Pediatric Heart Care
Patient Appointments: Location: |
Here at WVU Children’s Hospital, a multi-disciplinary team of professionals from both pediatric cardiology and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery treat children with complex congenital heart disease.
Our family-centered staff provides a level of care that rivals any hospital in the country. The heart care team includes dedicated pediatric cardiologists, a cardiothoracic surgeon, intensivists, pediatric anesthesiologists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and our outstanding nursing staff in the pediatric intensive care unit.
Our pediatric cardiologists offer world-class experience and compassionate care. We provide diagnostic and treatment services for all forms of congenital heart defects, arrhythmias, acquired heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and cardiomyopathies.
The range of expertise in our pediatric cardiology team is unmatched in the region. WVU is fortunate to have two of the best pediatric electrophysiologists in the U.S. on staff.
Our pediatric cardiologists provide the latest technology in all forms of diagnosis and treatment, including:
- tilt table testing
- fetal echocardiography
- diagnostic cardiac catheterization
- electrophysiology
- invasive electrophysiology
- radio frequency ablation
- pacemakers
- implantable cardioverter defibrillators
- coronary bypass graft surgery
WVU Children’s Hospital provides every cardiology service that can be found at larger facilities, except transplants.
The pediatric cardiology section is led by Dr. Larry Rhodes, a fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologist who specializes in patients with congenital heart disease.
The Children’s Preventive Cardiology Clinic provides consultative services for children who have severe dyslipidemia (abnormal cholesterol and triglyceride levels). Separate pacemaker and arrhythmia clinics are held for pediatric patients. We also offer coronary artery disease risk assessment and treatment.
To further improve the health of the region, we conduct pediatric cardiology outreach clinics in surrounding West Virginia cities: Beckley, Huntington, Lewisburg, Martinsburg, Parkersburg, Princeton, and Wheeling.
Physicians
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Arpy A Balian, MD Specialties Special Interest |
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Tracy Coup, CPNP, RN Specialty Special Interest |
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Stanley Einzig, MD, PhD Specialty Special Interest |
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Malek M El Yaman, MD Specialties Special Interests |
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William A. Neal, MD Specialty Special Interests |
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John R Phillips, MD Specialty Special Interests |
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Larry A Rhodes, MD Specialty Special Interests |
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Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
The pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program, under the direction of Robert A. Gustafson, MD, performs more than 400 procedures a year and is the only program offering cardiothoracic surgery for children in the state.
Children come to WVU Children’s Hospital for our cardiothoracic expertise from West Virginia, surrounding states, and around the world.
Additionally, we provide general thoracic procedures for children, including repair of:
- complex chest wall deformities
- esophageal fistula
- reflux esphagitis
- congenital tracheal stenosis
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Robert A. Gustafson, MD Specialty Special Interests |
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Tammy McKeever Specialty Special Interest |
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The Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities Project began in 1998 as a school-based program that screened fifth graders for potential heart disease.
The project, which screens children free of charge, has grown to also screen kindergarten and second grade children. By the end of 2009, more than 100,000 West Virginia children will have been screened by CARDIAC.
As the state remains on the verge of an obesity epidemic, programs like CARDIAC play an important role in combating childhood obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
The program has also inspired intervention programs like Camp NEW You (NEW stands for Nutrition Education and Weight Management.), a joint effort between the CARDIAC project and WVU’s School of Physical Education and Sports Science.
At a two week summer camp, children and their families learn about making better choices to live healthier lives. The camp stresses a healthy diet and exercise rather than weight loss.
Once the camp is over, Dr. William Neal and his colleagues continue to meet with the families and children on a quarterly basis. Outcomes from Camp NEW You show that lifestyle changes can be continued over time.
For more information, visit the CARDIAC Project.