Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Back to Taking Care of Me

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Jonathan Chen, MD
Surgical Director
Pediatric Heart Transplant Program
Columbia University Medical Center
In affiliation with Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian
Phone: 855-CUSURGE

Heart problems in children occur when the heart or a major blood vessel fails to mature normally during gestation. Known by the terms congenital heart defects or congenital heart disease, these problems are the leading cause of death from birth defects during the first year of life.

Many congenital heart defects are diagnosed in utero using ultrasound technology, or shortly after birth. After the baby is delivered, blood tests, as well heart-imaging techniques such as echocardiography are used to diagnose these problems.

Signs that a child may have a heart defect include:

Blue or gray skin color
Swelling in the abdomen, legs, or around the eyes
Labored breathing
Poor weight gain
Poor feeding

Some congenital heart defects can be controlled by medications. Some heal on their own—a hole between the heart's chambers may in some cases close up soon after birth. However, complex malformations such as an underdeveloped left ventricle may require multiple surgeries or a heart transplant.

While some pediatric heart surgeries require open heart surgery, a majority are now performed using minimally invasive techniques employing very small incisions and reducing the amount of time the child spends in the hospital.

One of the greatest challenges in pediatric heart transplant is the wait for a suitable donor heart. Our team has adapted an adult heart pump to support a child's heart until a donor heart can be located. After implantation with the pump, these children are able to resume many of their normal activities.

Fortunately, recent medical, diagnostic and surgical advances have greatly improved survival for children with congenital heart defects, and approximately 90% grow into adults capable of normal physical activity and longevity.

Quality of Life Interventions from the Columbia University Department of Surgery