Department Of Perinatal Cardiology And Congenital Defects
It was established in 2017 as the continuation of Prof. Joanna Dangel’s work in prenatal cardiology, which began at the Children’s Health Center in 1995 and was later carried out at Warsaw Medical University. The Department is headquartered at the Agatowa Ultrasound Clinic, run by the Warsaw Hospice for Children Foundation. It is the largest reference fetal cardiology center in Poland. About 4,000 fetal echocardiograms are performed annually, half of which are abnormal. Pregnant women who ae expecting the child severe disease are provided with medical and psychological care. Pregnancy and perinatal management is planned. Special attention is paid to the consultation, the purpose of which is to present the problem in the fetus, the short- and long-term prognosis, treatment options and results. The first and largest Perinatal Hospice in Poland operates at the Department, and a hybrid Parenting School is conducted. This is a proprietary unique solution providing support for Parents awaiting the delivery of a sick child.
Educational activities
Specialization and in-service, theoretical and practical courses in prenatal and pediatric cardiology, fetal diagnosis and therapy, genetics, pediatric palliative care are conducted for doctors of various specialties: pediatric cardiology, pediatrics, neonatology, obstetrics and gynecology, genetics. Individual teaching courses on fetal cardiology for doctors from Poland and abroad are conducted.
Scientific activities
Scientific activities are conducted in the fields of prenatal, perinatal, and pediatric cardiology, genetics, and psychology. It concerns the application of new diagnostic methods, such as 3-4D, STIC, strain, and magnetic resonance imaging in prenatal cardiology. An essential part is the impact of intrauterine interventions on the future outcomes of the children. Optimal methods for managing pregnant women with connective tissue diseases are being developed. The types of tachyarrhythmia therapies for fetuses are being modified. Two projects are currently underway: „Analysis of the usefulness of various diagnostic methods in assessing fetal condition and planning perinatal management” and „The impact of cardiological therapy in fetuses on the course of pregnancy, the condition of newborns, and the future of children.” An essential part of the scientific activity is perinatal palliative care and perinatal hospice.s is a proprietary unique solution providing support for Parents awaiting the delivery of a sick child.
Medical activities
Based on the diagnostics conducted at the Institute, methods for treating fetuses are being implemented, both pharmacological and interventional. Doctors from the Department provide pharmacological treatment for pregnant women with positive SS-A antibodies, fetal bradycardia, and fetal tachycardia. In collaboration with doctors from the Department of Obstetrics, Perinatology, and Neonatology of CMKP at Bielany Hospital, we conduct interventional treatment for critical congenital heart defects in fetuses: aortic valve stenosis, pulmonary valve atresia or stenosis, and atrial septal defect. Experience in this area places our center among the world’s leaders. Fetal treatment is just the beginning of a long journey in treating a child with a heart defect. In terms of postnatal therapy, we work most closely with the Child’s Health Center, but also with other pediatric cardiology centers in Poland.
Contact:
Agatowa 10
03-680 Warsaw, Poland
00 48 504 144 140
e-mail: fetus@cmkp.edu.pl
Employees:
Head of Department:
Prof. Joanna Szymkiewicz – Dangel, MD, PhD, pediatrician, cardiologist;
e-mail: jdangel@cmkp.edu.pl
Agnieszka Grzyb, MD, PhD – pediatrician, pediatric cardiologist
Joanna Kuran – Ohde, MD, PhD – obstetrician & gynecologist; during specialization in perinatology
Paweł Własienko, MD, PhD – geneticist
Joanna Słowikowska, MD, during specialization in pediatrics