From the Heart

Arkansas Children’s Opens Best-in-Class Angiographic Suites

In February, the Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute opened two new highly advanced biplane catheterization (cath) labs and a hybrid cath lab, becoming the first hospital in the world to utilize the Siemens Artis Icono technology. Outfitted with the most up-to-date equipment, our renowned interventional cardiologists, under the direction of Medical Director, Dr. Michael Angtuaco, perform over 600 cardiac cath procedures annually. A long history of consistent volumes, including diagnostic, interventional and electrophysiology cases, provides our team with the experience needed to achieve exceptional outcomes. The biplane cath labs allow interventional cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons to work side-by-side on less-invasive cutting-edge procedures for some of the most complex heart defects. Using small incisions and digital imaging, interventional cardiologists diagnose and treat complex conditions. The Food and Drug Administration approved Medtronic’s HarmonyTM Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve in March, and Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute is one of the first hospitals across the nation trained to administer the treatment, performing the first valve replacement in October. The procedure provides an alternative to open-heart surgery for patients in need of pulmonary valve replacement with a congenital heart defect of the right ventricle.

Excellence, a Core Value and Frame of Mind

Every day at Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute, we strive for excellence, and our outcomes prove it. Under the leadership of nationally renowned pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Brian Reemtsen and pediatric cardiology section chief Dr. Paul Seib the Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute achieved a remarkable 100% surgical survival rate in fiscal year 2021. The Heart Institute strategically placed the state-of-the-art labs on the same floor as the cardiovascular intensive care unit and cardiac operating rooms for reduced critical patient transport time. It is available 24 hours a day for emergent procedures, and our 3D heart model printing center has fundamentally changed the way we work. These cutting-edge technologies, paired with our world-class surgeons, help us plan and execute surgeries requiring less time under anesthesia, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays. Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute consistently outranks the Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ benchmarks, and with each discovery or innovation, our best keeps getting better.

For more outcomes visit archildrens.org/cardiologyoutcomes.

Adult Congenital Program Provides Care for the Whole Patient

 We have built our reputation on helping children with heart defects. But unlike childhood, many cardiac issues can’t be outgrown, making cardiac care a lifelong journey. When it’s time, we help patients seamlessly transition into our adult program. We welcome patients of all ages and at any stage of their heart journey, and Dr. Tanmay Bhamare serves as the state’s only adult congenital cardiologist. Arkansas Children’s Heart Institute gives its patients personalized care no matter where they are in life, regularly updating their treatment plan along the way. We help patients understand what to expect today, tomorrow and all the tomorrows that follow. If a heart procedure becomes necessary, our state-of-the-art facilities enable our surgeons to use less-invasive technologies during even more complex surgeries. Our approach helps patients feel better faster and leave the hospital sooner.

You can always find care close to home with full-time cardiologists at each of these Arkansas Children’s locations:


• Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH) 1 Children’s Way, Little Rock, AR 72202 501-365-8195 | www.archildrens.org/ACHHeart
• Arkansas Children’s Northwest 2601 Gene George Blvd., Springdale, AR 72762 479-349-4554 | www.archildrens.org/ACNWHeart
• ACH Jonesboro Clinic 520 Carson Street, Jonesboro, AR 72401 501-441-4541 | www.archildrens.org/JonesboroHeart