Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive procedure that entails inserting a thin, flexible tube (catheter) through a vein or artery that is then guided to the heart. Physicians perform this study to diagnose the type of heart defect and its severity. In some cases, they are also able to repair the heart problem (congenital or acquired) that might otherwise have required surgery.
At the Pediatric Heart Center at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM), our highly specialized team of cardiologists and interventional cardiologists is among the most sought-after and experienced in New York State, as well as across the nation. Robert H. Pass, MD, Director, Pediatric Interventional Cardiology and Pediatric Electrophysiology, has performed more than 4,000 cardiac catheterization procedures on children and is widely recognized for his expertise in the nonsurgical, catheter-based repair of heart defects and the hybrid procedure. Some of these procedures include:
- Atrial septal defect (ASD) and ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair
- Angioplasty
- Balloon valvuloplasty of the aortic and pulmonary valves
- Balloon arterioplasty of distal pulmonary artery stenosis (narrowing)
- Cardiac biopsies
- Closure of ventricular septal defect
- Diagnostic interventional catheterization
- Intravascular stent placement
- Percutaneous valve replacement
- Pulmonary artery dilation and stent placement
CHAM's Pioneering Advancements in Cardiac Catheterization
CHAM is reputable for its pioneering advancements in the field of cardiology. One of the first cardiac catheterization laboratories nationwide was established at Montefiore by Seymour Furman, MD, who developed the transvenous technique for implanting a pacemaker in 1958 and was one of the first surgeons to implant pacemakers in children. More recently, CHAM's team of heart surgeons and cardiologists was the first in New York State to perform a hybrid procedure, which combines catheter-based technology and surgery to repair a baby's heart.
Benefits of Cardiac Catheterization
Because cardiac catheterization procedures are less invasive than open surgery, they are inherently associated with fewer risks. Newborn babies with congenital heart defects benefit greatly from catheter-based procedures to either diagnose or treat these problems. Other advantages of these interventional procedures include shorter hospital stays, quicker recovery time and less discomfort and scarring than with conventional heart surgery.
Children's Hospital at Montefiore
Pediatric Heart Center
3415 Bainbridge Avenue, 5th Floor
Bronx, NY 10467
Robert H. Pass, MD
Email: rpass@montefiore.org
Phone: 718-741-2183
Nicole J. Sutton, MD
Email: nsutton@montefiore.org
Phone: 718-741-2183