brings them great comfort.
“Because we use local anaesthetic, the patient can often return home the same day.”
In the procedure, Prof Hijazi and his team use the catheter device to insert a special disc called Amplatzer occluder made of braided nitinol — a sophisticated metal alloy of nickel and titanium — to close the hole between the two atria, allowing the heart to function normally.
If left untreated, the hole causes more blood to flow to the lungs, which over time can damage cause the blood vessels there.
In adulthood, this can lead to problems such as high pulmonary blood pressure, heart failure, electrical problems and increased risk of stroke.
Prof Hijazi said, “About 10 percent of all congenital heart defects are atrial septal and in my experience more than 90 percent of cases can be repaired using a septal occluder device.
“For children and adults affected by this defect, repairing it can improve their quality of life and extend lifetime, in some cases by many decades.”
The Peninsula
