Congenital heart disease surgery puts patient back on the path

Jennie McHenry is an active 50-year-old who spends her time cultivating a variety of garden vegetables at her home in Muncy, hiking the woods with her shepherd husky mix and working for the Pennsylvania State Police.

“It’s a busy job,” says Ms. McHenry, the supply officer for Troop F in north-central Pennsylvania. “It’s strenuous. I do a lot of lifting, and I like it. It keeps me on my toes.”

But not too long ago, she had trouble catching her breath. 

At just 3 years old, Ms. McHenry had surgery for a condition called tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect that alters blood flow. Then, several years ago, she noticed her stamina had decreased while hiking. Testing at Geisinger Medical Center showed a pulmonary valve implanted when she was a child was failing — and her heart was enlarged.

Comprehensive care for congenital heart defects

Ms. McHenry underwent valve replacement surgery in July 2022.

“My heart was so large from pumping so hard, it had compressed one of my lungs,” she says.

“Now my valve is working well. I don’t have shortness of breath anymore. By week 2 after surgery, I was walking 3 miles a day. By week 3, I was walking 5 miles a day. As each week went on, I felt better and better.”

Her situation isn’t unique. Many patients with congenital heart disease who had surgery as children require follow-up surgery as adults.

The Geisinger Heart and Vascular Institute expanded its congenital heart disease treatment program in 2023, taking on more adult patients as well as pediatric cases.

“We’ve put together a team that consists of surgeons, congenital cardiac anesthesiology, adult and pediatric congenital cardiologists and critical care doctors on the pediatric and adult side,” says Ms. McHenry’s surgeon, Carlo Bartoli, MD, who specializes in congenital heart defects.

Innovative heart care close to home  

Ms. McHenry had considered going to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh for a consultation, but she felt confident with Dr. Bartoli. 

“I did my homework on Dr. Bartoli and the whole heart team,” she says. “I felt like if Dr. Bartoli was willing to take my case, that meant to me he knows what he’s doing. I went with my gut and was absolutely pleased.”

And she feels lucky to have access to advanced heart surgery close to home.

“Who knows what would have happened to me if I hadn’t had surgery?” Ms. McHenry says.

Besides tetralogy of Fallot, among the many common congenital heart conditions Geisinger treats are atrial septal defects, holes in the heart, valve defects and pulmonary artery stenosis.

“We have the resources. We have the expertise. Our outcomes are excellent,” Dr. Bartoli says. 

Next steps:

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Learn about congenital heart disease care at Geisinger
See how advanced vascular surgery helped another patient