DEPARTMENT OF PAEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY

The department of Paediatric cardiology was established at The Children’s Hospital at its inception in 1998 and is a critical component of the faculty of paediatric medicine. It is a multidisciplinary unit closely with paediatric cardiac surgery.

CLINICAL FACILITIES:

The department’s clinical facilities include:

1. A 20 bedded in-patient service.

2. Paediatric Cardiology Intensive Care Unit (4-bedded).

3. Paediatric Cardiac Surgery Intesive Care Unit (6-bedded).

4. Cardiac Catheterization and Interventional Cardilogy (Angiography Lab and ward.)

5. Non-Invasive Cardiology (Echocardiography, exercise physiology studies and holter monitoring)

6. Out-patient paediatric cardiac services.

a)         The in-patient service involves all aspects of the care of infants children and adolescents hospitalized with congenital or acquired heart disease.

b)         A 4-bedded paediatric cardiology intensive care is equipped invasive cardiac monitors and latest state of art ventilators (SEIMENS). Critical infants and children with congestive heart failure, life threatening chest infections and low cardiac output are admitted and manged. 

c)         A 6-bedded separate paediatric cardiac surgery ICU with an adjacent cardiac theatre has  been a new addition to the department. 

d)         A new digital flat nanel (SEIMENS) cardiac catheterization lab has recently been set up in the diagnostic block. The Angiography suit has 6 separate beds for patients admitted for diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization. 

           The procedures performed include balloon valvuloplasty and angiography, PDA occlusion, ASD closure, VSD closure and stenting coaractation of the aorta. In year 2005, 360 catheterization including 190 interventional were performed.

e)           The non-invasive cardiologv mainly includes echocardiography. The unit currently has 3 dedicated Color Doppler echo system and a 4^th pme os om [o[e;ome.

             Tranesophageal and foetal echocardiography is also being performed once weekly, while pre operative TOE and intraoperative echos are performed as and when needed.

f)            Out patient paediatric cardiology services is being offered 5 days a week. This service includes follow up service for all types of hearts both as screening, out-patients management and all children seen after cardiac surgery or interventional cardiac catheterization. Over 9000 patients were seen in Cardiology OPD in year 2005, only.

TEACHING AND TRAINING:

The fellowship training program in paediatric cardiology at Children Hospital was a approved by the College of Physicians & Surgeons Pakistan in 2001- and offers two positions per year. 

The residents in the department and paediatric fellowship trainees rotate period of two months twice in three ears training program in paediatrics. 

A joint medicosurgical (Cath) conference is held every week when fellows and residents present cases for surgery or intervention.  

FACULTY :
The faculty of division of paediatric Cardiology conference

1. Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiu, FRCP
   Professor of Paediatric Cardiology & head Paediatric Cardiac Services

2. Dr. Naiam Hyder, FCPS
   Assistant Professor Paediatric Cardiology

3. Dr. Faraz Masud, FCPS
   Senior Registrar Paediatric Cardiology

We work closely with Paediatric Cardiac Surgeons which includes.

1. Dr. Jamal Abdul Nasir, FCPS
   Assistant Professor Paediatric Cardiac Surgery

2. Dr. Muhammad Asim Khan, FRCS
   Assistant Professor Paediatric Cardiac Surgery

In addition to medical and surgical faculty, other health professionals, key to the patient care are specialized nurses in cardiac ICUs and Cardiac Cath Lab, Perfusionists, ECG technicians, echo technicians and Cardiac Cath Lab technicians.

RESEARCH:

The department has an active research program. A large number of original articles and case reports have published in the international indexed journal local journals.

FUTURE PLAN:

• Expansion of non-invasive services

• Provision of 3D and 4D echo systems

• Exercise physiology studies (ETT)

• Holter monitoring

• Paediatric cardiac Intensivists and Anesthetists

• Basic and advanced clinical research 

• International collaborations

• Expansion of inpatient and ICU services

• Addition of cardiac theartres