Death Risk for Pediatric Heart Surgery Patients Lower at Experienced Hospitals: New Study
Every year in the U.S., 3,000 - 5,000 children are born with major heart defects requiring complex open-heart surgery. A new study from the University of Michigan, published in the journal Pediatric Cardiology, shows that where those surgeries are performed matters significantly to the outcome of the surgery.
The study -- the first in the U.S. to examine pediatric death rates from congenital heart repair operations -- clearly demonstrates that one of the most critical components to ensuring a successful surgical outcome is to make certain that the surgery is only performed at those hospitals which have the most experience at performing the specific operation (rather than simply heart surgeries, in general).
Researchers examined statistical data related to two rare and major congenital defect operations: Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA), and the Norwood procedure for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS). Data demonstrated that an infant's risk of dying during or shortly after the operation varied greatly, according to where the surgery had been performed. Infants who were treated at more experienced hospitals consistently fared better. Authors of the study advise that the success rates and mortality rates are attributable to more than surgeon experience; whether nursing staff is experienced in provinding pre- and post-surgical care for rare operations also contributes heavily to the outcome.
Study authors also recommend that parents of children requiring rare and complicated cardiac procedures ask their local cardiologist where the centers for excellence with these particular surgeries are located, and request that the surgery be performed in one of those highly-experienced facilities.
Previously on the DC Metro Area Medical Malpractice Law Blog, we have posted articles related to:
- A study showing that pediatricians often miss diagnoses of high blood pressure in kids
- Concern among cardiologists that Vytorin and Zetia safety results are being suppressed
- New research indicating that pre-pregnancy obesity contributes to birth defects
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