The heart and the head: Meeting milestones after pediatric heart surgery

When their unborn son Silas was diagnosed with congenital heart disease at 22 weeks gestation, Montana and Michael Green knew he faced a long road. Though their primary concern was Silas’ health they also worried their son might face developmental delays, a common side effect following infant heart surgery. Silas was diagnosed with double-outlet right ventricle (DORV) , a complicated abnormality in which the pulmonary artery and the aorta — the heart’s two great arteries — both arise from the right ventricle. This disrupts the flow of oxygenated blood throughout the body. DORV is often associated with other cardiac defects, such as a ventricular septal defect (a hole in the heart) or pulmonary vein stenosis (a narrowing or blockage of the passageway to the lungs). Knowing Silas would need the most advanced cardiac care, Montana and Michael, decided to travel from Cranston, Rhode Island.to deliver him at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. After birth, he was immediately transferred to the Heart Center at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he spent the first six months of his life. During that time he had three heart surgeries and multiple cardiac catheterizations to correct his various anatomical issues and complications, which included complete atrioventricular canal defect and double outlet right ventricle. Today, at 6 months, Silas’ heart is functioning well, and his cardiac and developmental prognoses are promising. Helping Silas meet developmental mile...
Source: Thrive, Children's Hospital Boston - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Our Patients’ Stories Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Program congenital heart disease DORV Heart Center Samantha Butler PhD Source Type: news