Pediatric Interventional Cardiology

Our Team

The cardiac catheterization team at UH Rainbow is dedicated to the care of congenital heart patients of all ages and is the most experienced team in Northeast Ohio. Our interventional cardiologists have a combined total of over 30 years of clinical experience. The interventional cardiology team includes advanced practice providers, cardiac anesthesiologists, radiologic technologists, and registered nurses. The cath lab staff are specifically trained for taking care of congenital heart patients, both young and old. They are dedicated to providing compassionate, family-centered care during all phases of the catheterization process.

About Cardiac Catheterization Procedures

Interventional cardiology uses minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat various congenital and acquired heart conditions. These minimally invasive therapies are safe, effective and pose fewer risks than traditional surgery for many types of congenital heart disease. Interventional therapies are often preferred to open-heart surgery due to the quicker recovery time and reduced pain, discomfort, and anxiety for the patient and their families.

During the catheterization procedure, the cardiologist will insert a long, thin tube (catheter) through a vein or artery in the leg or neck and advance it into the heart using low dose X-rays (fluoroscopy). If an intervention is to be performed, a device or specialized catheter is used to correct a problem inside the heart. Most patients will spend only one night in the hospital after the procedure and can get back to normal activity in a few days.

You will receive instructions by your child’s healthcare provider regarding the work-up necessary prior to the procedure, which may include additional medical testing, blood work, and possibly seeing a dentist to make sure any necessary dental work is completed before the procedure. Before or on the day of the catheterization procedure, the interventional cardiologist will explain the procedure in detail and discuss the risk and benefits.

Procedures We Perform

The UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital cardiac catheterization team performs the full range of diagnostic and interventional procedures for the treatment of congenital and acquired heart conditions, including:

• Atrial septal defect (ASD) closure: Devices specifically designed to close ASDs have been used safely and effectively for many years. Using a catheter in the leg vein, these devices are implanted within the hole in the upper chambers of the heart to close off unwanted blood flow.
• Balloon valvuloplasty: Using a catheter with a balloon attached to the tip, the balloon is inflated across a narrowed heart valve to allow it to open more fully.
• Coarctation angioplasty and stenting: Coarctation of the aorta (congenital narrowing of the aorta) can be treated effectively by inflating a balloon on a catheter within the narrowed portion of the aorta. In some cases, a stent is placed in the aorta by way of a balloon-tipped catheter to hold the narrowed portion open.
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization: Catheters are placed within different heart chambers and blood vessels attached to the heart to determine the amount of blood flow and blood pressure in the various chambers and vessels. A liquid solution called intravenous contrast may be injected (a process called angiography) in a particular heart chamber or blood vessel to assess for size, function, narrowing and leakiness.
• Fetal cardiac intervention: Most congenital heart conditions are identified prenatally before a baby is born. Certain high-risk conditions can be treated while the baby is still in the womb. These procedures include balloon valvuloplasty of a critically narrowed aortic valve, stenting of the atrial septum in patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, and opening of a completely closed pulmonary valve in a condition called pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum. These procedures are performed after extensive evaluation by our fetal cardiac intervention team.
• Hybrid procedures: Certain heart conditions are best treated by a team approach when both interventional cardiology and cardiac surgery partner together. Using both surgical and catheter-based techniques, devices or stents can be implanted within the heart often without the need for open heart surgery or cardiopulmonary bypass. These procedures are performed in the hybrid suite specifically designed for these types of cases.
• Patent ductus arteriosus closure: A patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) is a blood vessel normally present during fetal development and typically closes after birth. In some patients, the PDA does not close after birth and needs to be closed to prevent problems to the lungs or left heart structures. Using a catheter to deliver a plug or coil, the cardiologist can block flow through the PDA without the need for surgery.
• Pulmonary artery angioplasty and stenting: Narrowing of the pulmonary artery is a common problem with many forms of congenital heart disease. Pulmonary artery narrowing can be effectively treated by inflating a balloon (angioplasty) attached to a catheter centered across the narrowed vessel. Many times balloon angioplasty alone does not result in adequate relief of the narrowed blood vessel and pulmonary artery stenting is required. The goal for both is to open up the narrowed pulmonary artery and to increase blood flow to the lungs.
• Transcatheter valve replacement: It is now possible to replace dysfunctional heart valves without the need for open-heart surgery. Devices are available that allow for catheter delivery of replacement heart valves that are attached within a stent that can be placed inside the dysfunctional valve through the leg or neck vein.
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD) closure: When a hole between the bottom heart chambers is present after birth, it often needs to be closed to prevent long-term effect on the lungs and other heart chambers. Although many VSDs require surgical closure, certain VSDs are amenable to transcatheter closure using devices specifically designed for this purpose. Using a catheter in the leg vein or artery, these devices are implanted within the hole in the ventricular septum to close off unwanted blood flow.

Interventional Cardiology Research

The cardiac catheterization laboratory at UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital is actively involved in many areas of research to help advance the care we provide to our patients. From medical device development and testing to involvement in national trials and registries, the team at Rainbow is committed to advancing the science of pediatric interventional cardiology.