Page 14 - Peter Munk Toronto Star

M14⎮TORONTO STAR SATURDAY, JANUARY 31, 2015
PETER MUNK CARDIAC CENTRE
> CONGENITAL DISEASES
Hoping to treat
hearts and minds
The Toronto Congenital Cardiac Centre, one of the largest in
the world, offers medical interventions and psychological care
MANISHA KRISHNAN
STAFF REPORTER
It took heart attack-like symptoms
for Tony Mursic to end his heart care
hiatus.
Mursic, 50, was born with a ventric-
ular septal defect — a hole in the
heart. He is one of the 200,000 Cana-
dian adults living with congenital
heart disease. Those with the chron-
ic condition, which affects 1 per cent
of the general population, suffer
from defects that include holes and
abnormal valves and connections in
the heart.
“I think what they used to call us
back then were ‘blue babies.’ Because
there was a lack of oxygen, we had
kind of a blue tinge to our skin,” said
Mursic, who was treated at the Hos-
pital for Sick Children throughout
childhood and later at the Peter
Munk Cardiac Centre at Toronto
General Hospital.
People with congenital heart dis-
ease are at risk of arrhythmia, heart
failure, endocarditis and death.
Mursic stayed in hospital for
months after he was born. Today, he
would likely receive surgery to repair
the hole, but back then the proce-
> A PORTFOLIO OF EXCELLENCE
The timeline of any new drug begins with a clinical trial
Before any new medication or device
is prescribed by a doctor, it under-
goes a rigorous series of tests.
Created in 2011, the Peter Munk
Centre of Excellence in Multination-
al Clinical Trials is at the forefront of tional clinical trials around the
clinical trials involving cardiac, car-
diovascular and vascular disease
conducted worldwide. What else?
dure was considered too risky. As he
grew older, he experienced heart pal-
pitations, troubled breathing and
was unable to participate in many
sports or gym class activities.
“It’s always kind of a tough thing as
a kid to sit and watch the other kids,” because advances in medicine are
he said.
He had regular appointments at
Sick Kids until age 17, when he felt
more stable and stopped wanting to
go as often. Then, while playing a
game of softball in his early 20s, he
became dizzy and couldn’t breathe.
That’s when he checked into the To-
ronto Congenital Cardiac Centre for
Adults (TCCCA) at the Peter Munk
Cardiac Centre.
One of the largest and oldest pro-
grams of its kind in the world, the
TCCCA takes on about 200 patients
referred by Sick Kids per year.
“Our mission is to provide compre-
hensive patient centre care,” said di-
rector Erwin Oechslin.
That includes regular testing and
access to specialists in pregnancy,
hypertension, high blood pressure
and problems that relate to other
organs, such as the kidney and liver.
The program is growing, up from
The PMCC Centre of Excellence in
Multinational Clinical Trials is:
á One of seven centres of excellence
at the PMCC created to transform
how heart disease is treated globally.
á Leading more than 20 interna-
world, involving 30,000 patients and
400 physicians, scientists and re-
ON ON1
SASHA MORIC, Q MEDIA
Tony Mursic, who was born with a hole in his heart — a so-called ‘blue baby’ — says he’s happy with the care he’s
received from the TCCCA.
9,000 patients in 2006 to its current long-term issues.” He said about 70 Kids to adult care easier, the centre
17,000, said Oechslin. That’s partially per cent of congenital heart disease recently launched Iheartchange.org,
sufferers do not follow up with ex- a hub of resources for people living
boosting life expectancies. perts — a major problem. with congenital heart disease, in-
cluding medical information, coping
“Sixty years ago, only 20 per cent of In addition to medical interven- tips and ways to connect with other
babies born with congenital heart tions, the TCCCA offers psychologi- patients.
disease survived,” said Oechslin. To- cal care.
day, that number is 90-95 per cent. Mursic, who is currently on medi-
Adrienne Kovacs, a psychologist cation for hypertension and blood
The increase also means there are with the program, said about one- pressure, said he’s happy with the
more complications that doctors third of patients experience clinical care he’s received. He goes for check-
aren’t familiar with treating. Treat- depression or anxiety. This comes ups every six months and tries to
ment options range from simply from the added stress of dealing with keep active through walking, hiking
monitoring a patient to surgery, lifelong medical challenges. and fly fishing.
drugs and transplants, said Oechslin.
“The goal is also to provide them “Doctors are learning more.
A common misconception, he said, with coping skills to help them feel They’re seeing patients live longer
is believing a surgical intervention is ready and more able to manage liv- with this sort of thing,” he said.
equivalent to a cure. ing with a congenital heart defect,”
she said. “The advances in everything cer-
“Even though the heart was re- tainly give me a better quality of life.”
paired during childhood, it can have To make the transition from Sick
searchers, in 20 countries. in cardiovascular prevention and strengths of both institutes and is an
á Involved in 70 clinical trials in: how it relates to other medical condi- example of individualized medicine.
heart failure, vascular surgery, adult tions including diabetes. á Partnering with the Banting and
congenital heart disease, echocar- Best Diabetes Centre to address the
diography, electrophysiology, cardi- The PMCC Clinical Trials Unit most important questions of diabe-
ac imaging and interventional cardi- is: tes and heart disease.
ology. á Working closely with the Mayo
á Led by Michael Farkouh, PMCC Clinic on a trial of genomics in the A novel trial of non-invasive laser
cardiologist and international expert management of patients with coro- therapy to reduce abdominal obesity
nary disease. Its partnership uses the is being conducted.
CONGRATULATES
THE PETER MUNK CARDIAC CENTRE:
A WORLD CLASS FACILITY COMMITTED TO THE
VERY HIGHEST STANDARD OF PATIENT CARE
The entire heart captured in 0.275 seconds
TOSHIBA Medical Systems - A proud partner providing:
3 Multiple leading edge technologies that assist in advanced
diagnosis and treatment.
3 The TOSHIBA CT Centre of Excellence.
3 A unique clinical research platform using TOSHIBA’s unique
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3 Ongoing investment in the Advanced Imaging Education
Centre (AIEC) providing global education.
3 Support for the new Centre for Inter-Professional Education
(CIPE) commencing in 2015.
www.toshiba-medical.ca