Partner 7: Azienda Ospedaliera Di Padova (AOP)

Clinical Centre (in cooperation with Partner 6 UNIPD)

The Azienda Ospedaliera di Padova (AOP) Clinical Center is a tertiary care centre closely linked to the University of Padua Medical School (also known as the University Hospital, Partner 6). AOP is one of the busiest hospitals in Northern Italy and certainly the biggest and busiest in the North-Eastern area. This hospital is a state-of-the-art institution, where physicians are involved in both clinical and research activities equally.

The Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit of Padua is part of this hospital. Although it belongs to a separate legal entity, it collaborates within an overall framework with the University of Padova Medical School (Partner 6), and all tasks are performed in collaboration with the University itself. Partner 6 and Partner 7 are therefore taken together to act as one clinical centre in the framework of ARISE. In addition, the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit of Padua is part of the Department of Cardiac Thoracic and Vascular Sciences and is clinically involved in the Woman and Child’s Health Department of the Hospital and the University of Padova. It ranks among the busiest centers for paediatric cardiovascular surgery and cardiology in the country, with over 300 surgical procedures per year, and with a high index of Complexity/Performance, as reflecetd by the EACTS Database. The staff physicians of the Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit are renowned experts in the surgical treatment of congenital heart disease in infants, children and adults. The majority of congenital heart diseases are repaired within the first 3 months of life. Adults with congenital heart disease are treated for re-operation or primary repair. This centre is also part of the Baby Heart Italian Group for excellence in quality in Paediatric Cardiac Surgery, the International Nomenclature Working Group which unifies a selected group of experts in congenital cardiac surgery in Europe and Northern America; the EACTS Congenital database and the World Society for Paediatric and Congenital Heart Disease.

The Paediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery Unit in Padova ranks among the most researchactive surgical units of the country. It has a longstanding tradition in innovative cardiac surgery and heart transplantation since the first human heart transplant in Italy was performed in Padua in 1985, followed by the first neonatal heart transplant in 1987. In addition, surgery for congenital heart disease has always been performed at the highest level, allowing for the first successful palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome in Europe in 1991. Clinical evaluation and follow up of congenital heart diseases operated in early infancy and childhood are routinely performed to assess long term results and ameliorate techniques, and projects have been published in international literature.

Main tasks

UNIPD, in cooperation with Partner 7 AOP, will contribute as a joint clinical centre predominantly to WPs 3, 4 and 5 and will also be actively involved in WP 6 Dissemination and Outreach. The main tasks of the participant are:

  • Homograft supply by local tissue banks: Draft Memoranda of Understanding and preparation of reimbursement agreements with the local supporting tissue bank.
  • Setting up the local and national frameworks for the clinical trial, e.g. contact with local ethics committees and other involved institutions, submission of the respective forms and applications
  • Implementation of the clinical trial, e.g. patient identification and information, operation and follow-up
  • Support in the establishment of an ARISE registry
  • Participation in dissemination activities at scientific congresses, publication of the results and public outreach activities

Contributors to ARISE

Dr. Massimo Padalino, Senior physician, Paediatric and Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery Unit