Idriss Cardiac Registry

The Farouk S. Idriss Cardiac Registry was established in 1992 to honor the late Farouk S. Idriss, who was chief of cardiac surgery at Children's Memorial Hospital between 1967 and 1989.

The registry is a collection of more than 2,000 congenital heart specimens, the majority of which were donated between the early 1940s and 1970s, well before the current surgical technology enabled long-term survival and excellent outcomes.

These specimens have been placed in formalin for long-term preservation and are all carefully cataloged. Along with each congenital heart specimen are surgical and cardiac catheterization records. These records are used to illustrate diagnostic details of each specimen. A photography lab and medical illustrator are additional resourses.

Each one of these specimens is an incredible gift donated by families willing to contribute to our knowledge of congenital heart disease. We treat these specimens as a precious resource and manage them prudently.

The activities of the registry center include:

  • Interpretation of biopsy specimens from pediatric heart transplant recipients.
  • Teaching of medical students, residents, fellows, and staff from cardiovascular-thoracic surgery, cardiology and pathology.
  • Active cardiac research in anatomic congenital heart disease, surgical intervention in congenital heart disease, pediatric cardiac transplantation, and the molecular biology of cardiovascular pathology.
  • Involvement in several national and international collaborative studies.

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