congenital heart disease Archives
Family’s gift celebrates those who make transplants possible
Aug. 26, 2021—All Coleen Leszczynski ever wanted was to be normal. Born with a congenital heart disease (CHD), she labored to breathe, having only three-quarters the oxygen capacity of a healthy person. Still, she fought to live, serving as a cardiac nurse in her native Philadelphia area for more than 16 years. She wanted to help people like her.
Family’s gift supports addressing psychosocial needs of cardiac patients’ families
Feb. 26, 2021—Ellen and Bo Boyer’s first child, a daughter they named Brett, was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect (CHD) while in utero. The couple was told that their beloved daughter would require open heart surgery to survive.
Cell-cell signals in developing heart
Jun. 10, 2019—Scott Baldwin and colleagues have discovered early signaling events during heart development, findings that could guide cell replacement therapies for heart disease.
More congenital heart patients becoming transplant candidates
May. 2, 2019—Patients with a form of congenital heart disease — having only one ventricle (pumping chamber) — are now living longer lives due to the successful surgical and medical treatments they receive as children.
Novel program gives congenital heart disease patients new options
Aug. 23, 2018—Experts at the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute are forging new ground in the development of a first-of-its-kind program aimed at adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD).
Risk factors for faulty rhythms
Aug. 16, 2018—Risk factors for arrhythmias after heart surgery in infants include medications, infant age and higher surgical complexity, but not two genetic variants examined by Vanderbilt researchers.
NOTCH1 role in heart development
Jul. 3, 2017—The identification of a genetic culprit for hypoplastic left heart syndrome could lead to new treatments for the condition.
Mutation raises heart block risk
Mar. 3, 2017—A newly identified genetic risk factor for heart block after surgery may help guide the course of postoperative care.
VUMC nurse’s personal experiences drive her care of patients with congenital heart defects
Jun. 2, 2016—Every day, Misty Sharpe looks at the scar down the center of her chest and knows she’s a survivor. She has had four heart surgeries to repair congenital heart defects, ranging from when she was 4 days old to 4 years old. Sharpe, MSN, R.N., now works as a nurse case manager in the Pediatric Cardiology Clinic, treating patients with congenital heart defects and working to raise awareness of the condition.
Children, heart disease, and IQ
Nov. 16, 2015—Treatment for congenital heart disease during infancy may result in cognitive and attentional deficits during adolescence and young adulthood, Vanderbilt researchers have found.
Newborn screening program championed at VU helps save boy
Apr. 11, 2013—John Isaac Stone Seabolt was born Feb. 26, less than two months after a new state law went into effect encouraging the screening of newborn babies for “silent” heart defects.
