Newborn Heart Surgery
Congenital Heart Surgery for the Tiniest Hearts
When our littlest patients need surgery for a heart or blood vessel condition they’re born with, they’re in expert hands. Our team is recognized around the world for giving newborns with even the most complex conditions the best possible chance to live — and live well.
As part of award-winning pediatric heart centers in Delaware and Florida, our newborn surgery survival rates are among the highest in the nation. We have vast expertise in early repair and use innovative technologies such as advanced imaging, 3D heart modelling and more. We’re also researching ways to make surgery safer for babies and how to protect their physical and mental health during development.
Our cardiothoracic surgery team works closely with experts in fetal heart specialists, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiac critical care intensivists, cardiovascular genetics specialists, neonatologists, cardiac psychologists, and many others to plan treatment. Our nurses and advanced practice providers are highly skilled. As a team, we’re here before baby’s birth up to age 40.
If your baby needs surgery right after birth, we plan for safe, immediate transport to our hospitals. Healthy moms may even deliver at our hospital in Delaware. When minutes matter, you can trust our team.
Our Services
Nemours Children’s cardiothoracic surgeons care for every congenital heart condition in newborns, including single ventricle defects, transposition of the great arteries, Ebstein anomaly, tracheal disorders and more.
We work to completely correct congenital heart defects in newborns when we can. Early primary repair may mean babies have fewer surgeries and can get back to health, and bonding with parents, sooner.
We perform a broad range of congenital heart defect surgeries in newborns to:
- Repair or close holes between heart chambers
- Open or widen narrow or blocked blood vessels or arteries
- Correct single ventricle heart defects that cause abnormal blood flow
- Repair or replace heart valves that don’t work the way they should
- Reconnect or redirect blood vessels for better blood flow
- Reduce pressure on the heart and lungs
- Implant a pacemaker to correct heart rhythm problems
- Repair or reconstruct the trachea or windpipe
- Repair complex heart defects
Our team protects and strengthens your baby’s health before and after heart surgery. In addition to support services like Child Life, social work and cardiac psychology counseling for the whole family, Nemours provides:
- Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program to improve healing and cardiac surgery success
- Single ventricle interstage program with at home monitoring to care for your baby between single ventricle surgeries
- Cardiac neurodevelopmental program to protect your child’s development and learning
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.
“The cardiac center and the hospital are just outstanding. There's no way to adequately express what Nemours means to us."
“He gave us three scenarios for the delivery. We chose the Norwood three-stage procedure to correct the defect.”
“We are grateful that this skilled team produced such a great outcome for Capucine. Her incision has healed beautifully, and she is developing quite normally.”
- Learning delays
- Heart Smart
- Respiratory System
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
Leading Heart Care, From the Start
After congenital heart surgery, we’re here for your baby as they grow through adulthood. This seamless, ongoing care means we’re always working for your child’s best life.
We report our outcome data to a national database and compare our outcomes against national averages.
We offer advanced life support and the highest level neonatal critical care available.
Nemours is researching technologies and methods that improve survival. We share our expertise so newborns everywhere can benefit.
Leading Heart Care, From the Start
After congenital heart surgery, we’re here for your baby as they grow through adulthood. This seamless, ongoing care means we’re always working for your child’s best life.
Our newborn surgical outcomes rival the largest heart centers, with survival rates that are better than national averages.
Families and providers around the world seek our surgical expertise. Our second opinion program helps you make the best decisions for your family.
We offer advanced life support and the highest level neonatal critical care available.
We perform research to develop technologies and methods that improve survival. We share our expertise so newborns everywhere can benefit.
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.
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.