Cleft lip and cleft palate are among the most common congenital craniofacial conditions, yet in Kentucky, many families have navigated fragmented care across multiple providers and systems to access the full spectrum of treatment. Andrea R. Hiller, M.D., pediatric plastic surgeon who recently joined Norton Children’s Surgery, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, is…
The patient A neonate was born with a prenatally diagnosed myelomeningocele, the most severe type of spina bifida, and severe associated myelokyphosis. Due to the extent of the bony deformity, prenatal surgery was deemed too high risk. At birth, the patient presented with a large open neural tube defect with exposed spinal cord and abnormal…
Hydrocephalus in newborns represents one of the most challenging conditions faced in neonatal care. Early recognition and appropriate intervention are crucial for optimal outcomes. The key to managing newborn hydrocephalus lies in recognizing changes over time. “It’s not what the brain looks like at any moment. It’s what it looks like today versus previously,”…
If a congenital heart condition is expected for a high-risk pregnancy, referring providers still can retain their patients through delivery by collaborating with Norton Children and Norton Healthcare. We use an integrated approach for collaborative care among obstetrics, maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) and fetal cardiology specialties. Referring providers will remain the primary contact for the patient,…
We know it’s a stressful time for parents when they learn their child will be born with a congenital heart condition, and it is normal for patients to want to seek a second opinion. Other providers may encourage a second opinion, and we welcome patients seeking second opinions at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with…
Babies born with complex congenital heart disease often can have associated issues such as extreme prematurity, low birth weight, abnormal genes and significant congenital disorders other than the heart. These associated issues can significantly increase the risk of their heart surgery. An example is a baby who recently received care at Norton Children’s Hospital. He…
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]We know babies with a congenital heart condition have a much better chance of survival if they are born near a pediatric surgical center. The challenge has been detecting these conditions before birth. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital heart disease (CHD) has been a problem over the years, with detection in our region in the early…
Chelsea Rusher was getting a routine 20-week anatomy scan when her provider noticed a complication: Her son, Baylor, would be born with a heart defect. After that appointment, Chelsea, who lives south of Owensboro, Kentucky, chose Norton Children’s for maternal-fetal medicine care. Fetal diagnosis to comprehensive heart care Baylor was born at Norton Hospital in…
When a pregnant patient is referred for maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) care at Norton Children’s, they step into a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including obstetricians with expertise in high-risk pregnancies and pediatric specialists who can help with any challenges the baby is facing. “We have numerous specialists that we rely on,” said Mureena Turnquest-Wells, M.D., a…
A pioneering intervention to treat the typically fatal combination of fetal mitral dysplasia syndrome (which consists of critical aortic stenosis, severe mitral regurgitation and massively enlarged, dysfunctional left ventricle) is showing positive results at Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine. For a boy born at 37 weeks weighing just more…
Cloaca — a severe anorectal malformation where the genital, urinary and gastrointestinal tracts share a common channel — can be observed through prenatal ultrasound, and pediatricians should be alerted to the possibility of persistent cloaca, according to a study published recently in Global Pediatric Health. Prenatal ultrasound findings may raise suspicion of a persistent cloaca,…
In 2011, Norton Children’s Heart Institute identified an area where we could improve the care provided to families in our region. We have been working hard to make things better ever since. We reviewed the records of all babies who had heart surgery at Norton Children’s Hospital. We found that only about one-third of the…