Howaida El-Said, MD

Howaida El-Said, MD, PhD, is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist specializing in pediatric cardiology and congenital cardiac interventions. Dr. El-Said is also board-certified in adult congenital heart disease. She serves as Chief of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Interventional Cardiology and as Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. She cares for infants, children and adults with congenital heart disease, providing highly specialized, catheter-based treatments across the full spectrum of structural heart conditions. Dr. El-Said focuses on advanced transcatheter procedures designed to reduce the need for open-heart surgery whenever possible, while delivering personalized care for patients at every stage of life.

Dr. El-Said was inspired to pursue a career in health care by her father, who was an interventional cardiologist. She also has deep commitment to caring for children. She values a family-centered approach and believes the best outcomes happen when families feel informed, supported and actively involved in care decisions. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, swimming, paddle boarding and cooking for loved ones.

The services Dr. El-Said provides include:

• Pediatric and congenital cardiac interventions
• Transcatheter structural heart procedures, including balloon dilation and stent placement
• Transcatheter pulmonary valve implantation
• Ductal patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) stenting
• Care for patients with pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect
• Management of single-ventricle heart disease, including post-Fontan care
• Minimally invasive closure of congenital heart defects, including atrial septal defects (ASD), ventricular septal defects (VSD) and PDA

• MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's

• American College of Cardiology
• Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions
• American College Health Association

• Ratnayaka K, Nageotte SJ, Moore JW, Guyon PW, Bhandari K, Weber RL, Lee JW,You H, Griffin DA, Rao RP, Nigro JJ, El-Said HG. Patent Ductus Arteriosus Stenting for All Ductal-Dependent Cyanotic Infants: Waning Use of Blalock- Taussig Shunts. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2021 Mar;14(3). doi.org/10.1161/circinterventions.120.009520.
• El-Sabrout H, Ganta S, Guyon P, Ratnayaka K, Vaughn G, Perry J, Kimball A, Ryan J, Thornburg CD, Tucker S, Mo J, Hegde S, Nigro J, El-Said H. Neonatal Myocardial Infarction: A Proposed Algorithm for Coronary Arterial Thrombus Management. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2022 May;15(5):e011664. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.121.011664. Epub 2022 Apr 29. PMID: 35485231; PMCID: PMC11225359. doi.org/10.1161/circinterventions.121.011664.
• Guyon P, Duster N, Katheria A, Heyden C, Griffin D, Steinbergs R, Moreno Rojas A, Ratnayaka K, El-Said HG. Institutional Trend in Device Selection for Transcatheter PDA Closure in Premature Infants. Pediatr Cardiol. 2022 Dec;43(8):1716-1722. doi: 10.1007/s00246-022-02903-2. Epub 2022 Apr 16. PMID: 35430709; PMCID: PMC9587941. doi.org/10.1007/s00246-022-02903-2.
• El-Said H, Price K, Hussein A, Ganta S, Rao A, Nigro J, Brigger MT. Bronchial remodeling following airway stenting in pediatric patients with tracheobronchial and congenital heart disease. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2023 Jul;2(5):101068. doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2023.101068.
• Heibel J, Alshawabkeh L, Reeves RR, Justino H, El-Said H. Simultaneous stenting with Edwards SAPIEN transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2022 Dec;1(3):100297. doi: 10.1016/j.jscai.2022.100553. 
• Price K, Ryan JR, El-Said H. Stenting of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus. Interv Cardiol Clin. 2024 Jul;13(3):421-430. doi: 10.1016/j.iccl.2024.02.002. Epub 2024 Mar 22. PMID: 38839174.  
• Dalby ST, Shibbani K, Mercadante A, Veeram Reddy SR, Aldoss O, Gordon BM, El-Said H, Mohammad Nijres B. Transcatheter Patent Ductus Arteriosus Closure in Premature Infants: A Multicenter Retrospective Study Comparing Available Devices. Circ Cardiovasc Interv. 2024 Mar;17(3):e013723. doi: 10.1161/CIRCINTERVENTIONS.123.013723. Epub 2024 Mar 19. PMID: 38502722.
• Bauser‑Heaton H, Price K, Weber R, El‑Said H. Stenting of the Patent Ductus Arteriosus: A Meta‑analysis and Literature Review. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2023 Jul 27;2(4):101052. doi:10.1016/j.jscai.2023.101052. PMID: 39131650.
• El‑Said H, Hussein A, Price K, Heibel J, Haley J, Haldeman S, Boulil Z, Brigger M, Rao A, Ganta S, Rao R, Nigro J, Sweeney N. Comparing Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Infants With Patent Ductus Arteriosus Stenting Versus Blalock‑Taussig‑Thomas Shunt: A Pilot Study. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2024 Mar 4;3(5):101355. doi:10.1016/j.jscai.2024.101355. PMID: 39132454.
• Shibbani K, El-Said H, Gordon B, Justino H. Radiation reduction in congenital cardiac catheterization by optimizing fluoroscopy and minimizing cineangiography. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2024 May;3(5):101582. doi.org/10.1016/j.jscai.2024.101582.
• Hesari M, Ng’eno M, Gordon BM, AlShawabkeh L, Ryan JR, Fulk C, El‑Said H. The Wire Twisting/Locking Technique to Facilitate Precise PDA Stent Delivery in Neonates with Ductal‑Dependent Pulmonary Blood Flow. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025 May 5. doi:10.1007/s00246‑025‑03852‑2. PMID: 40323405.
• Ng’eno M, Gordon BM, Rao R, Ryan JR, Haley J, Ganta S, Nigro J, El‑Said H. The Fate of the Jailed Branch: Challenging the Dogma of PDA Stenting in Cases with a Pulmonary Artery Branch Originating from the PDA. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025 May 2. doi:10.1007/s00246‑025‑03874‑w. PMID: 40316854.
• Hesari M, Bencheikh N, Peterson D, Ryan JR, Shibbani K, Fulk C, El‑Said H. A Novel Modification of the Melody Valve in a Short Right Ventricle‑Pulmonary Artery Conduit: Case Report. J Soc Cardiovasc Angiogr Interv. 2025 Jan 18;4(3Part A):102505. doi:10.1016/j.jscai.2024.102505. PMID: 40231057. 
• Shibbani K, Nigro J, Rao R, Gordon BM, Justino H, AlShawabkeh L, El‑Said H. Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum, an Evolving Strategy in the Era of PDA Stenting: Single Center Experience. Pediatr Cardiol. 2025 Jan 22. doi:10.1007/s00246‑025‑03769‑w. PMID: 39843713.

I believe that the best care happens when families feel informed, supported and actively involved in the decision-making process. I take the time to get to know the parents and families of my patients and to understand their concerns, goals and perspectives. I work closely with them to explain the diagnosis and treatment options in a clear and thoughtful way so they can feel confident in the decisions we make together. I often use advanced tools such as 3D imaging and segmentation to help families better visualize and understand their child’s heart condition. My goal is to make sure families feel comfortable asking questions and know that I am available to support them throughout their child’s care.