Gaspar Vianna Hospital promotes III Pediatric Cardiology Journey with emphasis on early diagnosis
The event will bring together specialists to discuss advances in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart diseases, an area in which HC stands out for its multiprofessional care and support for families
On September 26 and 27 (Friday and Saturday), the Gaspar Vianna Hospital Foundation (HC), a reference in cardiology and pediatrics in the Northern Region, promotes the III Pediatric Cardiology Journey: current panorama of congenital heart diseases in the Pará Amazon, which will bring together professionals from different areas to discuss advances in the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of congenital heart diseases. The complete program and registrations are available on the HC website.
More than just numbers and protocols, HC's pediatric cardiology is marked by life stories. This is the case of Samuel Celestino, 9 years old, who was discharged from the Pediatric ICU on the last 23rd, after undergoing heart surgery. Samuel was born with tetralogy of Fallot, a rare congenital heart disease that compromises the flow of oxygen throughout the body, and has since been followed by the multiprofessional team.
“I am very grateful to the professionals. I have known people since the first hospitalization, who have seen my son grow up. It is an extremely humanized team, with whom I felt extremely close and welcomed. I am truly grateful. He lacked nothing,” said Samuel's mother, Briann Keelty, 44 years old. She and her son have been at HC since July 12, during which time Samuel underwent catheterization and heart surgery. “Even when I felt cold, a shirt arrived for me so I wouldn't feel cold. My son is recovering well, and he is very well cared for,” she assured.
Another family that found support at HC is that of Antony Noah de Amaral Lima, 3 months old. From Vitória do Xingu, a municipality in western Pará, he arrived in Belém through the Out-of-Home Treatment (TFD). The baby was diagnosed at birth with a heart malformation that compromises pulmonary ventilation and is under evaluation to determine the best treatment.
“We feel welcomed here. The professionals do not only care for the baby; they also look after the mother and the family. This makes all the difference in such a difficult moment,” emphasized Raiane Amaral, 21 years old, mother of Antony.
Identification - According to pediatric cardiologist Josélia Mansour, head of the Pediatric Clinic at HC, congenital heart diseases are malformations that affect the structure or circulation of the heart and can be identified during pregnancy. “If prenatal care is done, there is an opportunity to raise suspicions during morphological ultrasounds and confirm even before birth with a fetal echocardiogram. If it has not been done, the heart test – mandatory for every baby since 2021 – is essential before discharge from the maternity ward,” she explained.
According to the specialist, when the diagnosis is not made early, symptoms after birth require parents' attention. “Fatigue, difficulty gaining weight, the child turns bluish, has fainting spells, gets tired while breastfeeding or running. In these cases, it is necessary to seek medical attention and perform an echocardiogram,” informed Josélia Mansour.
The Journey, the specialist highlighted, will be multiprofessional, with participation from speakers from various regions of the country. “We will revisit conduct, diagnoses, and treatments, and also clarify points for professionals outside HC, who do not deal directly with pediatric cardiology. It is a space for updating and exchanging experiences, always focusing on improving care for our children,” she assured.
