Cardiac Catheterization

Safer “Cath” Care for Kids

At the Nemours Cardiac Center, special heart doctors called “interventional cardiologists” use a procedure called a “cardiac catheterization” to diagnose and, whenever possible, treat heart problems. In a cardiac catheterization (sometimes called a “cath,” for short), the doctor inserts a catheter (a long, thin tube) into a blood vessel. Then the doctor guides it to the heart and the blood vessels around it. And because our “cath labs” were designed and built to deliver cardiac care for kids, our teams work together to deliver safer care in a kid-friendly space.

Learn More About Cardiac Catheterization

Conditions We Treat

We see a full spectrum of 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.

anomalous coronary artery
aortic disease
aortic stenosis
aortopulmonary (AP) window
atrial septal defect (ASD)
coarctation of the aorta
congenital mitral valve disease
congenital sinus of Valsalva aneurysm
cor triatriatum
dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM)
double outlet right ventricle (DORV)
Ebstein's anomaly
heart arrhythmias
heart failure
heterotaxy syndrome
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
hypoplastic left heart syndrome
interrupted aortic arch
levo-transposition of the great arteries
partially anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR)
patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS)
pulmonary stenosis
pulmonary valve regurgitation
restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM)
single ventricle physiology and palliation
tetralogy of Fallot
transposition of the great arteries
tricuspid atresia
truncus arteriosus
unroofed coronary sinus syndrome
vascular ring anomaly
ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Services We Offer

Some kids’ heart problems can be treated using cardiac catheterization instead of open-heart surgery. Sometimes children can both at the same time. At Nemours, our surgical and nonsurgical services and teams vary by location and condition. They include:

board-certified cardiac anesthesiologists — to make sure your child is comfortable during the entire procedure
cardiac diagnostic testing and kid-friendly imaging — state-of-the-art tests for kids of all ages
diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization — diagnostic “caths” are used to find a heart problem, and interventional caths can treat or repair them
heart surgery — advanced procedures for congenital (present at birth) heart disease
hybrid procedures — a combination of cardiac catheterization and heart surgery done at the same time in a special cardiac suite

Why Choose Us

Nemours offers a wide range of pediatric cardiology expertise and advanced technology to treat children of all ages with pediatric heart disease. And our family-centered approach to care places you at the center of decisions about your child’s treatment. We’ll make sure you understand what’s happening every step of the way.

Regional Pediatric Cardiology Highlights

Services, programs, facilities and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

Best Children's Hospital award for Cardiology and Heart Surgery

The Nemours Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley offers comprehensive pediatric cardiology care at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.) and and outpatient care and follow-ups at select Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations.

ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the country for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report
physicians named Best Doctors in America® , year after year
national leaders in pediatric heart care and surgery, with the experience, skills and advanced technology required to provide swift diagnosis and repair
excellent outcomes that place us among the top pediatric heart centers in the country
high patient and family satisfaction (in annual surveys, 100 percent of our patients said they would recommend the Nemours Cardiac Center)
state-of-the-art surgical and catheterization suite (used exclusively for children with heart problems)
Magnet status for nursing excellence, the nation’s highest nursing credential
fully equipped pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)
one of only a few children’s hospitals nationwide named a Pediatric Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium
comprehensive care, with everything a child with heart disease could need in one central location, even before your baby is born (fetal diagnosis and coordination of care for after delivery)
mechanical circulatory support for children who require “artificial” heart support, including ventricular assist device (VAD) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (or "ECMO")
area’s only children’s hospital to offer ECMO as a referral and transport service
complete arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) diagnosis and treatment
complete cardiac testing, with many tests available at our outpatient offices throughout the Delaware Valley and all at our main location
cardiovascular genetic expertise, including a certified genetic counselor who offers counseling and support when a cardiac condition may have a genetic cause
expertise in fetal (unborn baby) cardiac problems — working with expectant parents to diagnose fetal congenital heart disease in the womb, helping them prepare, and then providing the necessary care as soon as the baby’s born
pioneering pediatric cardiology research, collaborating with researchers locally and nationally
convenient care throughout the region — at outpatient practices and collaborating hospitals in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
Ronald McDonald House of Delaware , a safe, affordable home away from home located across the street from the hospital campus for long hospital stays

Learn More About the Nemours Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley

Central Florida

The Nemours Cardiac Center, Florida offers pediatric cardiology care at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando) and outpatient care and follow-ups at select satellite Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations in the Orlando area.

expert heart care for kids, including outpatient cardiology, preventive cardiology, diagnostic testing, fetal diagnosis and coordination of care for after delivery, heart surgery, and anesthesia
pediatric network where kids across the state can receive expert Nemours heart care, closer to home
many physicians consistently named some of the Best Doctors in America®
complete cardiac tests such as electrocardiogram (EKG), Holter monitors (portable EKG) and echocardiography (echo)
fetal diagnostic testing for babies still in the womb and medical care as soon as the babies are born
mechanical circulatory support for children who require “artificial” heart support, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (or "ECMO")
kids-only cardiopulmonary lab, with VO2 max testing (which measures the maximum amount of oxygen an individual can use during intense, or maximal exercise)
experienced pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons to treat nearly all heart defects using the most innovative, up-to-date approaches
heart surgery and interventional cardiology for newborns with single-ventricle defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
electrophysiology and arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm) diagnosis and treatment, for the tiniest newborns to teens
cardiovascular genetic counselors providing in-depth testing and analysis (to help your family understand the effects a heart condition can have on your child, siblings and future generations)
Ronald McDonald House at Nemours Children’s Hospital , a safe, affordable home away from home for your family located on the hospital campus, just steps from the main entrance