Multidisciplinary and Collaborative Care
Our interventional cardiologists closely collaborate with pediatric cardiologists, pediatric cardiac surgeons, pediatric anesthesiologists, pediatric electrophysiologists, and pediatric cardiac nurses to provide your child with the safest, most advanced treatment available.
Pediatric Hybrid Heart Surgery
At the NewYork-Presbyterian Congenital Heart Center, each patient is evaluated for less invasive treatment options first. In some cases, a hybrid approach -- conventional surgery in conjunction with minimally invasive, catheter-based interventional approaches -- may enable the team to treat a condition with a single operation rather than a series of surgeries, or to treat conditions that would otherwise be inoperable. These less invasive alternatives use a much smaller incision through the breast bone or right chest, with the advantage of less pain, avoidance of cardiopulmonary bypass, faster return to normal activities and cosmetic advantages.
The Congenital Heart Center is one of a few US centers offering hybrid heart surgery to infants and children. These techniques are performed in a combined procedure with a cardiothoracic surgeon and an interventional cardiologist working side-by-side in the same operating room.
Seamless Care Throughout the Lifespan
With specialized training in pediatric cardiology, our interventional cardiologists understand the complex medical needs of people who were born with congenital heart defects, which often require follow up for life. Our interventional cardiologists form relationships with their pediatric patients and continue to perform procedures in patients after they have transitioned to adult cardiology care.
Thoughtful and Compassionate Care
We care for you promptly, thoroughly, and with the thoughtfulness and compassion that you and your child deserve. As a parent or caregiver, we consider you to be part of your child's team. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have and let us know how we can support you and your family during this experience
Treatments and Procedures We Offer
Our experienced interventional cardiologists perform a wide range of cardiac catheterization procedures in children, including:
- Transcatheter valve implantation (pulmonary valve, tricuspid valve, and others)
- Stent implantation and/or balloon angioplasty to open narrowed arteries and systemic and pulmonary veins, pulmonary arteries, aorta, and other vascular structures
- Recanalization of completely occluded vessels or atretic valves through radiofrequency perforation
- Device closure of atrial and ventricular septal defects, patent foramen ovale (PFO), and Fontan fenestrations
- Balloon valvuloplasty of all cardiac valves (aortic, pulmonary, mitral, tricuspid)
- Balloon dilation and/or stent implantation for treatment of coarctation of the aorta
- Insertion of Impella Ventricular Support Systems for left and right ventricular dysfunction
- Atrial septoplasty for patients with severe pulmonary hypertension and on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
- Balloon atrial septostomy to improve oxygen mixing within the heart
- Percutaneous patent arterial duct closure
- Hybrid therapies such as periventricular closure of muscular VSDs in small infants, hybrid palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), and intraoperative stent placement
