Pediatric Heart Surgery Unit Shut Down at Stony Brook University Hospital

A group of eight Honduran children, including a 4-year-old boy with a rare heart condition, were scheduled to undergo life-saving surgeries at Stony Brook University Hospital. However, the hospital's pediatric cardiac unit was closed by the state Health Department citing "imminent danger to the health and safety of pediatric cardiac surgery patients." The children, who have been waiting for months for treatment, may now have to wait even longer for alternative arrangements to be made.

Key Takeaways:

• The pediatric cardiac unit at Stony Brook University Hospital was shut down by the state Health Department due to concerns about patient safety.
• Eight Honduran children, aged 4 to 17, were scheduled to undergo heart surgeries at the hospital and are now at risk of delayed treatment.
• The children, who are all poor and have single mothers, may have to wait months for alternative arrangements to be made, putting their lives at risk.
• Last year, 47 of 60 Gift of Life kids from all over the world who were treated at Stony Brook required heart surgery, and one died.
• The hospital's pediatric cardiac program has a history of controversy, with previous investigations and citations for patient care issues.
• The heart surgeries are complex and require specialized care, making it difficult to transfer the children to other hospitals.
• The children's placement at Stony Brook was arranged and paid for by Gift of Life, an international charity.

Statistics:

• 47 out of 60 Gift of Life kids from all over the world who were treated at Stony Brook in 2006 required heart surgery.
• 1 child died after undergoing heart surgery at Stony Brook in 2006.
• 12 other children were treated with catheterization at Stony Brook in 2006.
• 50 of the 60 children sent to the United States for corrective heart surgery by Helping Hands last year went to Stony Brook.

Sources:

• Jennifer Maloney, "Pediatric Heart Surgery Unit Shut Down at Stony Brook University Hospital" (Newsday, August 2006)
• Gift of Life
• Helping Hands for Honduras
• Suffolk County Health Department
• Stony Brook University Hospital