Havana, June 20 (RHC)-- Since 1988, when Havana's pediatric cardiovascular center William Soler began to specialize in heart surgeries, they have benefited more than 2,500 children, including small, newborn babies.

Doctor Juan Carlos Ramiro Novoa, head of the department of hemodynamics of that Havana institution -- founded by the Leader of the Cuban Revolution Fidel Castro on August 25, 1986 -- emphasized that the number of cardiopathies have increased and are treated with interventionist catheterism.

The assistant professor and master in Heart Ultrasound recalled that during the first years, there was a predominance of cardiac catheterization with diagnostic purposes, but they are currently specializing in surgery and interventionist practices.

This treatment is the same as in other medical centers at a world level, with very safe and secure procedures and a low rate of lethal and nonlethal complications. There are more cardiopathies treated every day by interventionist catheterism as a first choice procedure, according to Ramiro Novoa.

Among the ailments, the eminent Cuban scientist mentioned the pulmonary and aortic valvulopathies, septal defects of the inter-auricular and inter-ventricular type, limitations of the aorta and the pulmonary artery stenosis.

There are other techniques carried out from the hybrid point of view, combining surgical techniques with the interventionist catheterism, the doctor said.

There is a rehabilitation center at William Soler where the children recovering from surgery or interventionist catheterism are included in rehabilitation programs to help reincorporate them into society.