Conditions and Procedures
Our outcomes and survival rates are among the best in the country
Congenital Heart Defects Treated at Emory
Affecting one in 100 newborn babies, congenital heart defects are the most common birth defect in the U.S. Some heart problems can be monitored by the baby's physician and managed medically, certain simple defects will resolve over time due to the patient's growth, while other, more critical conditions will require surgery, sometimes immediately following birth or at intervals throughout the patient's life. The defects or combinations of defects treated by Emory congenital cardiac surgeons include:
- Aortic stenosis
- Atrial septal defect
- Atrioventricular septal defect
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Mitral valve regurgitation or stenosis
- Pulmonary stenosis
- Sinus venosus defect
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Transposition of the great arteries
- Tricuspid valve regurgitation or stenosis
- Vascular ring disorders
- Ventricular septal defe
Available Treatment and Procedures
Norwood procedure: Typically performed shortly after birth to palliate hypoplastic left heart syndrome, this is the first in a series of three surgeries to re-route the flow of blood. The right ventricle is converted into the main pumping chamber for blood to the body and the aorta enlarged to enable this increased flow. A connection is then made that channels the blood traveling through the aorta into the pulmonary artery to receive oxygen before it moves into the body.
Heart, lung, and heart-lung transplants: Emory's pediatric heart transplant team was the first in the Southeast to perform more than 200 pediatric heart transplants, one of the first in the country to perform three pediatric heart transplants in 24 hours, and one of only a few programs in the nation to do multiple ABO-incompatible pediatric heart transplants. The program also offers heterotopic or "piggyback" transplants, which leaves the recipient's heart in place and connects the donor heart to the right side of the chest, allowing the new heart to act as an assist device if complications occur.
Surgical repair of tracheal defects, vascular rings, and aortic abnormalities: These procedures help restore healthy circulation and oxygen supply in blood and include such techniques as muscle-sparing thoracotomy without routine chest drainage, diverticulum resection with left subclavian artery transfer to the left carotid artery, and various reconstructive procedures.
Cardiopulmonary bypass management: A technique that temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs during surgery, maintaining the circulation of blood and the oxygen content of the body.
Implantation of prosthetic devices: These include pacemakers, internal cardioverter defibrillators that deliver a small shock to keep the heart beating regularly, failing valves replaced by mechanical or biological valves, and conduits for bypassing underdeveloped chambers and valves of the heart.
ECMO, IABP, and VAD support: Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machines assume a patient's heart and lung functions so they can heal during certain critical illnesses. The intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) decreases pressure in the heart so it can pump more effectively. Ventricular assist devices (VADs) can partially or completely replace the function of a failing heart as a bridge to transplantation.
Selective brain perfusion during complex congenital repairs: This technique allows the brain to be maintained and protected while the patient is kept in hibernation at a temperature of 15 degrees, with the heart and the blood circulation system halted, for up to 60 minutes.
24-hour emergency on-call team
