The Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Introduces Center for Complex Transposition
July 8, 2024
The Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh recently unveiled the Center for Complex Transposition. This center provides specialized care and treatment for complex congenital heart defects, with a special focus on transposition of the great arteries (TGA).
TGA is a group of congenital heart defects which occurs when the two main blood vessels leaving the heart are reversed. In typical TGA, the aorta is connected to the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery is connected to the left ventricle. This reduces the amount of oxygen-rich blood sent to the body.
Babies with TGA can require different treatment plans depending on the specific structural defects present in their hearts. Our team of experts specialize in treating TGA and collaborate to create personalized treatment plans for each patient.
A Comprehensive Approach to TGA Care
Led by Victor Morell, MD, co-director of the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s, chair of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and VP and Chief Strategy Officer of the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, and Laura Olivieri, MD, FAHA, FSCMR, director of noninvasive cardiac imaging at the Heart Institute, the Center for Complex Transposition is a destination for specialized surgical care and advanced cardiac imaging for patients with TGA.
At the Heart Institute, our team achieves excellent surgical outcomes that are among the best in the country. Our surgeons work closely with our imaging specialists to determine the best treatment plan for each patient. Our expertise in all aspects of complex congenital heart defects bring patients from around the world to our program to receive care.
Our advanced cardiac imaging program at UPMC Children’s plays a major role in the center’s approach to care. Through innovations like 3D modeling technology, we are able to enhance the diagnosis and evaluation process for TGA. Advanced imaging enhances our team’s view of the condition and can improve our surgical approach.
New or expecting parents whose baby is diagnosed with transposition of the great arteries (TGA) have access to a multidisciplinary team of experts at the Center for Complex Transposition. Teams across UPMC Children’s collaborate to provide specialized, comprehensive care to patients with TGA. Our multidisciplinary approach brings together experts from fetal and perinatal cardiology, advanced imaging, the CICU, and the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center.
Our Mission
The Center for Complex Transposition seeks to enhance early recognition of TGA, promote interdisciplinary collaboration, standardize care practices, and address systemic barriers associated with TGA diagnosis and management. Our program is meticulously crafted to offer comprehensive care, innovative treatments, and unwavering support for patients and their families as they navigate through the challenges posed by TGA.
For more information about the Center for Complex Transposition, or to refer a patient, contact the Heart Institute at 412-692-5218 or email us at CHPHeartReferral@chp.edu.
