Improved outcomes following heart surgery

Heart disease is the leading killer of Australian kids and the number one cause of admission of our kids to intensive care. Thanks to improved palliative surgical procedures, kids suffering from complex congenital heart defects can now expect to live longer, have a better quality of life and even enjoy some physical activity.

A team of experts from across the globe, including Belgium, Paris, England, Vietnam, Spain, Malaysia and Indonesia, formed a team led by RCH consultant cardiac surgeon and MCRI research fellow, A/Professor Yves d’Udekem, which established the best surgical methods for children with complex congenital heart defects. “Doctors used to just focus on the survival of children, but it is much more than that,” says d’Udekem. “Now our focus is on good long-term outcomes.” The research was published in top international cardiology journal, Circulation.

Extensive medical care is required following surgery, and d’Udekem and his team are in the process of establishing a registry to assess children’s needs and investigate new medications and therapies. This could provide alternatives to heart transplantation, facilitate the calculation of expected costs to the health system and a better projection of funding requirements.

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