Oklahoma City – In a landmark procedure at Oklahoma Children’s Hospital, surgeons performed the state’s first partial heart transplant on a one‑year‑old girl born with the rare congenital defect truncus arteriosus. The operation, led by Dr. Harold Burkhart, director of the pediatric cardiothoracic surgical program at OU Health, replaced Angelica Moreno‑Roman’s failing heart valves with living tissue valves from a donor.
Angelica, who celebrated her first birthday this month, underwent her initial heart surgery just two days after birth. A second operation was scheduled for when she turned two, but a rhinovirus infection at four months revealed a leaking aorta, prompting doctors to seek a more durable solution.
Why a partial transplant matters
Instead of installing mechanical valves, which do not grow with a child, the surgical team used donor tissue that can expand as Angelica grows. Dr. Burkhart explained, “If you pull a valve off a shelf, a mechanical valve, it wouldn’t grow. A donated tissue valve, when paired with appropriate medication, can theoretically grow with the heart.” This approach aims to reduce the number of future open‑heart surgeries the child would otherwise require.
“We’ve put two valves in a baby that typically would require multiple heart surgeries throughout life as that child grew, and I’m hoping that she won’t have these anymore,” Burkhart said after the operation.
Family’s perspective
Angelica’s mother, Jeneliz Moreno‑Roman, described her daughter as a happy, curious child. “She’s always been a pretty happy girl. I feel like you wouldn’t be able to tell she had heart surgery,” she said. The family noted that Angelica enjoys playing with her big brother and watching Elmo, and they are hopeful the new valves will spare her further invasive procedures.
“My hope for her, of course, is for her to grow and be the bright baby girl that she is. We’re hoping that she doesn’t need any more surgeries in the future since those valves will grow with her,” Moreno‑Roman added.
Implications for Oklahoma pediatric care
This successful transplant marks a significant advancement for pediatric cardiac care in Oklahoma, showcasing the state’s growing capacity to perform complex, life‑saving procedures locally. It also highlights the importance of donor tissue availability and the expertise of the OU Health surgical team.
As Angelica continues to recover, the medical community will monitor her progress, hoping her case will set a precedent for other children with similar congenital heart defects throughout the region.
Original reporting: Oklahoma City News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
