NewYork-Presbyterian. The University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell.

Cardiology

Conditions Treated

These are the congenital heart defects that are routinely treated by surgeons at NewYork-Presbyterian.

Atrial Septal Defect

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Atrial Septal Defect is an opening in the wall between the right and left atria that results in abnormal blood flow through the heart. Left untreated, this condition can cause enlargement of the right side of the heart, arrhythmias and, in some cases, pulmonary hypertension.

Atrioventricular Canals

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Atrioventricular Canals are large openings between the right and left sides of the heart. Usually, one large common valve replaces the normal mitral and tricuspid valves. Left untreated, this defect can cause poor growth, malnourishment, enlargement of the heart, and pulmonary hypertension.

Coarctation of the Aorta

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Coarctation of the Aorta is a constriction in the aorta that causes blood pressure to increase above the narrowed area while limiting blood flow to the body. The aorta is the largest artery. It distributes oxygenated blood throughout the body.

Ebstein's Anomaly

Ebstein's Anomaly involves the tricuspid valve that separates the right upper chamber (right atrium) from the right lower chamber (right ventricle). The valve's "leaflets" that open to allow blood to flow from the upper to lower chamber and close to prevent it from flowing backward, do not function properly. Blood may backflow into the upper chamber and cause swelling in the heart and/or fluid buildup in the lungs or liver.

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) the left side of the heart is incompletely formed. This is typically repaired with a technique known as the Norwood procedure. Our outcomes rank among the best in the country for this type of repair.

Patent Ductus Arteriosus

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Ductus arteriosus is a blood vessel that allows blood to bypass a baby's lungs before birth. Within a few days after birth the vessel typically closes. But, in babies with Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) the vessel remains open and interferes with blood flow between the aorta and pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary Artery Stenosis

Pulmonary Artery Stenosis is a narrowing of the pulmonary artery, the artery that carries blood into the lungs so that it may be infused with oxygen. Without enough oxygen rich blood the body cannot function properly. Also, to try to overcome the lack of oxygen-rich blood in the body, the heart tries to push more blood through the pulmonary artery. This can raise pressure in the right ventricle that pumps blood and damage the heart.

Single Ventricle

Single Ventricle is a collective term that describes defects such as Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) in which oxygen-rich and oxygen-poor blood are mixed in a single ventricle. Our pediatric cardiac surgeons have expertise in the Fontan procedure, which directs oxygen-poor blood directly to the pulmonary artery and lungs. The single ventricle is reserved for collecting oxygen-rich blood from the lungs, then pumping it to the aorta and the rest of the body.

Tetralogy of Fallot

Tetralogy of Fallot is the most common cyanotic defect (where the heart delivers less oxygen to the body than normal). This complex congenital condition consists of four developmental defects that require surgical correction early in childhood.

Transposition of the Great Arteries

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In Transposition of the Great Arteries the anatomical positions of the pulmonary artery and aorta are switched, so that the aorta arises from the right ventricle, and the pulmonary artery arises from the left ventricle. This causes oxygen-poor blood to be circulated to the body instead of oxygen-rich blood, a life-threatening medical emergency requiring immediate treatment. Our surgeons have pioneered the innovative arterial switch procedure which re-establishes normal anatomy and function while seeking to avoid the complications that have been associated with other surgical approaches.

Valve Repair, Re-repair

Valve Repair refers to the repair of a damaged mitral, tricuspid, or aortic valve. Re-repair refers to the repair of a previous surgery

Ventricular Septal Defect

In Ventricular Septal Defect there is an opening in the wall that separates the two ventricles of the heart, causing mixing of oxygen-poor blood with oxygen-rich blood.