Ten Years Serving Children with Heart Disease

This year, the University Hospital of Reunion Island celebrates ten years of treating congenital heart defects in children. Since its creation, the department has treated hundreds of young patients directly on the island, while allowing families to remain by their side.

This approach limits the risks associated with transfers to mainland France and promotes medical and family follow-up.

The department welcomes infants, children, and adolescents with congenital heart disease. “The diagnosis can be made before or after birth. Some children are referred by their general practitioners,” explains Dr. Jean-Bernard Selly, Head of the Medical-Surgical Cardiology Department. Infants make up the majority of cases, requiring rapid and specialized intervention.

Thanks to a multidisciplinary team, the University Hospital provides comprehensive care for almost all congenital heart diseases. Cardiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, intensivists, and nurses coordinate their efforts around the clock. Regular exchanges with the University Hospital of Bordeaux allow for continuous skills improvement and strengthen local expertise.

Pediatric cardiac surgery demands extreme precision. “In infants, every movement counts. Everything hinges on a few millimeters,” explains Dr. Gilbert Dubois, a pediatric cardiac surgeon. Operations are performed using magnifying glasses and high-precision instruments to guarantee safe and effective interventions.

The department has four intensive care beds and two intensive care beds dedicated to post-operative care. This setup allows for close monitoring of each patient while reducing stress for families who remain with their child.

The University Hospital also participates in regional cooperation. Professionals from Madagascar and other neighboring countries come to train in the management of congenital heart disease. This approach helps to spread Réunion’s expertise throughout the Indian Ocean.