Cardiothoracic Surgery

Description of Services

The Cardiology and Cardiothoracic departments established services at Driscoll Children's Hospital soon after it opened its doors in 1953. Cardiothoracic Surgery is a subspecialty of surgery that involves the structures of the chest and blood vessels of the body. This includes the heart, lungs, esophagus and vascular system. Dr. Morales and Dr. Bielefeld perform cardiothoracic surgery on neonates, infants, children and even adults with problems of the heart and lung that are congenital in nature. Together with a highly skilled team of surgeons, cardiologists, intensivists, and anesthesiologists these doctors are exclusively dedicated to the care of children with congenital heart disease, regardless of their ability to pay. In 1984, Dr. James Duff performed the 1st successful neonatal aortic switch in the state of Texas here at Driscoll Children's Hospital.

The state of the art cardiothoracic surgeries that they perform include minimally invasive, “bloodless” surgery, ECMO, arrhythmia surgery, intra-operative stent techniques, etc. A full service heart catheterization laboratory as well as pediatric and neonatal intensive care units provide further support services in conjunction with cardiothoracic surgery.

Currently the cardiothoracic program has evolved into a highly sophisticated team that cares for over 500 procedures per year with a mortality rate of <2%. Our expertise includes the management of newborns with complex heart lesions including Single Ventricle abnormalities, Hypoplastic Left Heart Ventricle Syndrome, Truncus Arteriosus, Interrupted Aortic Arch, and Transposition of the Great Arteries.

The pediatric cardiology/cardiothoracic program at Driscoll Children's Hospital has grown into 22 satellite clinics, distributed throughout South Texas from Del Rio to Victoria, with over 10,000 outpatient visits per year. Our referral area includes South Texas, the north of Mexico and states other than Texas. Cardiothoracic Associates has developed an international outreach satellite program in Mexico including visits to Reynosa, Tamaulipas, Saltillo, and Coahuila. They have also done international charity missions to Africa and Central America.

CARDIAC SURGERY

Composed of a multi-disciplinary team fully dedicated to the care of neonates, infants, adolescents and adults with congenital heart disease.

Single Ventricle
Atrial Septal Defect (ASD)
Aortic Stenosis/Ross Procedure

Double Chamber Right Ventricle

  • Aortic Left Ventricular Tunnel

Ectopia Cordis (link to article and pictures)
Aortopulmonary Window
Arterial Switch Procedure - Watch Arterial Switch Procedure video
Atrioventricular Canal (AV Canal)
Coarctation of the Aorta
Coronary Artery Bypass
Interrupted Aortic Arch - Watch Interrupted Aortic Arch video
Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement

What is Norwood Procedure?

Pacemaker Implantation
Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)
Pulmonary Artery Banding
Rastelli Procedure
TAPVR - (Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Return) (Video coming soon)
Tetralogy of Fallot
Tricuspid Atresia

Truncus Arteriosus
Ventricular Septal Defect - Watch VSD video

THORACIC SURGERY

The Department of Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery has performed 72 lobectomies in the last 8 years with a survival of 100%.

Lobectomies / Lung Resection
Vascular Rings
Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernias Watch Diaphragmatic Hernia Video

The most common are aberrant right subclavian, double aorta and Pulmonary Artery Sling, Kommerell’s Diverticulum with aberrant left subclavian.

Dr. Morales and Dr. Bielefeld have performed over 10 divisions of vascular rings during the last 10 years.

  • Congenital Lobar Emphysema
  • Cystic anedomatoid malformation (CCAM)
  • Other congenital pulmonary anomalies

Duplication of the esophagus and other enteric cysts

Mediastinal Masses

  • Neurofibroma
  • Teratoma
  • Neuroblastoma
  • Cystic Hygroma
  • Bronchogenic Cyst
    Rigid/ Flexible Bronchoscopy

Chest Wall Reconstruction:

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Thoracoscopy/ VATS
Drainage of Empyema
Lung Decortication

VASCULAR SURGERY

Vascular Access

  • Broviac Insertion
  • Mediport Insertion
  • PICC Line Insertion
  • Spleno Renal and Other Hepatic Shunts

Vascular reconstruction of the lower extremities and the Aorta
Vascular Malformations

  • Hemangiomas and other vascular tumors
  • Lymphangiomas

Venous Malformation

ECMO - ECMO videoWatch video)
Dr. Morales coordinates the ECMO (EXTRA-CORPOREAL MEMBRANE OXYGENATION) unit with the assistance of the pediatric intensive care team for the treatment of acute respiratory or cardiac failure.

Contact Information:

John Mark Morales MD, FACS, FAAP
Chief of Cardiothoracic, Director of Perfusion Services
Certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Mark Bielefeld, MD
Certified by the American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Thoracic surgeons are available for questions and consultations: (361) 854-0201. For appointments, assistance, and physician references in Corpus Christi call:
(361) 854-0201 or (800) DCH-LOVE
Fax : 361-855-7572
E-MAILS : Mark Morales, MD
Mark Bielefeld, MD

For further information on any surgical procedures you can contact Carol Kaplan, RN, Surgical Nurse Liaison at (361) 694-5150. Consultation and surgery for inpatients is provided in concert with neonatology and pediatric cardiology departments. Complete evaluation and management for infants, children, adolescents and adults with congenital or acquired cardiac, vascular or thoracic anomalies.

Cardiothoracic Associates
3533 S. Alameda, Suite 202
Corpus Christi, Texas 78411
Office: (361) 854-0201 or (361) 694-5150
Fax: (361) 855-7572
Hours: 9am to 6pm
Fri 9am to 5pm

Learn More

Cardiology Services

Learn about ECMO for:

Physicians' ECMO information

Patients' ECMO information

Cardiothoracic Surgery Videos

Get Windows Media PlayerYou must have Windows Media Player 10 installed on your computer to view the videos. Click here to download Windows Media Player 10

High speed bandwidth is recommended to view videos. Downloads may take a few seconds to several minutes depending on your internet connection and webserver traffic.

Click here to see Alexxandra Contrera's Miracle Story movie

Click to see video using the Norwood Procedure/ Hypoplastic left heart Syndrome

See Dr. Mark Morales featured on Discovery Channel

Surgery Procedure Videos

The following cardiothoracic surgery videos are of graphic nature. Viewer discretion is advised.

Arterial Switch Procedure video

Fontan Extracardiac video

Fontan Intracardiac video

Hemi Fontan video

Norwood Procedure video

VSD video

Ross Procedure video

ECMO video

Click here to learn about International ServicesClick here to learn about International Services

Click here to learn about International Outreach More information about International Outreach can be found here


Watch Corazon Video

DIF Award Presentation Video

Super Surgery on Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel Video
features Dr. Morales

Further Reading

Site Index

The Heart

Diagnosing and Evaluating Heart Disease in Children

Heart Murmurs

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)

Congenital Heart Disease

Marfan Syndrome

Rheumatic Heart Disease

Cardiomyopathy

Bacterial Endocarditis

Pericarditis

Kawasaki Disease

Problems Affecting the Coronary Arteries and Blood Vessels

Problems Involving Heart Rhythm

Syncope

Heart Transplantation

Glossary

Online Resources

For Patients and Parents

Contact a Social Worker

Day Surgery

Child Life

Need a Spanish Interpreter?

Urgent Care Center - After Hours

Pediatric Specialties

Rights and Responsibilities

Patient Billing

Visiting a Patient

Health and Safety Programs

Support Groups

Miracle Stories

Additional Resources

Pastoral Care

Create a CarePage

Visit Carousel Gift Shop to
Send a gift to a patient

Volunteer Opportunities

Ways to Give

Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mark Morales MD