Heart Institute News Briefs

Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic Reaccredited, Sympathectomy Surgery Available

Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic one of few accredited care centers

The Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Cincinnati Children’s is one of just eight pediatric centers in the country to be accredited as a Pulmonary Hypertension Accredited Comprehensive Care Center by the Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA). It was recently reaccredited.

PHA established this accreditation program to identify centers with pulmonary hypertension expertise that have demonstrated an ability to properly diagnose the disease and have the capability to manage these complex patients. The program allows patients to find high-quality pulmonary hypertension programs throughout the United States.

To learn more, contact the program’s director, Russel Hirsch, MD.

Sympathectomy surgery a solution for heart arrhythmias, excessive sweating

Cincinnati Children’s is now offering sympathectomy surgeries for patients who experience heart arrhythmias or excessive sweating due to high sympathetic nerve activity. When other options, including antiperspirants and medications, haven’t been effective, this procedure can help control the excessive nerve activity. It divides the sympathetic nerve in precise locations using minimally invasive video surgery.

Cincinnati Children’s is one of few centers nationally to offer this surgery to address heart arrhythmias.

For more information, contact pediatric surgeon Todd Ponsky, MD, FACS.