The Division of Paediatric Cardiology is based at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital and provides a world class service to patients from Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga.

Services provided include two- and three-dimensional echocardiography, stress testing, Holter ECG monitoring, diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterisation. There are 3 full-time and 2 part-time paediatric cardiologists in the unit.

Interventions performed include percutaneous closure of the following congenital cardiac defects: Atrio-septal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, arterio-venous malformations/ fistulae. Percutaneous treatment of coarctation of the aorta is also performed as well as stenting of the patent ductus arteriosus in certain cyanotic duct dependent lesions.

We work closely with the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery in surgically treating children with both congenital and acquired cardiac disease. Surgeries performed include repairs of lesions such as ventriculoseptal defects, atrioseptal defects, atrio-ventriculoseptal defects, patent ductus arteriosus, Tetralogy of Fallot, lesions requiring single ventricle repair, as well as many other complicated cardiac conditions.

In addition the Department has set up a combined GUCH (Grown Up Congenital Heart) incentive with Adult Cardiology in order to provide appropriate care for those older patients either presenting with a congenital lesion for the first time, or with sequelae arising from previous treatment of congenital lesions.  

Publications

•  Audit of paediatric cardiac services in South Africa.
•  Development of a Subaortic Aneurysm Secondary to Disseminated Tuberculosis in a Child .
•  Endovascular Covered Stent Treatment for Descending Aorta Pseudoaneurysm Following Coarctation of the Aorta Repair in an Infant.
•  Evaluation of the Extracardiac Conduit Modification of the Fontan Operation for Thrombus Formation using Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
•  Anomalous origin of the left pulmonary artery from the ascending aorta in two children with pulmonary atresia, sub-aortic ventricular septal defect and right-sided major aorto-pulmonary collateral arteries.
•  Optimal paediatric cardiac services in South Africa – what do we need?
•  Shone’s complex variant associated with a patent ductus arteriosus: Simultaneous treatment of coarctation and patent ductus arteriosus using a covered stent.
•  An Unusual Case of Congenitally Unguarded Tricuspid Valve Orifice Associated with Pulmonary Valve Atresia and Intact Ventricular Septum.
•  Unusual case of pulmonary valve atresia.

Useful Links 

• Paediatric Cardiac Society of South Africa 
• South African Heart Association 
• Walter Sisulu Paediatric Cardiac Foundation 
• Thumbnail Guide to Congenital Heart Disease - The Children's Medical Institute National University Hospital, Singapore 
• Useful Resources on Auscultation of the Heart - BioSignetics Corporation Digital Stethoscope Company 
• Tutorials (heart cycle, Pressure curve, ECG, Heart sounds) 
• Paediatric Chiefs - UCCH website 
• About the Cardiac Exam - Internal Medicine and Paediatrics Physician The MetroHealth System Case Western Reserve University 
• Electrocardiography (ECG) – University of Chicago 
• Plain radiographic diagnosis of congenital heart disease – Texas Children’s Hospital