Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at Nile of Hope Hospital
Alexandria, Egypt
June 25-July 3, 2025

Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt and the largest on the Mediterranean Coast. It lies on the western edge of the Nile Delta, and was founded in 331 BC. It has a large tertiary referral base for the region and is located about 2.5 hours drive north-west of Cairo. The city includes many historical treasures from its illustrious past, including the famous Library of Alexandria. This was one of the largest in the world over two millennia ago, but was partially destroyed during Roman skirmishes. It has since recently been re-built. It has the capacity to house up to 8 million books although 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 the government and private donors. The hospital has excellent equipment and is managed by very well-trained, competent staff. They are seeking extra help to handle the more challenging cases, fine tune their ICU management, and to embrace the increasingly large volume of referrals. Dr. Mohamed Abdelmalak Abokandil, CEO, Nile of Hope Hospital, invited the CardioStart 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.

Mission Objectives

A team of 13 pediatric medical professionals and three outreach team members embarked on this
first CardioStart mission to Egypt. Children aged 6 months to 18 years received surgical procedures treating congenital heart disease during the week.

CardioStart Nurses from three countries provided bedside teaching with support of two US-based Pediatric Intensivist/Cardiologists. They found the local team motivated and welcoming of new policies/procedures and protocols to help them provide advanced levels of care. After the mission, CardioStart continues 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.

Procedures and Outcomes

CardioStart Team

Acknowledgements

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.