Cardiology  (Heart Center)

The Heart Institute at Arkansas Children's takes a comprehensive, team approach customized to treating your child's heart care. A large team of some of the best pediatric cardiologists and intensivists provides excellent diagnostic, interventional treatment and post-operative care to complete the world-class spectrum of support provided in the Heart Institute. With tight collaboration between surgeons and cardiologists, the Heart Institute at Arkansas Children's is able to provide patients and families with a seamless continuum of care.

Our Heart Institute functions as a cohesive team to provide cardiac surgical patients with unparalleled care. You'll find its pediatric Heart Institute is state-of-the-art, staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with in-house cardiac-level intensivists. Our center is backed by a team that is committed to cardiac care-and; our outcomes prove it.

The pediatric cardiovascular surgical program features state-of-the-art surgical care for children and adults with congenital heart disease, balanced with utmost compassion and hope. Although our focus is on patients from the south-central United States, our pediatric cardiovascular services reach beyond those boundaries to a nationwide and even international level. From the tiniest of neonates with the most complex cardiac malformations to continuing-care adults with conditions present since birth, our outcomes and results are unexcelled anywhere. 

Expert Heart Care in Arkansas for Every Child at Every Age

Caring for patients with congenital heart defects means caring for people of all ages. In fact, our successes mean there are many more adults living with congenital heart disease. This has led us to develop a new field of practice focusing on those adult survivors. Our practice includes:

• Cardiac Care for the Unborn Child - It is not uncommon to find cardiac defects before a baby is born. A detailed ultrasound of an unborn baby may reveal a heart problem. The only specially trained fetal echocardiographers in Arkansas are at Arkansas Children's. A variety of defects and rhythm problems can be identified ahead of time so that high-risk deliveries may be anticipated. 
  
  
• Arkansas Cardiology Care for Newborn Infants - Some newborns have defects in heart valves, holes in the walls of the heart (septal defects) or abnormal connection of large blood vessels from the heart (patent ductus arteriosus). Others have weaknesses in heart muscle, coronary arteries, and heart chambers. Still, others have lung artery abnormalities and heart murmurs. Sometimes these problems only require medication for treatment. In more severe cases, surgical intervention is necessary. 
  
  
• Cardiac Care for Infants and Children - Older children can have many of the same problems as infants. Some need a follow-up visit with a cardiologist after having a heart operation or to correct a cardiac defect. Rarer afflictions include rheumatic fever, Kawasaki's Disease, Down's Syndrome, Marfan Syndrome or DiGeorge Syndrome. Rhythm problems, dizziness or syncope (fainting or losing consciousness) are common within this age group. 
  
  
• Arkansas Cardiology Care for Adolescents and Adults - Heart defect cases originating in childhood are followed and cared for by pediatric cardiology doctors. This unique group of patients requires specialized knowledge of childhood heart disease as it affects them with age. This is particularly important if surgery may be needed or rhythm problems develop.

The Arkansas Children's Hospital's Cardiovascular Anesthesia team has the training and experience to focus on the specific needs of patients and manage a range of complex cardiac issues. For patients with heart disease, the pediatric cardiac anesthesiologist has a central role in coordinating team-based surgical care.

The cardiac anesthesiologist:

• monitors physiologic parameters;
• protects vital organ function;
• controls blood coagulation;
• and reduces the inflammatory response to cardiopulmonary bypass.

Each part of the surgical procedure requires specific attention, including poor heart function before transplantation, the monitoring during cardiopulmonary bypass, or assisting the patient's heart in separating from cardiopulmonary bypass. The cardiac anesthesiologist has the ability to monitor the patient's overall well-being, thereby helping to create the optimal environment for a successful cardiac repair procedure, or any other type of procedure on a cardiac patient.

HIGHER IS BETTER

Why is this important? This information shows case volumes (operations) over a 4-year period for key benchmark operations. STS considers ACH a high-volume surgical center with a large enough volume to ensure experience in treating all congenital cardiac lesions. The more operations we do, the more experience we have, and experience is the key to good outcomes.

HIGHER IS BETTER

What does this mean?  This information shows survival after surgical treatment of key benchmark operations over a 4-year period and compares the ACH experience to the STS average. ACH meets or exceeds survival outcomes in all key areas when compared to the STS average.

LOWER IS BETTER

Why is this important? On average, our patient's post-operative total length of stay across all categories is shorter at ACH compared to other national sites. Less time in the hospital means more time at home with family.

There are many types of heart defects and our expert team of heart specialists at Arkansas Children's provides care for a comprehensive list of heart defects and conditions. Some are called "critical congenital heart disease" or CCHD. CCHD may occur when a baby's heart or major blood vessels do not form properly. A "critical" heart defect is one that needs urgent treatment in order to have the best outcome for the baby. Treatment can include medical and surgical procedures. Learn more about CCHD by visiting the links below.

• Screening for CCHD Fact Sheet (English)
• Screening for CCHD Fact Sheet (Spanish)

Other Resources

• Mended Little Hearts Little Rock
• Pediatric Congenital Heart Association
• Arkansas Congenital Heart Defect Coalition
• ACH Pediatric ECMO Protocol

Beads of Courage^®

Beads of Courage is a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt organization dedicated to helping children with serious illnesses record, tell, and own their stories of survival. When children undergo treatment for serious illnesses, needle sticks, x-rays and hospital stays are all painful episodes to be endured. Beads of Courage is a program that awards these brave patients with beads to represent each milestone. Through this program, children can tell their stories using colorful beads as meaningful symbols of courage that commemorate milestones they have achieved.

Initially created to help children endure cancer treatment, the program has since been modified to also reach patients with cardiac conditions. Patients receive a necklace with their name and a bead symbolizing the cardiac program. With every milestone in a patient's treatment, beads are added to help tell a story of understanding, acceptance, and survival unique to each child's journey. These colorful beads are worn proudly by patients or their families to symbolize courage. They are a constant reminder to take each procedure one day at a time. These beads bring energy and excitement to patients and families.

Major Benefits

The ongoing evaluation of the Beads of Courage program indicates that the program helps decrease illness-related distress, increases the use of positive coping strategies, helps children find meaning in illness, and restores a sense of children coping with serious illness. The program also provides something tangible the child can use to describe their experience during and after treatment.

For more information or to make a donation, email us: CVICUbeadsofcourage@archildrens.org.