Single Ventricle Program
Team-Based Expertise for Kids With Single Ventricle Heart Defects
Children born with a single ventricle heart defect, like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) and Ebstein anomaly, do better with a whole team working together from the start. At Nemours Children’s, your child gets advanced heart surgery and integrated services from leading heart specialists.
The heart has four chambers, a left and right atrium and a left and right ventricle. Having a single ventricle defect means that only one ventricle works well enough to pump blood. Most cases are found while a baby is still in the womb. Treatment includes a series of heart surgeries.
As part of renowned, award-winning heart centers in Delaware and Florida, our single ventricle team includes expert fetal heart specialists, cardiothoracic surgeons, interventional cardiologists, critical care intensivists, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiac psychologists and many others. As a team, we work to reduce a child’s risk for complications through careful monitoring and therapies that improve health and strength.
We partner with the National Pediatric Cardiology Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) to improve the quality of life for children with single ventricle defects. In addition to the highest level of medical and surgical care today, we care for your child as they grow through adulthood.
Our Services
Our fetal heart specialists use advanced technologies to diagnose single ventricle defects and plan care with a whole team for after your baby is born. We offer:
Single Ventricle Surgery
Our cardiothoracic surgery team has vast experience in single ventricle defects, which involves staged surgeries that begin after birth and happen over the first years of life. These include the Norwood procedure, Glenn procedure and Fontan procedure.
We use innovative approaches such as 3D heart modelling and hybrid procedures that combine surgery and catheters (thin tubes threaded through blood vessels) for an easier recovery.
Single Ventricle Interstage Program
Babies need advanced care between the Norwood and Glenn procedures, called the “interstage” period. Our specialists are highly trained in the exact medical, emotional and developmental needs a child and family require at this time. We offer:
- 24/7 at home monitoring using our Nemours app, keeping track of your child’s feeding, weight and oxygen levels to spot trends and see problems before they happen
- Dedicated care coordination and nursing support to schedule all the care your child needs and to answer your specific questions and concerns, through interstage and after
- Nutritional counseling to ensure your child is taking in the right calories and nutrients to maintain health and strength
- Feeding and swallowing therapies with speech therapists who have special experience helping kids with heart conditions and achieving goals, like eating with the family
- Cardiac psychology services for the whole family to reduce stress and build resilience along the journey
- Cardiac neurodevelopmental support with early, proven therapies that protect and strengthen your child’s behavioral, emotional and learning development as they grow
- Social work services to help you find resources and cope as a family
Beyond Surgery
Our care goes well beyond surgery. We’re here when your child is in the womb and as they grow, through age 40.
We offer ongoing cardiology care, heart catheterization and electrophysiology programs, pacemakers, heart failure care, heart transplant (in Delaware) and referral to other Nemours specialists, like gastroenterologists, as needed. You get everything in one place.
Two Leading Pediatric Heart Centers
Our heart centers offer highly advanced, integrated care just for kids and young adults with congenital heart disease. Learn about our focused programs, innovative research and exceptional outcomes.
What is a single ventricle defect? Learn about the different types, signs, symptoms and treatments from the experts at Nemours KidsHealth®.
The interstage period is the time between the Norwood procedure and the Glenn procedure. Find out what to expect for the first surgery, and how you can help your baby heal.
The third stage Fontan procedure can take place before your child is 3 years old. Learn about the surgery and recovery.
- What is a single ventricle defect?
- Norwood procedure and the Glenn procedure
- Fontan procedure
Conditions & Treatments
We see many conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending on the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.
Related Specialties & Programs
Single Ventricle Care You Can Trust
You get the highest quality of care here. As part of the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC), we help set the standard of care for programs across the country.
We report our outcome data to a national database and compare our outcomes against national averages.
We try to make life a little easier by offering routine appointments at locations that may be closer to home.
Nemours researches and develops technologies and methods to improve single ventricle heart surgery success.
We offer close follow-up after the third stage Fontan procedure, partnering with multiple specialists for the best possible care.
Single Ventricle Care You Can Trust
You get the highest quality of care here. As part of the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC), we help set the standard of care for programs across the country.
Our surgical outcomes for single ventricle defects are better than national averages.
We try to make life a little easier by offering routine appointments at locations that may be closer to home.
We research and develop technologies and methods to improve single ventricle heart surgery success.
We offer close follow-up after the third stage Fontan procedure, partnering with multiple specialists for the best possible care.
Meet the Team
Nemours single ventricle teams are experienced and focused on your child's healthiest future. Meet them now.
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Claude Anthony Beaty Jr., MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Site Director, Temple Thoracic Residency Program, Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Erica Del Grippo, DO
Cardiology Medical Director, Interstage and Single Ventricle Program; and Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Assistant Professor of PediatricsPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Christopher D. Derby, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Surgical Director Cardiac Intensive Care Unit and Mechanical Circulatory SupportPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Christian Pizarro, MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery Chair, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine; Director, Cardiac Center; Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery; Director, Heart Transplantation Program Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
Erica Dolores Sood, PhD
Psychology Director, Cardiac Learning and Development (LEAD) Associate Professor of Pediatric Psychology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
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Katherine T. Braley, MD
Cardiology Medical Director, Fetal Heart Program, Director of Fetal EchocardiographyPrimary Office
Orlando, FL -
Erica Dolores Sood, PhD
Psychology Director, Cardiac Learning and Development (LEAD) Associate Professor of Pediatric Psychology, Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
Care That Goes Beyond Medicine
When your family comes to Nemours, you’re well cared for. We want you to understand your child’s condition and how to help them stay healthy and succeed. We help you find community resources for your family. We also offer many supportive services, like social work, lodging at nearby Ronald McDonald Houses, creative therapies, pet therapy, Child Life programs and much more.
Convenient Follow-Up Appointments by Video
We offer follow-up appointments through scheduled, live video visits. You can avoid waiting rooms and save travel time. Ask your doctor if this is an option for your family.