Onassis Expands Advanced Heart Treatment, Reducing Overseas Referrals

Around 500 children are born with congenital heart disease in Greece every year, with some requiring immediate medical intervention in the first days of life.

However, advances in specialised medical centres, particularly the Onassis Paediatric Hospital, now allow doctors to treat even highly complex cases in Greece, eliminating the need for many families to seek treatment abroad.

For families, a diagnosis of serious congenital heart disease often brings anxiety about where and how their child will receive treatment. The development of specialised centres in Greece has significantly changed the situation, expanding access to advanced medical care and treatment options.

At the Onassis Paediatric Hospital, early diagnosis, collaboration between specialised medical professionals, modern interventional and surgical techniques, and infrastructure upgrades supported by the Onassis Foundation have strengthened the hospital’s ability to treat children with congenital heart conditions.

Speaking to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA), Sotiria Apostolopoulou, paediatric cardiologist and director of the Department of Congenital Heart Disease for Children and Adults, and Marinos Kantzis, paediatric cardiologist and deputy director of the department, explained why treatment abroad is no longer a necessity for these children, how early intervention influences their prognosis and what new capabilities the hospital has developed.

Around 500 Children Born with Congenital Heart Disease Annually

Congenital heart disease affects approximately eight to 10 out of every 1,000 newborns.

“Based on the birth figures available for 2025, with approximately 60,000 births, we estimate that around 500 children will be diagnosed with congenital heart disease,” the two specialists explained.

Significantly fewer children develop severe forms of the condition requiring immediate intervention.

“Approximately 10-15% of children diagnosed with congenital heart disease require immediate intervention. By contrast, around 60-70% will need some form of intervention at a stage during infancy or early childhood,” they said.

Medical advances have fundamentally changed the outlook for these patients.

With the exception of the most severe forms of congenital heart disease, which affect approximately two to three in every 10,000 live births, life expectancy for people with congenital heart disease in the Western world now approaches 78-80 years.

The specialists attributed this progress to technological advances, accumulated medical experience and knowledge, and, above all, early diagnosis, which they described as fundamental to effective treatment.

Collaboration between obstetricians and paediatric cardiologists allows doctors to identify heart conditions during the early stages of pregnancy. Combined with specialised centres offering high-quality surgical and interventional services, this approach has significantly reduced illness and mortality among patients.

Prenatal Diagnosis Helps Doctors Plan Early Intervention

The two paediatric cardiologists stressed that when doctors identify a serious congenital heart condition, they must organise a delivery and newborn care plan in advance.

Where medically appropriate, the mother can have a natural delivery. Immediately after birth, doctors administer the necessary medication and transfer the newborn to a specialised medical unit.

The medical team then determines whether the child needs surgery or an interventional procedure.

Planning each stage in advance reduces delays and improves the prospects of safely treating even the most serious cases.

Greece Now Has the Expertise to Treat Complex Cases

The ability to treat complex congenital heart conditions in Greece represents one of the most significant developments in recent years.

The two specialists believe that the standard of hospital care in Greece has improved substantially and that cases requiring treatment abroad should no longer arise.

They highlighted the Onassis Paediatric Hospital as a leading specialised centre for congenital heart disease.

“It has always been, and continues to be, a model centre with a high level of expertise in congenital heart disease. It offers all the latest diagnostic and therapeutic methods, both interventional and surgical, and has a highly trained team that works together,” they said.

The hospital has already performed hybrid surgical procedures involving both surgeons and cardiologists specialising in congenital heart conditions.

“There is no technique performed at recognised European centres that cannot also be carried out at Onassis Hospital,” they stressed.

The benefits extend beyond medical treatment. Families can now access specialised care without the additional financial, emotional and practical burdens of travelling abroad, leaving their family and social networks behind, or managing their child’s ongoing treatment in another country.

Long-Term Care Continues Beyond Surgery

Treating congenital heart disease does not necessarily end with a single surgical or interventional procedure. Many children require regular medical monitoring and may need further interventions at different stages of their lives.

The specialists described the hospital’s integrated medical team as central to providing continuous care.

“At Onassis, we have a closely coordinated team of doctors who provide services to children with congenital heart disease. We monitor these patients regularly at the hospital and can arrange immediate admission whenever necessary,” they explained.

The hospital has also established a communication network with medical colleagues throughout Greece. This allows doctors to maintain close contact and coordinate the care of patients who do not live permanently in the Attica region.

“Our patients grow up with us. Many receive specialised treatments, including percutaneous or hybrid pulmonary valve replacements,” the specialists said.

Patients who require treatment for heart rhythm disorders also receive comprehensive monitoring and advanced therapies at Onassis, at a standard comparable with leading centres in Europe and the United States.

Onassis Foundation Support Upgrades Hospital Facilities and Capabilities

A major contribution to the further development of the Onassis Paediatric Hospital has come through the Onassis Foundation’s donation, alongside initiatives undertaken by the hospital’s management.

The specialists said the hospital had substantially upgraded its medical infrastructure and expanded its capacity to treat paediatric patients with congenital heart conditions.

Major improvements include:

• The establishment of a new Intensive Care Unit.
• The operation of a catheterisation laboratory dedicated exclusively to children and adults with congenital heart disease.
• Additional staffing and the recruitment of new specialised medical professionals.
• The development of international scientific collaborations.

The hospital has also established a partnership with one of the United Kingdom’s largest and internationally recognised medical centres. The collaboration aims to facilitate the exchange of scientific expertise and the joint assessment of particularly complex cases.

The specialists said the hospital continued to pursue further improvements and had begun developing a patient registry.

They hope the initiative will eventually provide the foundation for a corresponding national registry, giving parents direct access to information about the quality of medical services available in Greece.

These developments strengthen the hospital’s ability to provide comprehensive care, from diagnosis and hospitalisation to highly specialised treatments and long-term monitoring.

Training the Next Generation of Congenital Heart Specialists

Another priority involves establishing a training programme for young medical professionals specialising in congenital heart disease.

The two cardiologists said Greece needed to provide young doctors with opportunities to acquire the necessary expertise and clinical experience domestically, rather than forcing them to move abroad for professional training.

Strengthening medical education, expanding scientific partnerships and continuing to upgrade hospital infrastructure represent the next stages of development for the Onassis Paediatric Hospital.

The ultimate goal remains to ensure early diagnosis, timely medical intervention and high-quality care for children with congenital heart disease throughout every stage of their lives.

(Source: AMNA)

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