Interventional Cardiology Program at Rady Children’s Hospital
Rady Children’s provides expert, specialized care for children with heart conditions through its Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Program. Our multidisciplinary team of experienced doctors, nurses, and technicians collaborates closely with specialists in cardiac surgery, intensive care, and anesthesiology to provide personalized, comprehensive care tailored to each child’s unique needs.
Whether through diagnostic or interventional catheterization, we utilize the latest technology and innovative techniques to treat a wide range of congenital heart defects, ensuring the highest standard of care for every patient.
Diagnostic Catheterization
When traditional imaging methods like echocardiography don’t provide enough detail, diagnostic catheterization offers a clearer picture of the heart and blood vessels, helping us better understand how they function.
Interventional Catheterization
We use interventional catheterization to treat a wide range of congenital heart defects, such as narrowed blood vessels and heart valves, abnormal blood vessels, and abnormal openings between heart chambers.
Conditions Treated:
- Coarctation of the aorta
- Pulmonary branch stenosis
- Pulmonary valve stenosis
- Aortic valve stenosis
- Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
- Atrial septal defect (ASD)
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center
Rady Children’s is at the forefront of pediatric cardiac care with its groundbreaking Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center,the first of its kind in the nation. The center revolutionizes catheterization by reducing the need for invasive surgeries and offering cutting-edge, radiation-free procedures through real-time MRI technology. Using advanced Siemens AG 3D real-time MRI, the center benefits both cardiac and non-cardiac conditions, including complex fetal pathologies with fetal MRI. This innovative approach significantly enhances diagnostic accuracy and elevates the standard of pediatric cardiac care.
Common Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Procedures:
- Balloon Valvuloplasty uses a balloon to widen narrowed heart valves.
- Septal Defect Closure seals a hole in the heart using a specialized device inserted through a small tube.
- Coarctation of the Aorta Repair corrects a narrowed section of the aorta with a balloon or stent.
- Catheter-Based Pulmonary Valve Replacement replaces a damaged pulmonary valve with a new one delivered through a catheter.
- Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) Closure seals an abnormal opening between two blood vessels using a device inserted via a small tube.
Additional advanced procedures include:
- Radiation-Free MRI Cardiac Catheterization
- Transcatheter Valve Implantation
- PDA Stenting
- PDA Closure in Preterm Infants (as small as 600 grams)
- Complex Airway and Lymphatic Interventions
- Pulmonary and Portal Vein Interventions
- Electrosurgery via Cardiac Catheterization
Our Team – A Multidisciplinary Approach
Our dedicated team is composed of highly skilled pediatric interventional cardiologists, nurses, technicians, and specialists from our Heart Institute, Advanced Cardiac Imaging Program, and Interventional Radiology Program. This ensures a holistic and comprehensive care plan from medical professionals, such as interventional cardiologists for each child with blood and heart health issues, emphasizing their individual needs and propelling advancements and care for pediatric cardiac patients.
Physician Leadership:
Howaida El-Said, MD, PhD: Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Rady Children’s and professor of clinical pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. El-Said is board-certified in pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease.
Henri Justino, MD: An interventional cardiologist at Rady Children’s and associate physician diplomate at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Justino specializes in advanced pediatric cardiac care.
Brent Gordon, MD: An interventional cardiologist at Rady Children’s and associate physician at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Gordon brings extensive expertise in pediatric heart interventions.
Contact
For more information or to refer a patient to the Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Program at Rady Children’s Hospital, please call us at 858-966-5855