Pediatric Arrhythmia Program
Diagnosis and ongoing management of arrhythmias, palpitations and syncope are provided in the ambulatory care and inpatient settings. Invasive and non-invasive diagnostic studies are used to identify significant problems. Radio-frequency ablation is available through DEBORAH’s Cardiac Electrophysiology Division as a curative alternative to chronic medical therapy for selected individuals with various types of tachycardia. Other services include exercise testing, tilt testing for syncope, intracardiac electrophysiology, transesophageal pacing studies, pacemaker implantation and monitoring, ambulatory rhythm (Holter monitor) studies, continuous (loop) and transtelephonic rhythm monitoring.

Perinatal Cardiology
Comprehensive assessment of the fetus and neonate with suspected cardiac disease is provided wherever required. Fetal echocardiography provides important information regarding structural heart disease, and allows monitoring of cardiac performance and arrhythmias. Both early identification of the fetus with heart disease and appropriate family counseling contribute to the best possible outcome for infants with complex congenital heart disease.

Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Children with Heart Repairs Face
More Cardiac Problems as Adults

A new generation of adults who have grown-up with “that hole in their heart” patched, thinking that they were permanently cured of heart troubles, are facing a host of cardiac problems they never anticipated. Research and clinical experience is showing that a generation of children who are now adults (estimated at more than 1.8 million), who have had congenital heart repairs are facing a myriad of heart health issues that were never envisioned. Compounding the problem is the lack of trained cardiologists to deal with this emerging group of heart patients who have special health needs.

Deborah Heart and Lung Center, the region’s premier heart, lung, and vascular hospital, has positioned itself to provide the continuum of care congenital heart repair patients need as they age, by providing a specialty clinic tailored to this group. The Adult Congenital Heart Program is headed by Deborah director Dr. Dawn Calderon, one of less than 100 cardiologists nationwide specially trained to deal with adult congenital heart issues.

“When heart repairs began nearly seventy years ago,” she said “it was assumed by patients that the surgery made a complete fix of the heart. Children were discharged at the time and told pretty much ‘enjoy your life.’ Survival into adulthood wasn’t always expected and specialized follow-up care barely existed. Now, faced with an entirely new population, we know that these children, as adults, face a lot more heart issues than we anticipated Repairs are outgrown, replacement parts wear out, and lifelong cardiac issues put stress on other organs.” She added: “Each person is unique, but the congenital repair, no matter how simple or how complicated, requires special attention.”

Dr. Calderon, as a leader in this emerging cardiac sub-specialty, worries that the biggest hurdle cardiologists will face is the assumption by thousands of these heart repair patients that they don’t need to pamper their hearts.

“Many of these young adults have been living most of their lives post-surgery,” she said. “They are so used to living normally that they take it for granted, and don’t think that at 24 or 25 years old they need to see a cardiologist. But part of our message is that yes, you do need special care and regular, routine follow-up.” During Dr. Calderon’s tenure as head of the Adult Congenital Clinic, she has seen many patients who have benefitted from her care.

“I have had pregnant women who have required very close management because of the additional strain that pregnancy puts on their heart. I have had patients who had blood pressure issues much earlier than would be normal. Imagine being required to take blood pressure medication from the time you are a teenager!”

“Deborah has been doing congenital heart surgery from its earliest days. We recognized that in order to continue our tradition of excellence we would have to provide long-term follow-up care for our pediatric patients. Many pediatric hospitals stop taking patients when they turn 18. As they age out of the system, their care falls through the cracks.” Dr. Calderon noted that with the Adult Congenital Heart Program there is a seamless transition from the pediatric to the adult cardiac program, and children who have had a congenital repair are automatically tracked into the adult congenital specialty clinic at age 18.

“We are urging anyone who has had a heart repair that has aged out of their pediatric program to come to Deborah for routine follow-up. We have seen so many issues emerging, and these will only become more profound as patients age. With proper early intervention and care we are hoping to catch heart problems before they become too difficult, or too late to manage.”