The Inauguration of the First Department of Congenital Cardiac Diseases in the North-East of the Country

The Department of Congenital Cardiac Diseases and Pediatric Cardiology of Imam Reza (AS) 610-bed Hospital, a center affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, was put into operation.

According to WEBDA, the Administrator of Imam Reza (AS) 610-bed Hospital stated that the establishment of the Department of Congenital Cardiac Diseases in Children and Adults in this hospital is considered as a requirement for the diagnosis and treatment of people suffering from these diseases in the north-east of the country.

Dr. Ali Khorsand added that this department has been established in an area of 500 square meters with a capacity of 20 inpatient beds on the ground floor of Imam Reza (AS) 610-bed Hospital.

He also announced the establishment of the Department of Echocardiography for fetal, pediatric, and adult echocardiography next to the hospital.

He stated that in addition to providing services for the citizens of Mashhad, Imam Reza (AS) Hospital of Mashhad is open to a plentiful of pilgrims, travelers, and patients from other cities of Khorasan Razavi, the neighboring provinces, and even other countries.

Also, the Head of the Department of Congenital Cardiac Diseases and Pediatric Cardiology stated that congenital diseases now account for one percent of all live births in our country, and that timely diagnosis of these diseases is of great significance for their definitive treatment.

Dr. Behzad Alizadeh added that a large number of pediatric cardiac surgeries, congenital cardiac diseases surgeries for children, and pediatric coronary angiogram can now be performed in Mashhad.

This assistant professor of congenital cardiac diseases and pediatric cardiology added that congenital cardiac diseases can also be diagnosed and treated with prenatal echocardiography such that they must be diagnosed and referred to legal authorities for abortion by the 18th week of pregnancy.

Dr. Alizadeh stated that a number of cardiovascular diseases, on the other hand, are curable during the fetal period via pharmacotherapy and angiographic interventions. He added that fetal, pediatric, and adult echocardiography has been provided with the establishment of the Department of Echocardiography in Imam Reza (AS) Hospital.

According to him, the ventricular septal defect and the great vessels transposition are among the most common congenital cardiac diseases in children. He stated that a majority of cardiovascular diseases can be treated through non-surgical procedures, angiography, and surgical procedures in case of timely diagnosis.

Pointing that many of congenital cardiac diseases have unknown causes, he stated that consumption of certain medications, consanguineous marriage, genetic diseases, and fetal abnormalities are the other causes of congenital cardiac diseases.

The Administrator of Imam Reza (AS) Hospital of Mashhad stated that with 1000 operating beds and an antiquity of 80 years, this hospital admits more than one third of all patients visiting hospitals affiliated to Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Khorasan Razavi Province.

Dr. Abdullah Bahrami added that the executive operation of the second Imam Reza (AS) Hospital started in the same site with 610 hospital beds in 2008 and was put into operation in the presence of the President in March, 2017. He stated that as the most advanced medical center in Mashhad, this hospital, which plays a major role in the improvement and provision of medical infrastructure in Khorasan, is equipped with 22 operating rooms and 10 main wards.

He pointed out that regarding the equipped multiple operating rooms, this 610-bed hospital is mainly surgery-based, and the Department of Congenital Cardiac Diseases and Pediatric Cardiology is among the specialized departments of this hospital.