Ziad Saba, MD
Oakland Magazine Best East Bay Doctors 2009-2010
(nat'l survery)
Pediatric Cardiologist, Division of Cardiology
Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Residency: Duke University, Durham, NC
Fellowship: Pediatric Cardiology Duke University, Durham, NC
Children's Hospital Boston
Board Certification: Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology
Language(s): English, Arabic, French
Summary
Ziad Saba, MD, is an expert on congenital heart problems in children and adults. He specializes in using interventional cardiac catheterization to measure heart activity and repair certain heart problems. In cardiac catheterization, a small tube or catheter is inserted into a vein or artery in the groin and then advanced into the heart’s chambers. Once in the heart, the catheter becomes a tiny door into the heart through which the cardiologist may perform different procedures to repair cardiac defects.
Dr. Saba is also the only Children’s cardiologist doing follow-up care with adults who were once Children’s Hospital Oakland patients with congenital cardiac problems. Dr. Saba has participated in many medical aid missions in the Republic of Georgia, Palestinian Territories, Nigeria, and Belize.
Compelling Fact
Heart defects are among the most common birth defects, and are the leading cause of birth defect-related deaths. About 35,000 infants, 1 of every 125, are born with heart defects each year in the United States. Half the children requiring surgical repair of a heart defect now undergo surgery before turning 1.
Source: March of Dimes
Expertise
Interventional cardiac catheterization
In cardiac catheterization, a small tube or catheter is inserted into a vein or artery in the groin and then advanced into the heart. Once in the heart, the catheter can be used to helps measure heart activity or to treat certain cardiac conditions.
The catheter becomes a tiny door into the heart through which the cardiologist may perform what is referred to as an “intervention.”
Interventions may include:
• Opening a narrowed heart valve
• Opening a narrowed blood vessel by inflating a balloon or by putting in a stent to hold the vessel open
• Closing off aberrant connecting vessels
with coils
• Repairing a hole in a heart chamber
Professional and Personal background
You can reach this physician by contacting Media Relations.
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