Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the Nile of Hope Hospital

Alexandria, Egypt

June 25-July 3, 2025

Alexandria is the second largest city and the largest on the Mediterranean Coast. It lies on thewestern edge of the Nile Delta, and was founded in 331 BC. It has a large tertiary referral base for theregion and is located about 2.5 hours ’drive north-west of Cairo.

The city includes many historical treasures from itsillustrious past, including the famous Library ofAlexandria. This was one of the largest in the world overtwo millennia ago, but was partially destroyed duringRoman skirmishes. It has since recently been re-built.
It has the capacity to house up to 8 million booksalthough less than 1.5 million are currently in house.

The Nile of Hope pediatric heart facility is a modern, well-equipped, not-for profit hospital supported by thegovernment and by private donors. The hospital hasexcellent equipment and is supported by very well-trained,competent staff level. They are seeking extra help tohandle the more challenging cases, fine tune their ICU management and to embrace the increasingly largevolume of referrals. Dr. Mohamed Abdelmalak Abokandil, CEO, Nile of Hope Hospital, invited theCardioStart team to join a one-week mission, led by Dr. Sameh Said, an Egyptian born native, (now in NJ,USA), who is a regular visitor there.

A team of 13 pediatric medical professionals andthree outreach team members embarked on thisfirst mission to Egypt. Children aged 6 months to18 years received surgical procedures treatingcongenital heart disease during the week.

Operating Accomplishments

Education in the ICU

CardioStart Nurses from 3 countries provided bedside teaching with support of 2 US-based Pediatric Intensivist/Cardiologists. They found the local team motivated and welcoming of new policies/procedures and protocols to help them provide care for advanced levels of care. After the mission CardioStart continue to reach out with tools and techniques to assist with developing skills.

The team hopes to encourage more open parental visitation duplicating what is already in place in the NICU.

Members of the CardioStart Team

Acknowledements

CardioStart gratefully acknowledges the following donors who helped make this mission possible.

• Artivion Inc., Kennesaw, GA, USA, for donation of homograft valve conduits.
• Bill Nicotra, Senior representative, Custodial preservation systems, Inc., for Perfusion related donations.
• Carrie Ochocki, Perfusionist, Brecksville, OH, USA for perfusion related donations.
• CardioStart Resale Thrift, Sisters, OR, USA, for financial support towards mission equipment costs.
• Children’s LifeLine International, Denver, CO, USA, for financial support for essential medications.
• Fairview Health Services for grant to assist volunteer in flight expenses.
• Pam Harned, for surgical equipment donations.
• Lake Oswego Methodist church, patch doll making group for donations of stuffed dolls and hearts to assist post-operative
patient recovery splinting and comfort.
• Riverpoint Medical Inc., Portland, OR, USA, for donation of headlight system for local team.

• Brian Mejak, Chief of pediatric Perfusion, Denver, CO, USA, for perfusion equipment donations.
• Rotary – Southtowne, Delta, & Springfield volunteers, Eugene, OR, USA for equipment preparation, donation and logistics
management.
• John Sanders & Dr. Jennifer Crown, for financial support towards mission equipment costs.
• Nile of Hope Hospital staff for generous hospitality support of the mission.
• Pape, Eugene, OR, USA, for heavy equipment loan.
• Mrs. Judy Spearin & colleagues, for dental equipment donations.
• Tisgen Inc., Irvine, CA, USA, for donation of novel pericardial membrane.
• Dr. Dan Woodwood, Portland, OR, USA, anesthesiologist supporting medication donations.
• Mr. Steven Yett, Eugene, OR, USA, for assistance with warehouse space for equipment donations