Successful early intervention has created a growing population of patients reaching adulthood with complex structural congenital heart disease. As specialists in congenital heart disease, pediatric cardiologists have the expertise to coordinate a multidisciplinary approach in providing high quality patient care to adults with congenital heart disease. This multidisciplinary approach includes the close involvement of the pediatric cardiologist with primary care physicians, adult cardiology, high-risk obstetrics, social work, interventional cardiology and the congenital cardiovascular surgeons. Specific issues arising in adults with congenital heart disease include heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, pregnancy, residual congenital defects, coronary artery disease and complex heart rhythm disorders. Our ability to maintain normal quality and length of life is continually improving. Our goal is to offer state of the art care throughout the lives of these patients.

The electrophysiology (EP) clinic is similar to General Cardiology clinic except focusing on children and adolescents with heart rhythm problems such as abnormally fast, irregular, or slow heartbeats. Some patients will be seen in EP clinic from the beginning, while others start in general cardiology clinic and then are referred to EP clinic when their symptoms turn out to be related to a heart rhythm problem. Common conditions treated include Coronary artery and cacular disease, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), and heart block. Important but rare conditions treated include life-threatening rhythm problems such as Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD), Long QT Syndrome (LQTS), Brugada syndrome, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy (ARVD/ARVC), and Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT). For patients with a family history of one of these conditions, please try to bring any records (genetic testing, autopsy results) to the first visit.
Device clinic (sometimes called Pacemaker Clinic) is dedicated to the care of patients needing pacemakers and defibrillators (ICDs). In these visits, the permanently implanted devices are checked and reprogrammed using special equipment. Sometimes this care can be provided directly from the patient’s home using special wireless equipment to transmit data from the device directly to our hospital computers.

Every day of the week pediatric cardiologists evaluate patients in the general cardiology clinic. These visits provide comprehensive evaluations and management of children and adolescents with heart related conditions including congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, acquired heart diseases or new referrals for common cardiac symptoms such as chest pain, palpitations or syncope. The pediatric cardiologist is responsible for your child's care but other members of the cardiac team including cardiology fellows and nurse practitioners may also participate in the visit.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of adult morbidity and mortality, resulting in 50% of all deaths in the United States. Cardiovascular risk factors for the development of early heart disease are increasing in childhood including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Our interdisciplinary clinic offers complete diagnostic, counseling, and treatment options for patients with suspected dyslipidemias (high cholesterol) and hypertension

The Clinic Provides:

• Centerlized evaluation and management of children and adolescents with primary hypertension and/or hyperlipidemia.
• All diagnostic testing available including 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, echocardiography and exercise/metabolic testing.

Marfan syndrome is a connective tissue disorder. Connective tissue provides support to tendons, ligaments, blood vessel walls, cartilage and heart valves. Marfan syndrome is an inherited condition resulting in an abnormal chemical makeup of connective tissue. Patients may develop dilatation (enlargement) of the aorta or have heart valve disease. The diagnosis of Marfan syndrome is based upon unique physical findings, heart related conditions and/or genetic testing.
The clinic is a specialized Cardiovascular-Genetics clinic providing centralized evaluation and management of children and adolescents with or suspected of having Marfan syndrome. The clinic is staffed by members of the Divisions of Pediatric Cardiology and Genetics.

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive test that provides additional information regarding your congenital heart defect. A congenital heart defect is an abnormality of the heart present since birth. Because of the abnormality, the structure and function of the heart is affected.
Cardiac catheterization provides an opportunity to assess the functioning and the effects the defect have upon the cardiac system. It helps the cardiology team determine future plans for care. Determination for the need of surgery may be based on the findings obtained during the test.
During the catheterization, special "moving" pictures are obtained after dye is injected through the catheter into a specific area. These pictures are called angiograms. These moving pictures provide valuable information regarding diagnosis and possible catheter treatment (interventions).
The New Life Hospital offers the only pediatric catheterization laboratory in Colombo equipped to perform the most specialized interventional procedures on children and adults with congenital heart disease.

At the Children's Heart Center of New Life Hospital, pregnant mothers at risk of bearing a child with congenital heart disease are evaluated by a pediatric cardiologist with extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of fetal heart disease. An onsite Pediatric Echocardiography Lab enables the unborn child to benefit from the most advanced technology currently available. Other problems, such as abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure, may be evaluated and treated. Once identified the mother and fetus are treated as a single patient and may be followed for the rest of the pregnancy by the Fetal Cardiology Team if needed. The team includes the pediatric cardiologist, advanced practice nurse and social worker. The pregnancy is discussed in detail with perinatology, neonatology and, if necessary, pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Delivery is planned in conjunction with these groups.
Pregnant mothers are most often referred to the Fetal Cardiology Program by their obstetricians when:

• They are considered to be at risk of having a child with a congenital heart disease
• If there is a specific concern about the fetus based on a screening obstetric ultrasound.

If your child has a heart problem, our specialists review all of the available options to determine the best treatment for your child's heart problem before surgery is considered. Many children are candidates for minimally invasive surgery—an approach that requires only small incisions, and allows for a faster return to normal activities. In other cases, traditional open-heart surgery is the best option for successful treatment.

The pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons work closely with the pediatric cardiologists, pediatric intensivists, anesthesiologists, surgical nurse practitioners, child life specialists, patient care coordinators, nurses, and a wide group of allied professionals to provide the best quality of care for the patients and their families.

The Pediatric Electrophysiology (EP) Program provides care for children and adolescents with all varieties of heart rhythm problems. Usually this includes a visit to the EP clinic and sometimes leads to invasive procedures such as an EP study or Catheter ablation.

Care is also provided in the Emergency Department or inpatient units at Golisano Children’s Hospital for patients with severe or acute heart rhythm problems.

Pacemakers and defibrillators can be implanted by an electrophysiologist via veins near the shoulder. In very young children and patients with congenital heart disease, the devices may need to be implanted by pediatric cardiac surgeons. Either way, these patients receive long-term care via the pediatric pacemaker/defibrillator clinic.

Diagnosis and treatment of a heart condition is a stressful event in the life of any family. At New Life Hospital, dedicated and experienced pediatric cardiac social workers are available around the clock to provide support for the patients undergoing treatment and their families. Our social worker is a vital part of each child's cardiology care team, anticipating and responding to the unique needs of each family. Your child's social worker will be available for support on an outpatient and an inpatient basis, to help meet emotional needs and to help you access appropriate community health resources.

Palliative care is relief of physical, emotional, social and spiritual suffering in children and their families through the ups and downs of a child’s illness. The word “palliative” means “comfort” and that is what palliative care is all about.

We Strive to:

• Relieve pain and other symptoms
• Provide an extra layer of support to children, their parents, their siblings and extended family in stressful times.
• Help a child and family find their way in a very complicated health care system.