Children’s of Alabama is backing several events to spread awareness of congenital heart disease during American Heart Month.
Children’s has one of the largest pediatric cardiovascular programs in the Southeast. The team at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama at Children’s has more than 14,000 patient encounters each year. In 2021, staff performed more than 800 cardiac catheterizations and electrophysiology procedures and 400 cardiovascular surgeries.
The center includes 20 private cardiovascular intensive care rooms, 16 private critical care unit rooms, two cardiovascular operating rooms and two catheterization labs.
“We are proud of the collaborative, multidisciplinary partnership that has developed among the cardiologists, cardiac intensivists, cardiovascular anesthesiologists and cardiovascular surgeons in the delivery of patient and family-centered care,” division Director Dr. Yung Lau, a pediatric cardiologist at Children’s and the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said in a statement from the hospital.
“Our team of more than 350 dedicated professionals who work at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama are committed to providing world-class cardiac care for our patients,” he said.
The single platform of care approach includes surgeons, intensivists, cardiologists nurses, social workers, child life specialists, counselors, nutritionists, occupational and physical therapists, chaplains and other professions.
Heart defects are the most common birth defects, and most heart defects have no known cause. Congenital heart disease affects about 40,000 infants per year in the United States, or about 1% of all births. It kills more children each year than all the cancers combined and is the top killer of children born with developmental abnormalities.
Children’s is a leader in the treatment of congenital heart defect. In July 2021, Children’s cardiologists Dr. William McMahon and Dr. Mark Law became the first doctors in the 10-state Southeastern region to perform a procedure involving a device called the Harmony Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve. The valve, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the spring, is used to treat patients with Tetralogy of Fallot, a complex condition that involves four heart defects.
It can be inserted through a vein in the patient’s leg, which prevents the need for open-heart surgery, reduces recovery time and lessens scarring.
The hospital’s had a good year in 2021, with all patients operated on being able to recover, according to the statement. “Nearly all are either home or on the step-down unit,” said Dr. Santiago Borasino, medical director of the cardiovascular intensive care unit at Children’s.
Events and Programs
Several opportunities are available this month and beyond to support work done by the medical professionals at the Pediatric and Congenital Heart Center of Alabama.
• Kendra Scott necklace sales – Shop at Kendra Scott at the Summit to purchase a limited edition, patient-designed necklace. This month, 20% of all sales of this necklace will benefit the center.
• Dorothy McDaniel’s Flower Market Charity in Bloom – This month, the florist will donate 20% to the center from purchases of the “Cheerful Heart” arrangement.
• Castin’ ‘N Catchin’ – This April 23 fishing tournament, the largest charity bass fishing tournament in the nation, raises money for the center. It has raised more than $800,000 since its inception in 2016 for research and to connect young heart patients with resources to stay healthy after surgery through Camp Wired Together.
• The Mending Kids’ Hearts specialty car tag – This specialty tag can be purchased at any Alabama Department of Motor Vehicle location for a cost of $50 in addition to the normal tag cost. Of that $50, $41.25 will go to Children’s. For more information on the tag, visit childrensal.org/tags.
