The Penn State Health Children’s Hospital Approach to Congenital Heart Surgery

At Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we are dedicated to helping your child live an active lifestyle. And whenever possible, we look for ways to treat your child’s congenital heart defect without surgery. When surgery is needed, we have the experience and expertise to help give you peace of mind.

Team Approach

When it comes to your child’s health, it takes a team trained in diagnosing and caring for heart defects that are present at birth. At Penn State Children’s Hospital you benefit from the combined experience of our multidisciplinary team of cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, critical care physicians, anesthesiologists, neonatologists and an entire support team dedicated to treating your child.

Patient-centered Care

Our dedicated team of congenital heart defect experts will listen to your goals for your child and create a treatment and rehabilitation plan designed to meet your child’s needs. We understand that no two children are alike, and believe each treatment plan should be personalized to meet your lifestyle goals.

Support for Your Child and Family  

At Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, our specially trained staff of Child Life specialists meet with each child to help them prepare for a surgery. Our specialists accompanying your child during before, during and after a surgery to provide coping strategies such as distraction, guided imagery, and deep breathing.

Why Choose Penn State Health Children’s Hospital for Congenital Heart Defect Surgery

Families from across the region come to us to get unmatched care and services for their child with congenital heart defects.

Nationally Recognized Care for Congenital Heart Disease

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital offers a level of expertise and breadth of services you won’t find anywhere else nearby. You can count on top-quality care from an experienced team. Penn State Health Children’s Heart Group is ranked among the Top 15 in the country for survival after a heart operation (Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Congenital Heart Surgery Database).

Innovative Research and Clinical Trials

Penn State Health Children’s Hospital is researching tomorrow’s treatments for congenital heart defects and heart surgery. At Penn State Health Children’s Hospital, we are dedicated to improving the understanding of diseases and enhancing treatment and prevention of childhood illnesses through our research. When you come here, you get the latest, researched-backed care. Find out if a clinical trial is right for you.

Related Services and Treatments

• Cardiology (Pediatric)
• Children's Heart Group
• Complex Care (Pediatric)
• Congenital Heart Disease
• Pediatric Surgery

Conditions Treated

Penn State Children’s Hospital provides care for a full-range of congenital heart defects, including:

• Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery
• Anomalous left coronary artery
• Aortic stenosis
• Aortopulmonary window
• Atrioventricular canal defect
• Atrial septal defect (ASD)
• Coartation of the aorta
• Congenital heart disease
• Coronary artery fistula
• Cortriatriatum
• Cyanotic congenital heart disease
• Double inlet left ventricle
• Ebstein's anomaly
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
• Kawasaki disease
• Left ventricular outflow tract obstruction
• Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation
• Pulmonary artesia
• Pulmonary valvotomy
• Pulmonic stenosis
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return
• Transposition of the Great Arteries
• Tricuspid artesia repair
• Tricuspid regurgitation
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD)

Our Experts in Pediatric Congenital Heart Care

The experts at Penn State Children’s Hospital are committed to providing our pediatric patients with comprehensive and multidisciplinary care.

Support Groups

Support groups provide children and their families an opportunity to connect with others in similar situations. Learn more about the support groups offered at Penn State Health Children’s Hospital.

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