Congenital heart diseases can be found in almost 1 in every 100 children born, constituting the first congenital anomaly.
One in 3 children with congenital heart disease will need intervention in the first years of life. Advances in cardiac surgery and catheterization interventions allow the majority of children (figures close to 97%) to survive with an adequate quality of life. In the most complex cases, it is necessary to carry out specific monitoring and help them grow and incorporate into the usual activities of children and young people such as sports.
On the other hand, familial and genetic heart diseases are a group of diseases that are associated with serious conditions such as sudden death and that include cardiomyopathies, channelopathies (Brugada syndrome, long QT) or diseases of the aorta. They can be diagnosed in the phases in which they have not yet developed through genetic studies. This knowledge is key to prevent events and to make recommendations such as sports or others.
“The Pediatric Cardiology Unit offers comprehensive care for cardiovascular conditions, focusing on the patient and their family, from the fetus to young adult, with high-resolution consultations. This means all the necessary tests are performed in the same appointment, using the least invasive and most advanced technology and the expert knowledge of its professionals,” states Dr. Constancio Medrano López , head of the new Pediatric Cardiology and Familial Heart Disease Unit at Hospital La Luz and Hospital Quirónsalud Sur . The medical team of this unit also includes Dr. Marcos García Aguado , head of Adult Cardiology and Familial Heart Disease.
According to Dr. Medrano, "we facilitate the possibility of knowing early diagnosis, from the prenatal stage, through fetal echocardiography, to cardiovascular prevention, offering updated information on specific cases."
In the pediatric setting – continues this specialist – heart disease can be ruled out due to common symptoms such as murmur, syncope, palpitations or chest pain in children and young people. We can also perform a cardiological evaluation in young people who participate in intense or competitive sports.
The new unit at La Luz Hospital offers the study of children with complex conditions such as rare syndromes or diseases or children who receive drugs (oncological or other) that may be associated with cardiac involvement.
«In cases of familial heart disease, the approach is global with study of family trees, genetic testing and detailed study of individuals (children and adults). Individual assessment of risk and sports activities is carried out,” says Dr. Marcos García Aguado.
Finally, «our unit aims to offer second opinions on complex cases and decisions as well as to accompany the transition processes to adult life. Likewise, we offer collaboration and support to other professionals of the Quirónsalud group from the healthcare field, to teaching, research and national and international cooperation," explains Dr. Constancio Medrano López.
In conclusion, the recent unit created jointly at Hospital La Luz and Hospital Quirónsalud Sur, makes it possible to provide advice and monitoring at different ages to ensure the best therapies and interventions that lead to the best quality of life and complete integration into usual activities.
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