Women’s and Children’s Hospital clinicians reject baby heart surgery ‘misinformation’

Senior clinicians say a proponents of a heart surgery unit at WCH are spreading misinformation. READ THEIR OPEN LETTER

The Women's and Children's Hospital at North Adelaide. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Senior clinicians at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital have criticised the campaign to establish a heart surgery unit in the building, accusing proponents of “mistruths”.

In an open letter, a dozen senior doctors say they do not believe there should be paediatric cardiac surgery in South Australia until a safe, high-quality service can be assured “with outcomes equivalent to national and international standards”.

They say they are disappointed “misinformation” is adding to the grief of families of babies who have died and creating the perception that all infant and child deaths are preventable.

READ THEIR FULL LETTER BELOW

“The sad reality is some childhood heart conditions are not curable and not all children can be saved,” the letter says.

“This is one of the most difficult parts of our work.”

It follows explosive revelations that four babies died in four weeks, which some doctors blamed on lack of a heart surgery unit at the hospital or a heart-lung bypass life support system known as ECMO.

The clinicians who signed the letter include heads of units and top surgeons such as cardiology department medical unit head Dr Andrew Kelly, paediatric emergency medical unit head Dr Malcolm Higgins, general paediatric surgery medical unit head Dr Chris Kirby and paediatric medicine divisional medical director and consultant cardiologist Dr Gavin Wheaton.

The clinicians say they felt “compelled” to address the issue “to make sure you feel safe and comfortable seeking care from us”.

“Much of the information that has been presented must not be taken to represent the views of the broader group of physicians, surgeons and other health professionals who care for babies and children with heart disease every day,” the letter says.

“We are disappointed that mistruths and misinformation are creating a perception that all deaths are preventable. We cannot imagine the burden of added grief for these families.”

The letter emphasises the clinicians at the WCH who care for children with heart disease work with “only the safety and wellbeing of our patients in mind”.

“Cardiac surgery in children with congenital heart disease requires a large team of dedicated professionals to be doing this frequently enough to maintain skills to the necessary high standard,” it explains.

“There is well-documented and strong evidence that the higher the number of cases of paediatric cardiac surgery a unit performs, the better the outcomes, and this is even stronger in complex congenital heart disease.

“In line with a recent external review we, as a group, do not believe that there should be paediatric cardiac surgery in SA until a safe, high-quality and clinically sustainable service can be assured with outcomes equivalent to national and international standards.”

The independent review to which they refer found case numbers in SA were not high enough for a surgeon to maintain the required skill levels.

The clinicians’ letter says they are open to an ECMO service if it would lead to improvements in care, and that should be a separate consideration to a surgical unit.

Respected obstetrician Associate Professor John Svigos this week told a parliamentary committee that an ECMO service without a paediatric cardiac surgeon would be dangerous because ECMO carried risks that could require emergency surgery.

READ THE FULL LETTER