Pediatric Cardiology
- About Us
- Our Care
- Your Visit
Trusted Experts in Pediatric Heart Care
Nemours Children’s pediatric and congenital cardiologists care for children and young adults’ hearts, from before birth to age 40. We’re recognized around the world for our expertise in the full range of congenital (present at birth) and acquired (happens over time) heart conditions.
As part of renowned pediatric heart centers in Delaware and Florida, we offer the most advanced heart care for kids. In fact, we’re named among the best in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. Our team is well-known in the areas of fetal heart medicine, electrophysiology, interventional catheterization, cardiac imaging, sports cardiology, cardiovascular genetics, adult congenital heart disease, heart health and more.
Our specialists work as an integrated team with surgeons, cardiac critical care specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, geneticists, psychologists, and many others to care for kids with complex heart and blood vessel conditions. We go beyond mending hearts to tend to the developmental and mental health needs of children and families.
In addition to providing excellent care, Nemours cardiologists are researchers, bringing our discoveries directly to patients. We’re also educators, training the next generation of pediatricians and cardiologists. And we’re outside our doors, helping kids in the community stay healthy and strong.
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.
“Knowing that I had good doctors and nurses to take care of me helped me not feel so alone during the entire process.”
“What an amazing experience. I felt special!”
“They speculated about dehydration and anxiety. But I had seen it happening. I knew something was wrong.”
Team-Based Heart Expertise, Just for Kids
Our heart specialists work together to plan treatment, so your child always gets our very best. We’re here for their whole, healthiest life.
2
Nationally known pediatric heart centers, in Delaware and Florida
45,000+
Children we care for each year
39
Heart specialists on our team
We help kids throughout the state of Florida, addressing their special needs as they get older.
Our team is part of national efforts that set the standard of heart care for kids everywhere.
We help kids and families reduce the risk for future heart disease healthy living programs and initiatives.
Our interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists are highly experienced in complex procedures.
We work with providers in more than 30 other pediatric specialties on-site. Your child can get a broad range of care all in one system.
Team-Based Heart Expertise, Just for Kids
Our heart specialists work together to plan treatment, so your child always gets our very best. We’re here for their whole, healthiest life.
2
Nationally known pediatric heart centers, in Delaware and Florida
45,000+
Children we care for each year
39
Heart specialists on our team
We focus solely on children and address their special growth and development needs as they get older.
Our team leads national organizations and efforts that set the standard of heart care for kids everywhere.
We help kids and families reduce the risk for future heart disease with programs and community-based healthy living initiatives.
We lead life-changing research and clinical trials, like how genes affect heart disease in children and better ways to detect, treat and prevent it.
Our interventional cardiologists and electrophysiologists have outcomes that are among the best in the nation.
Our Chief
Shubhika Srivastava, MD is the chief of cardiology and co-director of the Nemours Cardiac Center, Delaware Valley. See how her leadership makes a difference in the lives of children.
Programs & Services
Pediatric cardiologists at Nemours provide the full spectrum of care with other specialists and highly skilled cardiac advanced practice providers and nurses.
We have specialized training to detect and manage the most complex heart conditions in dedicated programs. Highlights include:
- Care that starts in the womb including fetal echocardiography and care planning for newborns and lasts through adulthood to age 40
- Prevention and heart healthy living programs to help kids grow into healthy adults
- Dedicated cardiovascular genetics program for diagnosing and managing heart disease with a genetic cause
- Advanced heart imaging including 3D technologies, heart CT, heart MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), echocardiography (echo) and others
- Exercise stress tests, such as stress echo, cardiopulmonary stress tests and more
- Innovative catheterization/interventional cardiology and electrophysiology programs to detect and treat conditions like holes in the heart and heart valve or rhythm problems
- Integrated heart programs for kids with coronary anomalies, pulmonary hypertension, lymphatics disorders, neuromuscular disorders, genetic conditions like Williams syndrome, dysautonomia, and heart care for cancer survivors
- Heart failure care dedicated to children with highly complex conditions
- Sports cardiology care designed for student athletes at risk for, or living with, heart conditions
- Cardiac rehabilitation and fitness programs with exercise therapies, counseling and nutrition support to build strength and heart health
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
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.
Your Child’s First Cardiology Appointment
Before your child meets with our cardiology team, they’ll need an electrocardiogram (EKG) and an echocardiogram (also called an echo). When you call, we’ll schedule your child’s tests and their first appointment. After your visit, the cardiologist may recommend more tests.
We work to schedule everything within a few days of your first call. Our cardiology team sees patients at the hospital and at many satellite offices in the area. Depending on where you live, we may see you in an office closer to home.
Learn more.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) measures and records your child’s heart activity. It’s quick and painless.
What to Expect
- Small stickers, or electrodes, are placed on the skin.
- The electrodes are attached to a machine that measures the heart’s rhythm.
- The test only takes a few minutes.
Echocardiogram
An echo is an ultrasound of the heart. It uses a wand, or transducer, that detects soundwaves to make an image. There are different types of echocardiograms. The transthoracic echo, or TTE is the most common.
What to Expect
- For a TTE echo, the wand is passed lightly on the outside of the body on the chest.
- The test can take 30 minutes to an hour to complete.
- If you think your child needs sedation to stay still, please let us know before your appointment. Sedation requires special fasting instructions and recovery time.
Learn More