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Clinical Updates
Program Update: UCLA Division of Pediatric Cardiology
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Extending the Boundaries of Care
The UCLA Division of Pediatric Cardiology is pushing back boundaries to enhance patient care. UCLA pediatric cardiology physicians provide cardiac care that begins prenatally during the child’s fetal development and extends throughout adulthood for patients with congenital heart conditions, providing compassionate and comprehensive care throughout every stage of life. While offering the most sophisticated diagnostic and treatment technologies, our physicians are also leaders in developing new approaches to the treatment of congenital and acquired pediatric heart disease.
UCLA offers a prenatal diagnosis program to identify congenital heart conditions as early as the first trimester of pregnancy, using the latest in 2D/3D/4D echocardiography. When a congenital defect is identified, UCLA’s specialists in pediatric cardiology, genetics, maternalfetal medicine, pediatric cardiovascular surgery and neonatal intensive care work collaboratively to provide comprehensive care prenatally for the fetal patient, during delivery, and for the high-risk newborn infant. The UCLA Fetal Cardiology Program helps parents in this difficult time through compassionate counseling and careful coordination of medical services.
At the other extreme of pediatric care, and in collaboration with the Ahmanson/UCLA Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center, the UCLA Division of Pediatric Cardiology offers an Adolescent Transitional Cardiology Program, to prepare teens, young adults and their parents to move from pediatric to adult care.
Pediatric Cardiology Programs
Interventional Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Program
UCLA has a nationally-acclaimed pediatric cardiac catheterization program, offering the full range of both conventional and innovative pediatric interventional cardiac catheterization procedures, including transcatheter closure of ASD (atrial septal defect), PDA (patent ductus arteriosus), and VSD (ventricular septal defect) hybrid procedures; and complex stenting procedures. UCLA also offers an advanced transcatheter valve replacement program, replacing poorly functioning valves without the use of surgery.
Pediatric Echocardiography Program
UCLA’s Pediatric Echocardiography Program utilizes the most sophisticated imaging technology to evaluate fetal, neonatal, pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease. When indicated, UCLA pediatric cardiologists collaborate with UCLA’s Department of Radiology to offer state-of-the-art cardiac MRI and CT imaging. This combination of expertise exemplifies the kind of multidisciplinary care that sets UCLA apart from most other centers.
Pediatric Electrophysiology Program
The UCLA Pediatric Electrophysiology Program has access to sophisticated technology that many pediatric-only institutions lack. These include remote magnetic navigation and the most advanced 3D mapping and ablation systems — particularly valuable in treating patients with complex congenital heart disease and complex arrhythmias. UCLA pediatric electrophysiologists have extensive experience working with young athletes and offer world-class expertise for patients who may require restriction from sports participation because of concerns over cardiac abnormalities.
Pediatric Heart Failure/Transplant and Assist Device Program
UCLA’s internationally recognized Pediatric Heart Failure/Transplant Program has transplanted over 300 children since its inception in 1984. Offering aggressive medical management and all other treatment options — including heart transplantation and the use of ventricular assist devices — UCLA has extensive experience evaluating and treating children with all forms of heart failure. A multidisciplinary approach to patient care provides patients and their families with medical, nursing and psychosocial support.
Research
Division faculty are actively involved in basic science, translational and clinical research that advances the understanding of pediatric heart disorders and provides insights into new treatments. Areas of research include development of the following:
- Novel catheter-based devices aimed at minimizing the need for cardiac surgery for an increasing number of pediatric heart conditions
- Screening approaches to help obstetricians improve their ability to screen for fetal cardiac abnormalities
- Pediatric echocardiographic predictors of surgical outcomes
- Innovative ways to assess ventricular function in children with heart defects and following cardiac transplantation
- Telemedicine broadband technology to allow UCLA pediatric cardiologists to share with other institutions their abilities to interpret fetal and pediatric echocardiograms performed across the region and beyond
- Novel ways to evaluate the early embryology of the cardiac conduction system and the immunologic impact of thymectomy
- Quality improvement methods to improve access and outcomes for children with heart disease
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