SALT LAKE CITY, UT (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Whether you had a heart attack, bypass surgery, stents or have any type of heart condition, often cardiac rehab will be prescribed to help strengthen your heart. Until now, it was only for adults. But what about the 40,000 babies born with heart problems? Now a new type of cardiac rehab is being used for the youngest heart patients.
To say Ethan Delcid enjoys life is an understatement! But it’s been a long journey for this little guy.
His mom, Yannin Delcid says, “It was hard to see him be born ’cause he was immediately taken away.”
Blood was not flowing properly from his heart, Ethan had surgery at three days old, then again at three months. At four, Ethan needed a heart transplant.
“I saw him very close to death, so it was hard to hold my faith up,” says Yannin.
Den Ziebell, MD, pediatric cardiologist at the University of Utah and Primary Children’s Hospital explained, “He was getting physically weaker, and then there were some like mental health side effects of that.”
That’s when a team at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital turned to pediatric cardiac rehab. Just like the rehab for adults who have heart problems, only this cardiac fitness center turns grueling workouts into fun.
“We were trying to keep it fun and interactive, make it seem like it’s play for him,” says Dr. Ziebell.
While living in the hospital for more than a year — exercise physiologists helped to get Ethan’s heart pumping and stronger for surgery. And after 14 months — Ethan was ready when the call came.
“You would never know that he has heart transplant,” says Dr. Ziebell.
Ethan is now ready to take on his next big challenge — kindergarten.
“I’m a warrior!” exclaims Ethan.
The pediatric cardiac fitness center at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital is one of the first in the country, but they are beginning to pop up all over. Every child who is hospitalized with heart failure gets enrolled into the program, from age three to 18 years old.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Source:
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TITLE: SAVING ETHAN’S HEART: CARDIAC REHAB FOR KIDS
REPORT: MB #5408
BACKGROUND: Congenital heart disease (CHD) refers to a range of structural abnormalities of the heart present at birth. These defects can affect the heart walls, valves, and blood vessels, disrupting the normal flow of blood through the heart and to the rest of the body. CHD is the most common type of birth defect, affecting nearly 1% of births worldwide. There are two types of CHD; cyanotic and acyanotic.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21674-congenital-heart-disease)
DIAGNOSING: Signs and symptoms of congenital heart disease can include, but are not limited to: bluish skin, lips and nails, excessive sleepiness, fast breathing or trouble breathing, fatigue, heart murmur, poor circulation, weak pulse and/or pounding heartbeat. Doctors can diagnose congenital heart disease with a fetal echocardiogram, a physical exam, chest x-ray, electrocardiogram, heart catheterization, or an MRI. CHD can cause arrhythmias, heart failure, kidney disease, blood clots, and liver disease, among other things.
(Source: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/21674-congenital-heart-disease)
NEW TECHNOLOGY: The University of Utah has put together a pediatric fitness cardiac rehab for children with heart conditions. “’Many kids with heart disease are nervous or anxious to be physically active, and we want to show them they can participate and help them build their confidence and physical capacity,’ said Dan Ziebell, MD, pediatric cardiologist with University of Utah Health and Director of the Cardiac Fitness Program at Intermountain Primary Children’s Hospital. The program is specifically tailored to each child. Participants engage with an exercise physiologist two or three times per week to improve their muscular strength, aerobic capacity, and physical performance. The program helps them understand their limitations, and feel comfortable being physically active on their own.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Jennifer Toomer-Cook
Jennifer.toomer-cook@imail.org
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