Centre of Excellence Paediatrics

Nurturing Healthy
Young Hearts

CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN PAEDIATRIC &
CONGENITAL HEART CENTRE (PCHC)

Set up in September 2012, this unit is a one-stop centre for all paediatric and congenital heart needs. Its facilities and infrastructure provides comprehensive care for babies, children and adolescents with heart disease as well as adults with congenital heart disease. PCHC smoothens the flow of the processes of each service area, so patients and their caregivers can be assured a fast response and low waiting times.

Our integrated services care for patients from foetuses, through infancy, childhood and adolescence. Patients are referred to the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinics once above the age of 18.

As part of our commitment to comprehensive clinical care, IJN also provides dedicated programs for specific conditions such as Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD). Our expert team delivers compassionate, personalized care for individuals diagnosed with VSD. From initial diagnosis to treatment and ongoing management, we focus on achieving the best possible outcomes for patients and their families, offering tailored treatment plans, education, and unwavering support throughout their journey.

Diagnosis and treatment services for congenital and acquired heart disease
in children and adult patients include:

VENTRICULAR SEPTAL DEFECT (VSD)

What is VSD?

A Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) is a congenital heart defect where there is an abnormal opening in the wall (septum) between the two lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart. This condition can affect blood flow and lead to complications if not addressed. At IJN, we provide expert care to manage and treat VSD in both children and adults.

Our VSD Clinical Care Program

At IJN, our VSD Clinical Care Program is designed to offer patients personalized care and support throughout their treatment journey. Key components of the program include:

Our team of experts uses advanced imaging and diagnostic tools to accurately assess the size, location, and severity of the VSD.
Our team includes Paediatric Cardiologists, Paediatric Specialists, Paediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeons, nurses and other healthcare professionals who collaborate to provide the best treatment plan for each patient.
We offer clear, understandable information on VSD, its treatment options, and what to expect during the recovery process, empowering families to make informed decisions.
Depending on the type and severity of VSD, we offer both surgical and non-surgical treatment options, tailored to the needs of each patient.
Our care continues after the procedure, with follow-up appointments and long-term management to monitor the patient’s health and ensure optimal outcomes.

We are here to help you with any questions or concerns you may have about VSD. If you or your loved one requires assistance or would like to schedule a consultation, please contact us via email:

ced@ijn.com.my

How to Get Started

Referral Process

Patients can be referred by their primary care physician or cardiologist to our VSD Clinical Care Program

Initial Consultation

During your first visit, our team will conduct a detailed assessment of your condition, explain available treatment options, and address any questions you may have

Treatment Plan

Together with you, our specialists will create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your needs and preferences

PAEDIATRIC CONGENITAL ARRHYTHMIAS AND PACEMAKER

The Arrhythmia & Pacemaker Clinic offers a complete pacemaker analysis for paediatric and congenital patients with implanted cardiac devices. We have the ability to assess appropriate function, test generator and lead integrity, extract diagnostic information, assess battery status, and determine elective replacement time. Any changes in the settings of the pacemaker can be made at the same time. The clinic also sees children with various forms of the arrhythmia, providing the diagnosis and the management plan for each of them.

PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

Pulmonary Hypertension (PH) is a disease that affects the blood vessels that carries blood from the heart to the lungs (Pulmonary Arteries). This vessels become narrow and the walls become thickened causing the blood pressure in these arteries to increase. The pulmonary hypertension (PH) clinic provides the following:

Early confirmatory diagnosis of PH and the cause
Early and appropriate general and specific PAH targeted treatment
Long- term follow up and close monitoring of paediatric and adult patient with PH

MARFAN SYNDROME AND AORTOPATHY

Marfan syndrome affects the connective tissue in our body. Connective tissue acts like cement, holding the cells, organs and tissues together. In Marfan syndrome and related disorders, this causes anomalies especially in the bone, joints, heart and eyes. It can also affect the blood vessels for example the aorta (main blood vessel arising from the heart supplying the body) causing it to enlarge. This can be life threatening.

Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder involving a gene known as fibrilin-1. If a parents has Marfan syndrome, there is a high risk of transmission of the disease to the children. However it can also occur in the absence of a family history due to spontaneous mutation.

The Marfan syndrome and Aortopathy clinic offers comprehensive cardiac management for patients with Marfan syndrome and other Aortopathies eg Loeys Dietz syndrome. This clinic is a combine cardiac and genetic clinic. The aim is to have multidisciplinary team of cardiology and genetic doctors as well as cardiothoracic surgeons to provide:

A thorough evaluation of these patients
Ongoing comprehensive care for patients with Marfan syndrome and other Aortopathies
Family screening
Pre and Post Surgical assessment of patients with Marfan and Aortopathies

FOETAL CARDIAC SERVICES

Fetal echocardiography is a test similar to an ultrasound. To scan the structure and function of your unborn child’s heart. Its best done between weeks 18 to 24, however it can be performed any time after 18 weeks to term.

Ideally all pregnant ladies should have fetal cardiac screening. Fetal echo-cardiogram is highly recommended in pregnant women who have the following:

Detailed obstetric scan shows abnormal heart or heartbea
History of Congenital Heart Disease in close family (yourself, husband and other children)
History of taking medications drugs, or alcohol and smoking during your pregnancy that can cause heart defects, such as medications used to treat epilepsy or prescribed acne drugs, vitamin A
You have other medical conditions, including rubella, type 1 diabetes, SLE, or phenylketonuria (which is an inability to break down an important amino acid called phenylalanine)
In vitro fertilization

PREGNANCY AND HEART DISEASE

The Cardiac-Obstetric Combine Clinic for heart disease in pregnancy offers comprehensive care for pregnant mothers with heart disease. This services is run in collaboration with the Maternal Fetal Medicine unit of Hospital Kuala Lumpur. The clinic provides a cardiac (heart) and obstetric expertise for the following:

Pre-pregnancy counselling on the risk and outcome
Contraception advice (family planning)
Antenatal management of women with heart disease
Labour, delivery and post natal management of pregnant women with high cardiovascular risk
Post-delivery follow up and advice on further cardiac management