Abstract
The group of young cardiac surgeons, followers of Prof. Václav Kafka interested in palliative surgery of newborns and infants with critical congenital heart defects at the Clinic of Pediatric Surgery in Prague na Karlově Hospital since 1964 joined the Prague-based Pediatric Cardiocentre at Motol University Hospital in 1977.
Once there, they gradually introduced total corrections of all types of congenital heart defects using time-proven protocols of and experience with open-heart procedures in prestigious cardiac centres of the world. Most techniques of operations performed for the first time at the Pediatric Cardiocentre in Motol University Hospital and the results of operations were published in the Czech medical literature.
Over a period of 25 years (1977-2002), a total of 9,450 procedures were performed in this centre in children with congenital heart defects including a group of 1,033 neonates. In-hospital mortality including neonates has decreased to 1-2% in recent years.
Care of all children born with congenital heart defects in our country has been centralized in the Pediatric Cardiocentre in Motol University Hospital. Certain groups of children from abroad were also operated on in the Cardiocentre.
The team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons including pediatric cardiac surgeon participates in the care of adults undergoing surgery for congenital heart defects in the Pediatric Cardiocentre when young. There has been close cooperation between the Departments of Adult Cardiac Surgery at Motol University Hospital and Na Homolce Hospital, another Prague-based facility.