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Spring Survey 2012

The Future of Treatment

Program: Understanding Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
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Andrew Schorr:

Now, where is technology headed and your techniques, because I noticed that there have been adaptations with these surgical procedures over time.  So do you continue to refine it? 

Dr. Teitel:

Yeah, it’s constantly being refined.  And one of the problems in pediatric cardiology is that we’re changing things so quickly it’s hard to know what the best technique is.  Because as soon as we start studying one technique somebody else comes up with a brilliant idea for a newer one, so we’re moving on to doing less invasive, more with catheters and tubes, which is what I do.  I’m a cardiologist, and I use catheters.  I’m not a surgeon.  Moving toward less invasive care for these children, doing work together with the surgeons to minimize the children’s time in the hospital and the stress to their growing bodies, especially their brains and their hearts. 

So there’s a lot of change going on.  And I’ve been doing this as a pediatric cardiologist since 1980, and when we started we didn’t even offer care to babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.  We felt there was nothing to do, and now over those 30 years we’ve gone to not only offering care but offering the really strong possibility of a long healthy life.

Andrew Schorr:

So the point is if someone, parents, hear this term applied to their baby who is about to be born or is being born, the truth is they want to have a connection with a center such as UCSF fast so that that life can be saved and that baby can thrive. 

Dr. Teitel:

Exactly.

Andrew Schorr:

All right.  Well, it is really a happy story, Olivia having her tea party right now as we speak and doing well, and, Stephanie, that you and Brent were able to connect with the right care at UCSF.  So, Doctor, are you optimistic that you’ll continue to perfect these procedures and when it comes to not just this problem with the heart but others really more broadly in little tiny babies or maybe even sometimes even in utero that you’ll continue to refine what you’re doing to save more lives? 

Dr. Teitel:

Oh, absolutely.  That’s what our goals are for every day that I come to work it’s to be able to offer little children like Olivia the chance to have a healthy life, but we’ve gone a long way since I’ve started doing this, but there’s a lot father we can go.

Andrew Schorr:

Well, that’s a great story.  Stephanie, you are going to dance at Olivia’s wedding some day, and she’ll be pouring tea or something for everybody, and then you can look forward to another daughter.  Well, thank Brent, your husband, who does his own lifesaving work as an EMT in San Francisco.  Thank him for being at the tea party while we get to have this conversation. 

Stephanie:

I will.  I will.  He’s actually a lieutenant in the San Francisco Fire Department, but I will definitely thank him for you.  He’s disappointed he couldn’t be here.

Andrew Schorr:

Okay.  Well, but what a joy to be with Olivia. 

Stephanie:

Oh, every day, we wake up and it’s a joy.

Andrew Schorr:

Wait until she’s a teenager.  That’s another story.  Well, Stephanie Stuckert from Petaluma, thank you so much.  All the best to your family.  And Dr. David Teitel, medical director of the pediatric heart center at UCSF Children’s Hospital, thank you for being with us. 

Dr. Teitel:

Pleasure. 

Stephanie:

Thank you.

Andrew Schorr:

Well, thank you.  Another just inspiring story of medical advances, a talented team, and really very devoted parents in this case too on Patient Power.  Thank you so much for joining us.  I’m Andrew Schorr.  Remember, knowledge can be the best medicine of all.

Please remember the opinions expressed on Patient Power are not necessarily the views of UCSF Medical Center, its medical staff or Patient Power. Our discussions are not a substitute for seeking medical advice or care from your own doctor.  That’s how you’ll get care that’s most appropriate for you.

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