For example, staged palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome has been done successfully and with increased frequency at Cook Children's Medical Center since 1993. More than half of these are for hypoplastic left heart syndrome. With the use of the most modern surgical techniques, the surgeons perform minimally invasive repair whenever possible. Dr. Heinle and Dr. Fox, using special innovative tools, are able to repair a number of heart lesions through a very small incision. This procedure is far less invasive to the patient, leaving a remarkably smaller incision and cosmetically appealing results.
Recovery is quicker and postoperative discomfort is reduced.
The operative team of Dr. Fox and Dr. Heinle is experienced, performing over 2,000 operations on premature babies, neonates, infants, children and adolescents over the last eight years. In addition to the surgeons, specially trained and dedicated nurses, pediatric intensivists, pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists, and neonatologists direct care for the children after surgery in the pediatric intensive care unit. The nursing staff is specially trained to care for children with a wide variety of diseases and injuries, and those who have undergone surgery, including open heart surgery patients. The fellowship trained anesthesiologists work closely with cardiovascular surgeons in the operating room and intensive care unit to provide the very best care for our young patients. The anesthesiologists are familiar with each patient's cardiac history and prior surgery experience, which is crucial to providing a safe anesthetic.