MISSION INVITATION
SAN PEDRO SULA, HONDURAS
NOVEMBER 12-19, 2016
PEDIATRIC AND YOUNG ADULTS

Congenital heart disease (CHD), also known as congenital heart defects are conditions that we, as a society, hardly know about. Despite this, the fact is that 1% of the world’s population is born with a heart condition – makes it the most common birth defect. Most congenital heart defects can be repaired with a single surgery, while others may require two or more interventions.

In some developed countries, there are hundreds of medical centers with trained personnel in the pediatric cardiovascular field to attend congenital heart defects. In third-world countries, particularly in Honduras, this type of medical care is not available for children suffering from heart defects.

Helping Hands for Honduras, Inc. (HHH) was established in the year 2000, a time when Honduras had no pediatric cardiovascular surgeons who could perform open-heart surgeries and lacked adequate facilities to operate. Thus, Helping Hands for Honduras sent Honduran children to the United States for corrective heart surgery.

The Helping Hands for Honduras mission has evolved to not only sending children to the United States but to bringing surgery teams to Honduras to treat patients and train Honduran medical professionals to care for these children. HHH has requested CardioStart International to assist them in treating children and young adults with congenital disease.

You, the pediatric healthcare professional are invited to take part in this new venture for CardioStart.

ABOUT SAN PEDRO SULA HONDURAS

San Pedro Sula is the second largest city in Honduras, and the main gateway into the country. The city is the financial and industrial center of Honduras, and offers outstanding opportunities for travel throughout the country. First class franchise hotels and restaurants can be found in its modern metropolis. The city of San Pedro functions as an important hub, with some of the best highways in Honduras. Its Ramón Villeda Morales International Airport (also known as La Mesa), has more scheduled international flights than Tegucigalpa. It is both a civil and military airport, and is located just 19 km (11 miles) from the center of San Pedro Sula. San Pedro Sula’s airport code is SAP. Located in the northern part of the country, San Pedro Sula is only a few miles from the coast. (Wikipedia)

THE HOSPITAL

Hospital Mario Catarino Rivas (In San Pedro Sula, northern part of the country) Frente Al Pedregal, San Pedro Sula. The Hospital Nacional, Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas opened in 1989 and is also called the “Metropolitan Hospital or National Hospital”. It is the largest medical center in Honduras with 377 beds. It opened to the public in 1990 and is named for Dr. Mario Catarino Rivas, who was a prominent physician who devoted his life to the medical profession and promoted humanitarian values in medical care, without making distinctions between patients. Dr. Rivas is considered an example for future generations of Honduras.

TEAM STRUCTURE

Pediatric Surgeons (2) Filled

Pediatric Perfusionist (1)

Pediatric Anesthesiologist (1-2) 1 Filled

Pediatric Cardiologists 2 (1-Interventional) Filled

Pediatric Heart Surgery Nurses (4-6) 4 Filled

Adult Heart Surgery Nurses (2) Filled

Database research (1) Filled

CV OR Nurse/Tech (1-2)

Echo Tech (1) Filled

Spanish language skills helpful

MISSION GOALS

Surgery

CardioStart will be performing surgical evaluation and treatment of children who are medically deprived. Most cases will be congenital defects. Some may be valve cases.

Education

Bedside education will be expected to be provided to local caregivers by CardioStart Volunteers.

An emergency course developed by a non-profit at the University of Minnesota called Comprehensive Advanced Life Support “CALS” will be provided by a team of four.