St. Francis Cardiologist Gives the Gift of Life to a Young Boy from Honduras

ROSLYN, N.Y., December 27, 2005 — Christian Avila is an energetic, active 7-year-old from Honduras who until recently had a large hole in his heart. Born with a congenital heart problem known as atrial septal defect (ASD), a hole in the wall between the heart's upper chambers, Christian could not run or play like a normal 7-year-old.

Until recently, open-heart surgery was the standard treatment to repair an ASD. Sean Levchuck, M.D., director of pediatric interventional cardiology at St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center®, in Roslyn, used a minimally invasive procedure that delivers a mesh device known as the Amplatzer® through a catheter to close the hole in the heart.

The treatment was performed free-of-charge as part of the hospital's participation in the Rotary International's Gift of Life, a program that provides life-saving treatment for children with serious heart conditions.

"Christian's heart was working approximately twice as hard as it should have because of a congenital defect," says Dr. Levchuck. "But a mere four-and-a-half hours after the procedure, Christian left the hospital with just a band-aid on his leg. Now, he can return to the activities that every 7-year-old enjoys."

The Rotary International's Gift of Life (GOL) program sponsored the travel and associated costs for Christian and his mother. Luigi D'Onofrio, a Rotary Club member from Westbury/Carle Place welcomed the family into his home and facilitated all aspects of Christian's treatment.

Atrial septal defects, the most common types of congenital heart defects, can cause congestive heart failure symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue or poor growth. Closing an ASD with a minimally invasive device is much less traumatic for children than open-heart surgery because there is a much shorter recovery time, and no incision or scarring across the chest. Following closure, there is generally no restriction on physical activity.

The device consists of two wire mesh discs filled with polyester fabric and folded into a catheter. The catheter is inserted into a vein in the leg and guided into the heart. The device is then slowly pushed out of the catheter and the two wire mesh discs block the hole while allowing the heart's tissue to grow over them, becoming part of the heart.

Dr. Levchuck has performed more than 50 procedures with the Amplatzer® device on children since its approval by the FDA. St. Francis Hospital is one of only three hospitals in the New York metro area that performs the Amplatzer® procedures on children.

"It's gratifying to know that this procedure will give Christian his life back and prevent long-term complications such as poor growth, arrhythmia or heart failure. What matters most to me is making a difference in the life of a child," says Dr. Levchuck, who has treated approximately 300 Gift of Life children.

St. Francis Hospital has treated more than 500 children through the Gift of Life program. Cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and nurses donate their time and skills.

Gift of Life International was launched in 1974 by the Rotary Club of Manhasset, New York, to provide life-saving treatment for children with serious heart conditions. The program ensures that there is no cost to the patient or family for travel, treatment or accommodations. It has since helped some 4,000 children from more than 60 countries worldwide.

St. Francis Hospital, The Heart Center™ is New York State's only specialty designated cardiac center and is one of the five busiest heart centers in the United States. A recognized leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cardiac disease, St. Francis is the only hospital in the metropolitan area with risk-adjusted mortality rates significantly below the statewide average for heart valve and valve/coronary artery bypass surgery, the most challenging forms of common cardiac surgery.

St. Francis Hospital is a member of Catholic Health Services of Long Island (CHS). Contact us at 1.888.HEART.NY or visit us at http://stfrancisheartcenter.chsli.org.

i New York State Department of Health RAMR for Valve and Valve/CABG 2001-2003.

Contact: Paul Barry, 516-705-6657, paul.barry@chsli.org