Save a child’s heart: we can and we should

Background. Congenital heart disease (CHD) causes the death of thousands of children in developing countries. At the Wolfson Medical Center (WMC), a prototype program has been developed to address this issue. Methods. Since 1996, indigent children have been referred to the program, with the cooperation of partners in developing countries. The project’s aims are to (a) train their medical personnel at WMC, (b) travel to participating countries to teach, evaluate patients, operate, and promote the development of local centers, and (c) treat children with CHD, at WMC, who lack a local option for care either due to prohibitive costs or unavailability. The project’s personnel are state employees who volunteer to treat additional patients within the framework of their salaries, and community volunteers. Results. The program has seven partner sites in six countries, including two provinces in China (Hebei and Gansu), Ethiopia, Moldova, Nigeria, the Palestinian Authority, and Tanzania. Five physicians and 10 nurses have been trained from five participating countries. Over the past 4 years, 11 teaching trips have been made abroad, and operations have been performed at four partner sites. A total of 386 patients have been operated on—360 at WMC and 26 at other sites. There have been 17 (4.3%) acute deaths. Follow-up is 92% complete with 3 late deaths reported. Conclusions. Hospital-based regional centers can be created to promote the care of children with CHD in developing countries. Good results and follow-up care can be provided with appropriate planning.