Thanks to the expertise and skill of one CHOC Children’s cardiologist, a seventh grader with a longstanding heart condition has a renewed chance for health and happiness.
Several months after undergoing Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV) therapy, Alexander Puck of Lake Forest is energetic and active – a marked change over the lethargy and decreased energy that he experienced last year.
“I feel good. I’m just trying to get used to things like running faster and having more energy,” said Alexander, who just started practice with his Little League team.
Alexander’s procedure marked Dr. Farhouch Berdjis’ 25th such procedure – a fitting milestone given the patient’s and doctor’s longstanding relationship. Dr. Berdjis began treating Alexander when he was just 4 years old, and calls the boy “Alexander the Great.”
During the minimally invasive procedure, a thin, hollow tube holding a specially designed heart valve is inserted into a vein in the leg and is guided to the heart. Even better, Melody TPV therapy increases the likelihood that Alexander will experience fewer significant surgeries as he ages.
“Melody TPV is an example of the groundbreaking therapies that make CHOC a leader in pediatric medicine, and we are proud to be at the forefront of this technology,” Dr. Berdjis said.
Dr. Berdjis is among the 50 physicians nationwide certified to perform Melody TPV therapy. The CHOC Children’s Heart Institute is one of approximately 35 centers in the United States that is certified to perform the therapy.
Named after its inventor’s love of music, Melody TPV therapy was first used in Europe in 2000 and in the United States in 2007.
Alexander – who was born with several pediatric heart defects, including a pulmonary valve that would not close – had his valve replaced at 3 months old.
Last year, Alexander began experiencing decreased energy and difficulty climbing stairs. Dr. Berdjis informed Alexander’s parents that the valve would again require replacement – but the good news this time was that Melody TPV treatment could accomplish the task without pediatric open-heart surgery.
“It was a great relief because we were worried since he was 3 months old that they’d need to do another surgery,” said Kristi Puck, Alexander’s mother. “We were very excited to learn about the alternative. There are just so many complications that we wouldn’t have to deal with. We were in the hospital, and out the next day.”
These days, the Los Alisos Intermediate School student is focused on church, school and baseball – an activity that Dr. Berdjis has encouraged so long as Alexander wears a chest protector.
“I could see a big decrease in his performance over the season last year,” Kristi said. “We thought it might take some time before he could play again, but Dr. Berdjis was encouraging him to live and enjoy life. He wants him to stay active.”
A Mission Viejo resident, Dr. Berdjis is the Medical Director of the CHOC Cardiac Catheterization Lab. He has specialized expertise in cardiac catheterization and therapeutic cardiac catheterization.
Dr. Berdjis completed his fellowship and residency at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Wyler’s Children’s Hospital/University of Chicago. He received his medical training at the University of Wurzburg in Germany and completed his internship at Children’s Hospital of the University of Munich.
Watch a video of Dr. Berdjis explaining how Melody TPV therapy works:
Hear Dr. Berdjis explain the advantages of Melody TPV therapy:
Watch Dr. Berdjis explain about the certifications and approvals required to perform Melody TPV therapy:
