Hospital

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery

At Osaka Women’s and Children’s Hospital, the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery provides surgical treatment for a wide range of congenital heart diseases, from neonates to adults.
We work as a multidisciplinary team specialized in pediatric care, collaborating closely with pediatric cardiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, clinical engineers, and nurses to deliver comprehensive and safe treatment.

Congenital Heart Disease

Congenital heart disease occurs in approximately 1% of live births. About one-third of these patients require surgical intervention during the neonatal or early infancy period.
While some defects can be corrected with a single operation, many patients require staged procedures before definitive repair.
Our goal is to complete definitive repair, when possible, before school age, taking into account long-term outcomes and quality of life.

Conditions Treated

We treat a wide spectrum of congenital heart diseases, including ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, tetralogy of Fallot, as well as complex conditions such as single ventricle, hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), transposition of the great arteries, and total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
Approximately half of our surgical cases involve neonates and infants under one year of age.
We also provide care for adult patients with congenital heart disease.

Overview

Since its establishment in 1991, our department has been dedicated to the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease. We currently perform approximately 150–180 cardiovascular surgeries annually and manage a total of 200–280 cases per year, including related procedures.
We provide 24-hour coverage for emergency and critically ill patients, including neonates with complex congenital heart disease. We receive referrals from across Japan, including from outside Osaka.
Our department has contributed to the development of surgical strategies for congenital heart disease, including the use of the right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery (RV-PA) conduit in the Norwood procedure.

References

• Kishimoto H, Kawahira Y, Kawata H, et al. The modified Norwood palliation on a beating heart. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 1999;118:1130-1132.
• Kishimoto H. Modified Norwood Procedure Using a Right Ventricle to Pulmonary Artery Conduit for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Innovation and Transition of this New Operative Procedure. Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery. 2019;35(2):91-98.

Multidisciplinary Care

The treatment of congenital heart disease requires not only surgery but also comprehensive perioperative management, including preoperative evaluation, postoperative care, and support for developmental and nutritional needs.
Our hospital is a specialized pediatric center where surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, intensivists, anesthesiologists, neonatologists, nurses, clinical engineers, psychologists, and physical therapists work together to support patients and their families.

Diagnostic and Surgical Management

Surgical indications and timing are determined through multidisciplinary conferences based on diagnostic evaluations such as echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and CT imaging. We perform both open-heart surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass and non-open-heart procedures, depending on the condition.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is available for patients with severe cardiac or respiratory failure.
Postoperative care is provided in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in collaboration with intensivists. After discharge, follow-up is conducted jointly by the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery and the Department of Pediatric Cardiology.

Surgical Outcomes

Based on the National Clinical Database (NCD) of Japan, our observed-to-expected (O/E) ratio in 2025 was 0.57 for 30-day mortality and 0.39 for surgery-related mortality, both below the national average of 1.0.
These outcomes were achieved while continuing to manage high-risk and neonatal cases.

*The O/E ratio compares observed outcomes with risk-adjusted predicted outcomes. A value of 1.0 represents the national average, and a value below 1.0 indicates better-than-expected results.

Consultation

If you have any concerns regarding congenital heart disease or pediatric cardiac surgery, please feel free to contact us.
We accept referrals from across Japan, including outside Osaka and the Kansai region, and provide care for international patients residing in Japan.