Las Vegas Hands Helping Panama Hearts

Project Panama Cardiac Consortium

Congenital heart defects are the most common birth defects. It is estimated that 6 out of every 1,000 live births will be affected by a moderate to severe cardiac defect. In Panama it is estimated that over 400 children born every year will have a potentially fatal heart malformation. Until recently the only real hope for these families was to seek medical attention abroad. Given the obstacles inherent in this approach most children never survived to benefit from the higher level of care available elsewhere.

In 2011 Children’s Heart Center of Nevada together with University of Virginia joined forces with World Pediatric Project in order to develop pediatric cardiac services in Panama. Since then other members of the consortium have included Johns Hopkins University and Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. The results of this collaborative effort have been dramatic. Over the past 4 years more than 400 children have had either heart surgery or other interventional procedure during the various mission visits. More importantly, the Panama team has developed as a consequence of this program and is now able to independently perform close to 100 open heart surgeries yearly with very good results. Every year they are closer to becoming a successful, self-sustaining program.

The team from Children’s Heart Center of Nevada is coordinated by Dr. Galindo and Dr. Luna of cardiology, Dr. Ciccolo of cardiac surgery and Renna Lange nurse practitioner. Other team members include pediatric intensive care physicians and nurses, pediatric cardiac anesthesia, perfusionists and operating room technicians and nurses. The Nevada team recently completed their fourth mission in April of 2014 directly providing teaching and assistance in the care of 23 children. This effort will be considered a success when the program in Panama has developed to the point where outside missions are no longer required. 

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