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HELLO, MY NAME IS JACK RYCHIK.
I'M THE DIRECTOR OF THE FETAL HEART PROGRAM
OF THE CARDIAC CENTER AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
OF PHILADELPHIA, AND I ALSO PLAY AN ADDITIONAL ROLE
IN BEING THE DIRECTOR OF THE SINGLE VENTRICLE
SURVIVORSHIP PROGRAM.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF VERY IMPORTANT AND INTERESTING
AND EXCITING NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE TAKING
PLACE IN PRENATAL CARE, CARE BEFORE BIRTH,
FOR FETUSES THAT HAVE CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE.
ONE IS THE TECHNOLOGICAL REVOLUTION THAT EXISTS
IS ALLOWING US TO PERFORM SCANNING OF THE FETUS
AT EARLIER AND EARLIER POINTS IN TIME.
WHEREAS, EVEN 10 YEARS AGO SCANNING OF THE FETUS COULD
TAKE PLACE AT 18 OR 20 WEEK'S GESTATION,
WE CAN NOW LOOK AT MINUTE DETAILS OF THE FETAL HEART
AS EARLY AS 13 WEEK'S GESTATION AND OBTAIN
A WEALTH OF INFORMATION ABOUT THE STATE OF THE CIRCULATION
AND THE CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.
SECONDLY, WE ARE MOVING FROM A PERIOD OF TIME IN WHICH WE
ARE FOCUSING ON DIAGNOSTICS TO NOW TRULY BEGINNING
TO THINK ABOUT AND IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES FOR INTERVENTION
FOR TREATING DISEASE BEFORE BIRTH.
THERE ARE CATHETER TECHNIQUES THAT ARE
AVAILABLE THAT CAN ALLOW US TO GAIN ACCESS TO THE FETAL
CIRCULATION AND, IN FACT, PERFORM CATHETER PROCEDURES,
SUCH AS OPENING A NARROWED VALVE OR PLACING A STENT
IN THE HEART.
OUR GOAL IS TO, BY VIRTUE OF HAVING SUCH A LARGE CLINICAL
EXPERIENCE, TAKE ON THE OBLIGATION OF CREATING NEW
INFORMATION AND NEW SCIENCE AND LEARN NEW THINGS
THAT WE CAN THEN TRANSLATE INTO CLINICAL CARE.
WE CAN ALSO NOW BEGIN TO MOVE INTO THINKING ABOUT
UTILIZING MEDICATIONS OR OTHER THERAPIES,
SUCH AS ADMINISTERING OXYGEN TO MOTHERS TO HELP
AND MODIFY THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE FETAL
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM.
THEY HAVE A VERY IMPORTANT FOCUS NOW ON LOOKING
AT THE IMPACT OF A DIAGNOSIS OF HEART DISEASE ON THE MOTHER,
ON HER LEVELS OF STRESS AND HOW THAT INFLUENCES
FAMILY DYNAMICS.
WE THINK NOT ONLY IS THAT IMPORTANT FOR THE MOTHER,
BUT ALSO THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE WELL-BEING OF THE FETUS
IN A FEEDBACK LOOP.
SO A LOT OF RESEARCH WORK UNDERWAY NOW IN MEASURING
MATERNAL STRESS AND LOOKING AT THE PHYSIOLOGIC INFLUENCE
ON THE FETUS.
I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE CARDIAC CENTER AND WORKING
HERE AT THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA
FOR OVER 20 YEARS.
OUR FIELD OF CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE IS STILL
A QUITE YOUNG ONE, AND THERE'S STILL MUCH
THAT WE DON'T UNDERSTAND.
AND OVER THIS RELATIVELY SHORT SPAN OF 20 YEARS,
WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO TRULY CHANGE HOW WE APPROACH
PATIENTS AND HOW WE MANAGE OUR PATIENTS.
IT'S THAT ASPECT OF THIS PARTICULAR FIELD THAT
I THINK IS INCREDIBLY EXCITING AND KEEPS ME VERY MUCH
ENGAGED IN THAT ONE CAN THINK ABOUT INNOVATIONS,
ONE CAN BEGIN TO APPLY THEM TOWARDS INDIVIDUAL PATIENTS,
AND ONE CAN MAKE A MAJOR DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES
OF OUR CHILDREN THROUGH THE EFFORTS AND THE COLLABORATION
THAT EXISTS WITHIN THE CARDIAC CENTER
OF THE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA.