Hybrid Procedures

Overview The “hybrid” treatment of congenital heart disease involves the combination of surgical and catheter-based interventional techniques, either in a series of procedures or simultaneously during open surgical access to the heart. This approach allows cardiac and surgical physicians and staff to work together to avoid or minimize the problems inherent in their separate methods of treatment. There are several advantages to hybrid therapy. It may reduce the number of open heart surgeries involving cardiopulmonary bypass and circulatory arrest, allow major surgical repair to be performed later in life and with less risk, and reduce the cumulative impact of catheterization procedures. This may result in improved quality of life for the patient, less risk of mortality, and more cost-effective care. As the treatments of congenital heart disease become more sophisticated and complex, the hybrid approach will become more important. The following types of hybrid procedure are described: - Hybrid Repair of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome - Transcatheter Fontan Completion - Hybrid Occlusion of Ventricular Septal Defects - Placement of Stents during Surgery - Balloon Dilation of Vascular Structures during Surgery - Aortic Valve Implantation