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. 2024 May 21;39(4):e20240138.
doi: 10.21470/1678-9741-2024-0138.

Challenges of Congenital Heart Surgery in Brazil: It is Time to Designate Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty

Valdester Cavalcante Pinto Júnior  1   2 , Leonardo Augusto Miana  3 , Fábio Binhara Navarro  4   5 , Bruno da Costa Rocha  6 , Renato Samy Assad  3 , Marcos Aurélio Barboza de Oliveira  2 , Fábio Said Salum  7 , Ulisses Alexandre Croti  8 , Beatriz Helena Sanches Furlanetto  9   10 , Marcelo Biscegli Jatene  11 , Luiz Fernando Caneo  12 , Andrey José de Oliveira Monteiro  13   14 , Fernando Ribeiro de Moraes Neto  15 , Fernando Antoniali  16 , Pedro Rafael Salerno  17 , Vinicius José da Silva Nina  18
Affiliations

Challenges of Congenital Heart Surgery in Brazil: It is Time to Designate Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery Subspecialty

Valdester Cavalcante Pinto Júnior et al. Braz J Cardiovasc Surg. .

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) affects eight to ten out of every 1,000 births, resulting in approximately 23,057 new cases in Brazil in 2022. About one in four children with CHD requires surgery or other procedures in the first year of life, and it is expected that approximately 81% of these children with CHD will survive until at least 35 years of age. Professionals choosing to specialize in CHD surgery face numerous challenges, not only related to mastering surgical techniques and the complexity of the diseases but also to the lack of recognition by medical societies as a separate subspecialty. Furthermore, families face difficulties when access to services capable of providing treatment for these children. To address these challenges, it is essential to have specialized hospitals, qualified professionals, updated technologies, sustainable industry, appropriate financing, quality assessment systems, and knowledge generation. The path to excellence involves specialization across all involved parties. As we reflect on the importance of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery and Congenital Heart Diseases establishing themselves as a subspecialty of Cardiovascular Surgery, it is essential to look beyond our borders to countries like the United States of America and United Kingdom, where this evolution is already a reality. This autonomy has led to significant advancements in research, education, and patient care outcomes, establishing a care model. By following this path in Brazil, we not only align our practice with the highest international standards but also demonstrate our maturity and the ability to meet the specific needs of patients with CHD and those with acquired childhood heart disease.

Keywords: Certification; Congenital Heart Defects; Education; Medical Societies; Patient Care; Training.

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Conflict of interest statement

No conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Evolution in children’s healthcare. UK=United Kingdom; USA=United States of America.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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