by Cindy A. Abole, Public Relations

Pediatric cardiologist Dr. Wolfgang Radtke, center, prepares to demonstrate a new catheterization procedure to Venezuelan physicians at Ascardio Hospital in Barquisimeto. His visit was part of a teaching program designed to help 15 patients suffering from congenital heart disease. Photo by Elías Rodríguez.

In a recent visit to Caracas, Venezuela, senior interventional pediatric cardiologist Wolfgang Radtke, M.D., Division of Pediatric Cardiology, performed and taught an innovative heart catheterization technique which saved the lives of South Americans suffering from congential heart disease.

He also discovered a common human bond linking people of different hemispheres as they actively support and participate in meeting the medical needs of others.

Radtke demonstrated and performed 15 procedures on patients who suffered from congenital heart abnormalities like atrial septal defect (ASD) and patent ductus arterioris (PDA). From Nov. 18 through 20, he taught physicians from throughout Venezuela at two locations, Ascardio Hospital and the Caracas Military Hospital. Radtke’s visit was organized by AGA Medical Corporation, the new transcatheter occlusion device’s manufacturer, who sponsored the teaching opportunity.

“We have a real role in helping to improve access to corrections of congenital heart disease,” said Radtke. “We introduced methods that will replace some surgeries and allow others with more complex lesions to undergo surgery in this country where operating room capacity is very limited.”

ASD, which accounts for more than 10 percent of all congenital heart disease, is usually discovered during routine children’s checkups because of a heart murmur. Many patients treated in Venezuela had large defects with beginning symptoms. Closure of the defect is recommended at an early age, usually age 3 or 4, or as soon as a diagnosis is made. Left untreated, the hole will grow along with the patient and cause more serious problems with age. A PDA may eventually cause irreversible lung changes and carries a higher risk of endocarditis, an inflammation of the lining of the heart and its valves.

The Venezuelan government provides limited medical programs and has no funding assistance for this procedure. In a display of compassion for their fellow man, citizens have teamed their efforts as a community to improve access to cardiac care and also provide support for such new, innovative procedures. In Venezuelan cities like Caracas and Barquisimeto, citizens established a fund to help filter public and private donations for congenital heart patients.

Radtke used the transcatheter occlusion devices, on a total of 15 pediatric and adult patients with these heart defects with all of them discharged home after overnight observation. This exemplifies how such procedures give more patients access to cardiac care.

Previously, ASD-matched patients underwent stressful heart surgery followed by a three-day hospital stay. In contrast, the Amplatzer™ is implanted through a catheter. It’s composed of two Nitinol wire mesh disks which are positioned against the septum and unfolded to create a tight seal. Its position is confirmed using transesophageal echocardiography, a procedure which uses a special instrument which provides a sharp view of the heart without the visual interference of the lungs or chest cage. Patients are monitored for up to 23 hours following the procedure. The use of this nonsurgical method seems ideal, especially in a country where surgical rooms are scarce.

“The idea of this program was to train physicians on how to use this method and conduct procedures independently,” Radtke said. “Their overall response was enthusiastic and receptive.”