Archive for heart center
MIS-C: The tip of an iceberg? Looking at cardiac care for this rare syndrome
In the early days of the COVID-19 outbreak, it seemed that children were far less likely to develop serious problems from the disease than adults. Then in mid-March, hospitals started reporting an unusual inflammatory syndrome in children that seemed to be related to COVID-19, now known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C can ... Read More about MIS-C: The tip of an iceberg? Looking at cardiac care for this rare syndrome
A complex repair for Ruby’s heart
When Rebecca and Michael Stewart learned their baby would be born with a congenital heart condition, they reacted as any expectant parents would, with shock and fear. But they quickly moved into action, focused on finding the best care for their daughter before her birth. “At about 22 weeks into my pregnancy, Ruby was diagnosed ... Read More about A complex repair for Ruby’s heart
Utilizing engineering tools from the aerospace industry to repair hearts
When an 18-year-old patient from North Carolina recently presented at Boston Children’s Heart Center with an enlarged right atrium that made the flow through his Fontan circulation very inefficient, David Hoganson, MD, decided to utilize a new set of tools borrowed from the aerospace industry. “We have been collaborating with Dassault Systemes for over a ... Read More about Utilizing engineering tools from the aerospace industry to repair hearts
Gene therapy reverses heart failure in mouse model of Barth syndrome
Barth syndrome is a rare metabolic disease caused by mutation of a gene called tafazzin or TAZ. It can cause life-threatening heart failure and also weakens the skeletal muscles, undercuts the immune response, and impairs overall growth. Because Barth syndrome is X-linked, it almost always occurs in boys. There is no cure or specific treatment. ... Read More about Gene therapy reverses heart failure in mouse model of Barth syndrome
When your child has CHD: Advice from parents for parents
“When you enter the world of congenital heart conditions (CHDs), everything can feel new, scary, complicated, and fast paced,” says Claire Poole, mother of Ava, a 17-year-old heart patient at Boston Children’s Hospital. This Heart Month, we asked Claire to kick off a post on our Heart Center Facebook page inviting parents to share their ... Read More about When your child has CHD: Advice from parents for parents
Someday, this prosthetic heart valve might be the only one a child needs
More than 330,000 children worldwide are born with a heart valve defect, and millions of others develop rheumatic heart disease requiring early valve replacement. Current prosthetic heart valves are fixed in size, so typically need to be replaced every few years as a child grows. For children receiving their first replacement before age 2, that ... Read More about Someday, this prosthetic heart valve might be the only one a child needs
Relationship talks: Staying together through a child’s illness
Among the many stresses of having an ill or injured child, parents often feel a strain on their marriage. Whenever she can, clinical social worker Katherine Preston, LICSW, reassures families that a child’s illness does not automatically spell the end of the parents’ relationship. Based on studies of families facing childhood cancer and diabetes, Preston ... Read More about Relationship talks: Staying together through a child’s illness
Ava’s journey with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
Claire Poole never thought a 10-year-old could have a heart condition. So when her daughter, Ava, slumped against the wall exhausted and complaining of arm pain one Sunday in 2012, Claire assumed she had overextended herself at a sleepover the previous night. “When we got into the car, Ava turned grey and had trouble breathing,” ... Read More about Ava’s journey with arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy
PICU Up! Program aims to increase mobility in ICUs
For decades, clinicians believed the most appropriate care for critically ill pediatric patients was sedation and rest. But in recent years, the tides have changed. Studies in adults have shown that sedation and immobility lead to increased mortality and morbidity, longer stays in the intensive care unit (ICU), increased risk of ICU delirium, and a ... Read More about PICU Up! Program aims to increase mobility in ICUs
PDA transcatheter closure in preemies
The problem of how to close a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature babies is not new. Medications don’t always work and surgery can be associated with substantial risk for these vulnerable patients. This has led many neonatologists to recommend that the PDA not be closed until a child is older, or to wait for ... Read More about PDA transcatheter closure in preemies