Heart Surgery

Excellence in Pediatric Heart Surgery

Pediatric heart surgeon wears a mask and looks down as he operates.

At Nemours, our cardiac surgeons have the experience, skills and advanced technology required to provide swift diagnosis and repair in children of all ages with heart disease. We specialize in complex congenital (present at birth) heart disease (often called “congenital heart defects”), offering first-class pediatric heart surgery as well as minimally invasive surgical approaches and hybrid techniques (that combine traditional surgery with interventional catheterization techniques).

Conditions We Treat

We see a full spectrum of conditions — far too many to list here. The conditions we treat vary depending upon the location and providers selected. Don’t see a condition listed? Call us.

anomalous coronary artery
anomalous origin of the pulmonary artery
aortic disease
aortic stenosis
aortopulmonary (AP) window
atrial septal defect (ASD)
atrioventricular canal defect
cardiomyopathy
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
heart murmurs
heterotaxy syndrome
high blood pressure and cholesterol
hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)
hypoplastic left heart syndrome
interrupted aortic arch
levo-transposition of the great arteries
myocarditis
partially anomalous pulmonary venous return (PAPVR)
patent ductus arteriosus (PDA)
pulmonary artery sling
pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS)
pulmonary embolism
pulmonary hypertension
pulmonary stenosis
pulmonary valve regurgitation
restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM)
single ventricle physiology and palliation
tetralogy of Fallot
total anomalous pulmonary venous return
transposition of the great arteries
tricuspid atresia
truncus arteriosus
unroofed coronary sinus syndrome
vascular ring anomaly
ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Why Choose Us

World-class heart care requires an experienced team with the compassion to understand your family's journey, and the expertise to heal even the most complex conditions. At Nemours, we're here every step of the way — from diagnosis to treatment and beyond. Our cardiac surgeons treat a vast array of heart defects in infants, children and teens, using the most innovative, up-to-date approaches. Our specialty is the early detection and repair of heart problems, so your child will have the best possible chance for a healthy future.

Regional Pediatric Heart Surgery Highlights

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

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

We offer comprehensive pediatric heart surgery at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.), as well as consults and follow-ups at select Nemours duPont Pediatrics satellite 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 cardiothoracic 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 surveys, 100 percent of our patients said they would recommend us)
Magnet status for nursing excellence, the nation’s highest nursing credential
pioneering pediatric cardiology research, collaborating with researchers locally and nationally
one of only a few children’s hospitals nationwide named a Pediatric Heart Failure Institute by the Healthcare Accreditation Colloquium
state-of-the-art surgical suite (used exclusively for children with heart problems)
excellence in pediatric heart surgery, especially in treating single-ventricle defects (when babies are born with one working ventricle instead of two; includes defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome)
dedicated cardiac anesthesiologists, available to provide anesthesia or sedation for cardiac or noncardiac procedures and to deliver the special care children with heart conditions need
heart transplant expertise, with the experience and resources to support transplant recipients in the short- and long-term
mechanical circulatory support (including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation/ECMO to take the place of children’s heart and lung functions if their own hearts are failing)
Award for Excellence in Life Support from the international Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) in 2013
only hospital in the region with an ECMO transport program
complete electrophysiology care to diagnose and treat arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms)
fully equipped pediatric cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)
Ronald McDonald House of Delaware , located across the street from the hospital for long hospital stays

Featured Programs

We offer specialized programs such as:

Aortic Disease
Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiovascular Genetics
ECMO Transport
Electrophysiology & Arrhythmia
Fetal Heart
Heart Transplants & Heart Failure
Mechanical Circulatory Support
Muscular Dystrophy Cardiomyopathy
Nemours Kids Transport
Neurodevelopmental Evaluation & Consultation
Pulmonary Hypertension
Surgical Home

Learn More About…

Central Florida

We offer comprehensive pediatric heart surgery at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando), as well as consults and follow-ups at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care satellite locations.

physicians named Best Doctors in America®, year after year
focus on achieving the best possible outcomes, with participation in the national congenital heart surgery database for the Society for Thoracic Surgery (STS)
skilled management of single-ventricle defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
expertise in neonatal surgery (operations on newborns)
surgical treatment for heart failure and post-heart transplantation care (mechanical circulatory support and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, or ECMO)
heart valve repair and replacement
aortic surgery (surgery of the largest blood vessel coming from the heart)
thoracic surgery (chest surgery)
electrophysiology and arrhythmia expertise in diagnosing and treating heart rhythm problems
dedicated cardiac anesthesiologists
state-of-the-art cardiac intensive care unit (CICU)
Ronald McDonald House at Nemours Children’s Hospital for long hospital stays