Prenatal Diagnosis & Intervention
The relationship of the Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Divisions begins prior to birth when a mother is diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy due to fetal congenital heart disease.
NewYork-Presbyterian’s Congenital Heart Center collaborates closely with the maternal-fetal medicine programs at the Carmen and John Thain Center for Prenatal Pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital directed by Dr. Russell S. Miller and the Fetal Care Center at NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital directed by Dr. Ericalyn Kasdorf. These programs seek to promote the best possible outcomes for newborns at risk for cardiac anomalies, including CHDs, fetal arrhythmias, and maternal or other fetal medical conditions that may affect the fetal heart. Our centers are among the largest and most experienced maternal-fetal medicine programs in the country.
The relationship of the Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery Divisions begins prior to birth when a mother is diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy due to fetal congenital heart disease. Consultations with one of our fetal cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons and/or interventional cardiologists are provided in conjunction with expert maternal-fetal medicine specialists and this continuity of care is maintained throughout the pregnancy and postnatal care. Prenatal diagnosis of cardiac anomalies relies on a sophisticated range of imaging technologies through fetal echocardiography, fetal cardiac MRI, and 3D printed cardiac models.
Fetal Cardiac Intervention Program
The Carmen and John Thain Center for Prenatal Pediatrics at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital was the first in New York State to develop a program in fetal cardiac intervention – an approach that makes it possible to change how the heart develops in utero and alter the natural course of certain cardiac lesions. Led by Dr. Mathew Crystal, the Center’s multidisciplinary team works closely with pediatric cardiac specialists to address severe aortic stenosis and evolving hypoplastic left heart syndrome, pulmonary stenosis or atresia and evolving hypoplastic right heart syndrome, and hypoplastic left heart syndrome with an intact atrial septum. Although additional cardiac procedures will most likely be needed after delivery, the in-utero intervention may improve circulation making it possible to perform an interventional procedure rather than surgery.
NewYork-Presbyterian has achieved several distinctions in prenatal care including:
- Designation as a Regional Perinatal Center by the State of New York — the highest hospital classification level — denoting its expertise, treatment, and skills to care for the most difficult and high-risk cases
- A participating Network Center of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network, supporting research to reduce morbidities associated with preterm birth, fetal growth abnormalities, and maternal complications