New Stents May Reduce Multiple Heart Surgeries in Kids

Medically reviewed by Joe Giamelli, MD

A breakthrough treatment for babies born with heart problems may have arrived.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a first-of-its-kind expandable heart stent designed specifically for infants and young children with congenital heart disease.

This new cardiac device could transform treatment for children with heart defects by reducing the need for multiple open-heart surgeries immediately after birth and as they grow.

Innovative Treatment for Birth Heart Defects

"This could be a breakthrough for treating coarctation of the aorta, a common heart defect in newborns where a part of the heart's blood vessel is too narrow," says Joseph Giamelli, MD, a pediatric cardiologist at WMCHealth’s Maria Fareri Children's Hospital. “We're monitoring early outcomes closely and will consider incorporating this treatment option into our service.”

Previously, pediatric cardiac interventionalists were limited or unable to treat newborns and infants with coarctation of the aorta because they could only use adult-size cardiac stents or catheter balloons with a high recurrence rate in patients 12 months of age or younger.  This meant children with congenital heart disease often needed several heart operations and procedures as they grew.

The new expandable heart stent is specifically designed for smaller pediatric heart patients and can expand as the child grows—eliminating the need for repeated surgery.

Advanced Care for Pediatric Heart Patients

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 40,000 babies are born with heart defects each year in the United States, making it one of the most common birth defects.

Using a catheter inserted through a blood vessel in the groin, doctors can adjust the stent’s size as the child grows—a marked improvement over open-heart surgery, which often requires an extended hospital stay.

Expert Care for Congenital Heart Defects

If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, don’t wait to explore advanced treatment options.

Our comprehensive pediatric cardiology program, led by nationally recognized specialists, offers cutting-edge treatments like the new expandable heart stent, designed to reduce the need for multiple surgeries. Give your child the best chance for a healthy future. Learn more about our pediatric cardiology services and how we can help your family, and schedule an appointment with our team of pediatric heart experts today: 914.493.8372.