Cardiovascular Services

The Heart Center has an electrophysiologist that provides comprehensive diagnostic and interventional procedures for patients with heart rhythm abnormalities, including Holter and event monitoring, implantable loop recorders, exercise stress testing, implantation and monitoring of pacemakers and defibrillators (AICDs), as well as electrophysiology studies and ablation procedures. The center also provides an in-depth evaluation of patients with a family history of sudden cardiac death or familial dysrhythmias.

The heart failure/cardiomyopathy program is part of an interdisciplinary Team under our well-established cardiology program at Children's Hospital New Orleans. Our team consists of board-certified pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, and cardiac specialty nurse practitioners who are skilled experts in the field of pediatric cardiology. We provide both inpatient and outpatient consultation for diagnosis, management, and prognosis of all types of heart failure/cardiomyopathy, some of the more common forms include failed congenital heart disease repair, primary and secondary dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, restrictive cardiomyopathy, left ventricular non-compaction, and cardiomyopathy associated with neurologic/genetic disorders..

The growing Fetal Cardiology Clinic provides expert anatomic and functional assessments of the tiniest of hearts – particularly the fetuses of new mothers with family or personal histories of cardiac defects, rhythm disturbances, or other abnormal findings detected by their obstetrician. Detailed consultations help diagnose cardiac abnormalities in utero, and if necessary, prepare the family, the obstetric providers, and The Heart Center team with a delivery and transport plan, hospital tour, information about the baby’s cardiac diagnosis and a meeting with the cardiac surgeons, when necessary. The fetal cardiologists work closely with the perinatologists, neonatologists and congenital heart surgeons to provide the highest level of care for babies with a cardiac abnormality during pregnancy, labor and delivery and in the neonatal period. .

The mission of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program within The Heart Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans is to provide comprehensive care for the adolescent and adult with congenital heart disease regardless of age or illness severity. Our clinic offers a complete range of diagnostic and treatment services for patients with adult congenital heart disease, including minimally invasive procedures. Children's is one of only 44 programs nationwide to receive this accreditation and is the only hospital in Louisiana and the Gulf South to earn this distinction from the Adult Congenital Heart Association. Learn more..

The Pediatric Coronary Artery Clinic of the Heart Center is one of only a few pediatric coronary programs in the country and the only program of its kind in the Southeast. The Clinic provides special expertise in the diagnosis and management of pediatric coronary artery disease. Specific conditions that we treat include Kawasaki Disease and congenital problems of the coronary arteries such as abnormal origins or courses of the arteries. The team consists of specialists in pediatric cardiology, preventive cardiology, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, and adult congenital heart disease. Visits consist of a comprehensive evaluation including a thorough history and physical examination, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. In many instances, the visit will also include imaging with a CT scan and stress testing. This information is reviewed by the team to arrive at a detailed and comprehensive management plan developed specifically for your child and family.

The Heart Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans has a dedicated Home Monitoring Program for babies and infants with high-risk heart problems to decrease morbidity and mortality for these particularly vulnerable patients. The mission of the Children’s Hospital Heart Center Home Monitoring Program is to provide comprehensive care for all high-risk single ventricle patients between their first and second stages of surgical palliation as well as for those complex two ventricle patients requiring neonatal palliation prior to their definitive surgical repair. The interstage period for single ventricle patients is known to carry a higher mortality than any other timeframe during these patients’ lives, and careful monitoring has been shown to significantly decrease both their morbidity and mortality during this phase. Our goal is to decrease the number of re-admissions and interstage mortality, giving our single ventricle population the best quality of life. Learn more.

Children with congenital heart disease are known to be at higher risk for neurodevelopmental impairment than the general population. These issues can affect multiple areas of development including intelligence, academic achievement, motor skills, language, psychosocial adjustment, attention, and executive functioning. The Heart Center at Children’s Hospital is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to all of our patients, including monitoring and treatment for any neurodevelopmental disabilities. We provide easy access to screening for all of our complex patients, with direct involvement of neurodevelopmental pediatricians. Children's Hospital New Orleans Cardiology is proud to be participating in LSUHSC's Louisiana Adolescent Focus implementing AHI’s evidence-based intervention, the Adolescent Champion Model. Louisiana Adolescent Focus utilizes the Champion Model to drive health centers to become adolescent-centered medical homes. The Champion Model is a multi-faceted intervention to address a health center’s environment, policies, and practices to ensure that all aspects of a visit to the health center is youth centered. Children's Hospital Cardiology has made incredible adolescent-centered changes to our clinic, including providing access to online scheduling and adolescent-oriented health education materials and establishing protocols to ensure that adolescents receive evidence-based care.

This procedure is intended for people who have a large amount of weight to loose, high BMI >50, managing multiple medical conditions, and/or on multiple medications for conditions. Changes made to the stomach size and small intestine result in your body being unable to handle as much food while also absorbing fewer calories. With intestinal area bypassed and the body experiencing changes in absorption of nutrients, this type of surgery minimizes the chance for weight regain. To experience the best success with outcomes patients must be very compliant with all diet instructions and medication recommendations.

Potential Complications:

According to the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the operative morbidity (complications) associated with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in the hands of a certified skilled surgeon is less than 2- 5%.

General and Specific to Gastric Bypass

• Bleeding*
• Complications due to anesthesia and medications
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Dehiscence (separation of areas that are stitched or stapled together)
• Infections
• Leaks from staple lines
• Marginal ulcers
• Spleen injury*
• Stenosis (narrowing of a passage, such as valve)
• Internal hernias
• Gallstones
• Changes in body image
• Death

Possible Side Effects

• Need to avoid pregnancy temporarily
• Lactose intolerance
• Sensory changes (taste and smell)
• A stretched pouch when chronic overeating occurs
• Dumping syndrome
• Triggered by eating too large amounts of food or choices high in sugar.
• Nausea, vomiting, bloating, diarrhea, excessive sweating, increased gas and dizziness
• Nutritional deficiencies
• Potential poor absorption of calcium, B12, iron, causing bone pain, loss, or chronic anemia.
• Changes in effectiveness of screenings such as x-ray or endoscopy, so be sure to document medical history.

* To control operative bleeding, removal of the spleen may be necessary, this is very rare.

The sleeve gastrectomy removes part of the stomach to create a tube or “sleeve” to limit the amount of food intake to support weight loss. Changes in appetite occur due to the part of the stomach removed is the section that produces the “hunger hormone” ghrelin. The stomach that remains is the size of a small banana and holds about 3-5 ounces. Because experiencing a fullness sensation quicker it is important for the lifelong changes for health to include smaller portions and select healthier food choices to maintain weight loss during aging.

Potential Complications

General and Specific to Sleeve Gastrectomy

• Deep vein thrombosis
• Pulmonary embolism
• Pneumonia
• Splenectomy
• Gastric leak and fistula
• Postoperative bleeding
• Wound infection
• Stricture
• Death

Possible Side Effects

• Vitamin deficiencies
  • May lead to hair loss or changes in skin
• Esophageal spasms or pain
  • May cause heartburn or food intolerance
• Changes in digestion
  • May be slower or have changes in bowel habits based on food & beverage intake
• Weight regain

Overall, complications happen in less than 1% of patients who undergo the sleeve gastrectomy procedure.

Revisional surgery is typically considered in patients who have complications from prior bariatric/weight loss procedures. Most of the time, this surgery is needed due to severe nausea, difficulty swallowing, severe acid reflux, or if a previous condition of hernia repair was not completed at the initial surgery time. Because it is a re-operation, there are higher risk for complications (about 10%).

Lap band surgery implanted an inflatable band to create a smaller stomach pouch. This band can be adjusted as needed to better match the limits on food needed by the patient or at times it is removed to then convert to another gastric surgery for weight loss.

Overall, post-operative care is similar to other procedures, requiring diet changes, and strong recommendations to continue follow-up care for life with a certified bariatric surgeon to minimize risk and complications. This supports better health during life changes because having a history of gastric surgeries changes the specific needs of a patient.