A Kid at Heart

Navy man suffering from congenital defect undergoes open heart surgery at CHKD

Chevaughn Griffiths had no reason to think

there was something wrong with the way his heart had developed before he was born. From his childhood in Jamaica, to enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he never suspected he was living with a rare congenital heart defect – until crippling pain sent him on a search for answers.

Even then, he could not have imagined that, at 25 years old, he would undergo open heart surgery at CHKD, the children’s hospital near his home in Chesapeake, Virginia. In July of 2020, Chevaughn was working in a fuel lab aboard a guided missile cruiser, somewhere past the Suez Canal, when he experienced pain so intense he couldn’t move. The pain began in his left hand, traveled up his arm, and then to his shoulder and neck.

“It really stopped me in my tracks,” says Chevaughn, who was 24 at the time. “I could not move for over a minute. It was so painful. I had tears in my eyes.”

On doctor’s orders, Chevaughn had a full checkup at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) once he returned home. By then, he was experiencing chest pain frequently. Cardiologists at NMCP ordered a CT scan to see if it would reveal any answers. They called Chevaughn with the results that same day.

The scan showed that the right side of Chevaughn’s heart was enlarged and there was an abnormality of a major blood vessel. The cardiology team at NMCP referred him to Dr. Alexander Ellis, one of two cardiologists at CHKD’s Heart Center who is board-certified in the treatment of congenital heart defects in adults. While adult cardiologists and cardiac surgeons primarily treat normal hearts that have become diseased over time, CHKD’s Heart Center features a program that specializes in taking care of patients of all ages whose hearts have malformations that were present at birth.

Until severe chest pain led him to CHKD’s Heart Center, Chevaughn Griffiths lived 24 years without knowing he was born with an abnormality in his heart.

After his evaluation by Dr. Ellis, Chevaughn learned he had a heart defect called partially anomalous pulmonary venous return, or PAPVR. One of the veins that is supposed to carry oxygenated blood from his lungs to the left side of his heart was instead attached to the right side of his heart.

“This abnormal structure led to increased blood flow to the right side of his heart and lungs, which enlarged his heart and increased pressure in the blood vessels of his lungs,” says Dr. Ellis. “As a result, Chevaughn’s heart was growing bigger and he was getting 50 percent more blood flow through his lungs than what is normal.”

Initially, Chevaughn didn’t want to believe something had been seriously wrong with his heart since birth. But he began to accept his diagnosis after he met with Dr. Philip Smith, chief of cardiac surgery at CHKD, and Dr. James Gangemi, surgical director of the regional collaborative for cardiac care at CHKD, a partnership established by CHKD and the University of Virginia. Gangemi also serves as surgical director of pediatric congenital heart surgery at UVA.

Along with Dr. Ellis, Drs. Smith and Gangemi laid out a couple of options for Chevaughn. They could monitor his heart with regular testing, or he could have surgery for a permanent repair. It was a surgery Drs. Smith and Gangemi had performed many times before. Although they couldn’t promise Chevaughn that his chest pain would completely disappear, the repair would stop his heart from growing any larger. Without surgical intervention, he could develop dangerous complications including arrhythmias and pulmonary hypertension.

Although Chevaughn was frightened by the idea of having surgery, he ultimately felt it was the best decision for him. “The doctors were very informative,” he says. “I really appreciate that they gave me enough independence and the freedom to choose. I’m so thankful CHKD took me in.”

“I would give them a 10 out of 10. CHKD has been so wonderful to me.” Chevaughn Griffiths

Helping patients understand their treatment options so they feel at ease is part of the signature care that’s provided at CHKD’s Heart Center. “Everybody comes in afraid and unsure of who they can trust,” says Dr. Smith. “Our job as providers is first, to build trust; second, to address their fears; and ultimately, to provide effective treatment. If they leave with a positive experience, we’ve accomplished all the things that are necessary for success.”

By the time Chevaughn’s surgery was scheduled on March 23, 2021, he was having chest pains every day, sometimes twice a day. “Whenever they happened, if I moved, it made the pain worse,” he says. “It felt like someone was stabbing my heart with a very sharp knife.”

When he checked in on his surgery day, the atmosphere at CHKD immediately helped calm his nerves. He especially got a kick out of being able to choose a flavor for his

anesthesia. “I chose bubble gum,” Chevaughn says with a laugh. “Being at CHKD really brought out the kid in me. It made me feel comfortable and took away from my anxiety.”

During the procedure, Drs. Smith and Gangemi used a patch to redirect the blood that was flowing to the wrong chamber of Chevaughn’s heart. The procedure took about three hours. When it was time for Chevaughn to wake up from anesthesia, a team of nurses sang songs with him from one of his favorite artists, Drake. “They did everything they could to keep me in good spirits,” Chevaughn says. “I love my team of nurses.”

And, to his relief, he’s only had chest pains once since his recovery. “In Chevaughn’s case, this will represent a lifechanging operation,” says Dr. Smith. “We were able to give him a complete repair.”

Chevaughn couldn’t be happier with his decision to seek treatment and have his surgery at CHKD’s Heart Center. “I would give them a 10 out of 10,” he says. “CHKD has been so wonderful to me.”

WRITTEN BY Alice Warchol • PHOTOGRAPHY BY Susan Lowe

CHKD Heart Center.

14 Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters

Thanks to dramatic advancements in medical and surgical care over the last several decades, most children born with congenital heart defects are now living well into adulthood. In fact, over 90 percent of all babies born today with congenital cardiac disease can expect to reach adulthood, despite the severity of their heart conditions.

“From a surgical standpoint, we’re getting better at what we do,” says Dr. James Gangemi, surgical director of the Virginia Congenital Cardiac Collaborative, established by CHKD and the University of Virginia. Gangemi also serves as surgical director of pediatric congenital heart surgery at CHKD and UVA. “Patients are living a lot longer than back in the day, and the treatment of adults with congenital heart disease is a growing need.”

While adult cardiologists and cardiac surgeons primarily treat structurally-normal hearts that have become diseased over time, the pediatric and congenital cardiologists and cardiac surgeons at CHKD have special expertise in treating malformations that were present from birth. The availability of this specialized care benefits patients of all ages who suffer from congenital heart disease.

Recognizing the increasing need for adult care, congenital cardiologist Dr. Alexander Ellis established the adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) program at CHKD in 2007. This growing program is now served by Dr. Ellis and Dr. Lopa Hartke, both board certified in pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, internal medicine, and pediatrics. They work with cardiac sonographers, primary care doctors, obstetricians, and adult cardiologists from around the region to create distinct treatment plans for ACHD patients. Nearly 500 patients are closely followed through CHKD’s Heart Center, diagnostic imaging facilities, and cardiac catheterization or electrophysiology labs. Some may also undergo cardiac surgery at CHKD.

“While we have made tremendous strides in our care of children with congenital heart disease, most of what we do is still not a cure,” says Dr. Ellis. “As these patients become adults, they continue to require ongoing treatment, including medical management, imaging, and subsequent cardiac procedures. That is why our comprehensive ACHD program is so vital.”

For more information on CHKD’s Heart Center and aspects of the cardiac care program, visit CHKD.org/HeartCenter.