First Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Performed at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

NEW BRUNSWICK - Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons have performed the first pediatric cardiac surgery at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. The surgery successfully repaired a heart defect in a 13-month-old boy.

The pediatric cardiac surgery program at The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is the first such program in Central New Jersey and the third in the state. Development of the surgical program has been done through an association between The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian. According to the American Heart Association, about 40,000 children are born with a heart defect each year.

"By working with a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cardiac surgery, our hospital has been able to quickly establish a vital program for the children of Central New Jersey," said Clifton R. Lacy, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital. "This program has brought leading edge heart surgery for children right here close to home."

"By joining with a nationally recognized leader in pediatric cardiac surgery, our hospital has been able to quickly establish a vital program for the children of Central New Jersey," said Daniel A. Notterman, MD, physician-in-chief of The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. "This joint venture has brought innovative medicine close to home while making the most efficient use of knowledge, staff and equipment."

The surgery performed was patent ductus arteriosus repair, which corrects an abnormal connection between the main artery from the heart and the main artery to the lungs. With the congenital abnormality, blood circulates between the lungs and heart, forcing the heart to overwork and leading to congestive heart failure.

The 13-month-old patient, a Plainfield resident, was in surgery yesterday (TUESDAY) for one hour to repair the defect. All babies are born with the connection, but it usually closes within a few days of birth. It did not close in this child.

Performing the surgery were Ralph S. Mosca, MD, and Jonathan M. Chen, MD, both of whom are cardiothoracic surgeons at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian. Both also are part of the pediatric cardiac program of The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital.

The agreement of the two hospitals also includes the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The agreement has enabled children who have cardiac defects to be treated at the state-of-the-art, family-friendly Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital in New Brunswick. The program will offer a full range of pediatric cardiac services from cardiac diagnostic studies to interventional cardiac procedures such as cardiac catheterization, and open-heart surgery. This also continues the steady expansion of pediatric specialty teaching programs offered at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital is New Jersey's largest free-standing, state-designated acute care children's hospital. The hospital, under the clinical leadership of UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, serves the health care needs of children from New Jersey and beyond, bringing the full spectrum of comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties and nationally-recognized services to pediatric patients.

Attention members of the media: For more information on this release, please contact the Department of Public Relations (732) 937-8521.

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