Dr. Joseph Kuruvilla from the Congenital Heart Center at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital stopped by this morning to speak with us pediatric pulmonary hypertension. This center is the only such program in West Michigan. The team specializes in diagnosing and treating all congenital heart conditions regardless of age, even prenatal heart defects. Through surgery and interventions as well as follow-up care, the team helps children and adults with complex conditions treated by only the most advanced congenital heart programs in the country. They offer complete, expert care through cardiovascular surgery, 3-D echocardiograms and interventional cardiology, as well as their fetal heart program, cardiac electrophysiology program and pediatric intensive care unit.
Pulmonary hypertension is high blood pressure in the lungs. It’s a rare disorder in which the blood vessels in the lungs narrow and the pressure in the pulmonary artery rises far above normal levels. The pulmonary arteries carry blood from your body to the lungs where carbon dioxide is traded for oxygen. If not treated, pulmonary hypertension can lead to heart failure.
The Congenital Heart Center is located at Helen DeVos Children's Hospital. You can find it at 100 Michigan St. NE, Grand Rapids on the 10th floor. Give them a call at 616-267-9150 or visit their website, helendevoschildrens.org/congenital-heart-center
