Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathy Program
- About Us
- Our Care
Helping Kids Be Kids
Nemours Children's heart failure team helps kids play and do all the things they want in life. Our care is team-based and integrated. That's important because kids with heart failure do better when we all work for the same goal.
As part of award-winning heart centers in Delaware and Florida, we have vast expertise in treating highly complex heart conditions and cardiomyopathies that can lead to heart failure. Our pediatric heart specialists, surgeons, advanced practice providers, nurses and many others partner for the best possible care.
In fact, we’re a Cardiomyopathy Foundation Accredited Center of Care, which means we offer the highest quality of care available. We’re also part of national and international pediatric heart failure networks where we share our expertise and have access to the latest, most effective treatments.
Many forms of heart failure and cardiomyopathy can be medically managed. Some need an implanted device, like a pacemaker, and others may need mechanical circulatory support with a ventricular assist device or heart transplantation. Nemours offers the full range of care. Your child gets seamless, highly coordinated treatment from a team dedicated to their very best life.
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.
Heart failure, also called congestive heart failure, is when the heart doesn’t pump blood well enough to meet the body’s needs. Learn more from the experts at Nemours KidsHealth®.
Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle and one of many causes of heart failure. See how it’s diagnosed and treated.
What is a ventricular assist device? Find out what it is and how it’s used in treating heart failure in children.
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Your Child’s, and Family’s, Best Possible Life
We personalize our care to meet your family’s specific needs. Whether we’re preparing for transplant, recovering from treatment or preventing decline in heart function, your child’s quality of life is our focus.
We offer cardiovascular genetics testing and counseling for children with certain types of cardiomyopathies.
Nemours is involved in research and clinical trials to further our understanding of heart disease and how best to prevent and treat it. We share what we know so all kids benefit.
We make life a little easier by scheduling visits on the same day and meeting you at locations that may be closer to home.
Nemours contributes to national and international efforts that set the standard of heart failure care for kids everywhere.
Your Child’s, and Family’s, Best Possible Life
We personalize our care to meet your family’s specific needs. Whether we’re preparing for transplant, recovering from treatment or preventing decline in heart function, your child’s quality of life is our focus.
We offer everything your child may need, in one place.
If your child needs a heart transplant in Delaware, they’ll have the same team, who knows their condition, following their care through transplant and beyond.
We participate in research and clinical trials, to further our understanding of heart disease and how best to prevent and treat it. We share what we know so all kids benefit.
We make life a little easier by scheduling visits on the same day and meeting you at locations that may be closer to home.
Our team contributes to national and international efforts that set the standard of heart failure care for kids everywhere.
Meet the Team
Nemours heart failure and cardiomyopathy teams are experienced and focused on your child's healthiest future. Meet them now.
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Carissa M. Baker-Smith, MD, MPH
Cardiology Director, Preventive Cardiology Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology at Thomas Jefferson UniversityPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE -
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 -
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 -
Aryaz Sheybani, MD
Cardiology Medical Director, Heart Transplant ProgramPrimary Office
Wilmington, DE
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Katherine T. Braley, MD
Cardiology Medical Director, Fetal Heart Program, Director of Fetal EchocardiographyPrimary Office
Orlando, FL
Programs & Services
Heart failure, or when the heart doesn’t pump blood like it should, can be caused by complex congenital heart diseases (conditions present at birth), genetic conditions and acquired heart diseases (conditions that happen over time), such as myocarditis. Cardiomyopathies involve the heart muscle and have different causes, some leading to heart failure.
We treat children with heart failure or at risk for heart failure in the future. In addition to heart disease, we care for kids with muscular dystrophy, metabolic disorders, genetic syndromes that affect the heart, those who’ve had cancer treatment, and many others. Highlights of our care include:
- Advanced cardiac imaging using 3D technologies, like heart CT, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), electrocardiography (EKG), echocardiography and others
- Exercise stress tests to asses heart and lung function
- Cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology procedures that use tiny tubes inserted into blood vessels to detect and/or treat conditions causing heart failure
- Nutrition assessment and counseling to help with feeding, eating healthy and managing fluids
- Medicines to help the heart pump better and reduce fluid buildup
- Cardiac rehabilitation programs with medically supervised therapies to prevent and manage heart failure symptoms
- Cardiac psychology services to help your family from diagnosis and beyond
- Pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), or devices inserted in the chest and belly to improve heartbeat and pumping action
- Cardiothoracic surgery to repair problems that cause heart failure
- Advanced life support with equipment that take over the heart’s pumping action, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VADs)
- Cardiac critical care and inpatient heart care specific to the needs of kids with complex heart conditions
- Heart transplant surgery available in Delaware
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
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.
Empowering You to Care for Your Child at Home
The Nemours inpatient heart care team helps you prepare for and manage your child’s care at home. We make sure you have everything you need, including training on devices, equipment and medicines before you leave.
