Nicklaus Children's Hospital Performs Novel Heart Procedure

Nicklaus Children's Hospital's Heart Institute has successfully completed one of the first transcatheter Fontan procedures in the United States on a two-year-old child with congenital heart disease. The procedure allowed the child's heart defect to be repaired without the need for traditional open-heart surgery, which would have involved opening the chest cavity.

The new, less invasive method utilizes a catheter inserted through blood vessels to reach the heart. This technique marks a significant advancement in the treatment of congenital heart conditions, particularly for the Fontan procedure. The Fontan procedure redirects blood flow from the right side of the heart to the lungs when the heart's normal structure is absent.

The success of this treatment offers hope for many other children requiring similar corrective interventions. The hospital has a history of pioneering advancements in pediatric cardiac surgery and is committed to developing new treatment modalities for heart conditions.

Nicklaus Children's Hospital is a pediatric hospital located in Florida, specializing in the treatment of complex conditions in children. Its Heart Institute is nationally recognized for its care in pediatric cardiac health.