A team of experienced pediatric cardiac surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, pediatric cardiologists, and pediatric cardiac intensivists work closely together to care for infants, children and young adults undergoing cardiac surgery. Nurses, respiratory therapists, child life specialists and social workers dedicated to the care of critically ill children attend to every need of the child undergoing heart surgery as well as the needs of the family.

Over 500 children undergo heart surgery annually at Vanderbilt. Operations range from fairly straightforward closures of atrial or ventricular septal defects (ASDs or VSDs) to very complex operations including Norwood operation, Fontan operation and cardiac transplantation. In addition, a comprehensive program for catheter based therapies for structural and electrophysiological abnormalities is available, including new hybrid strategies (combined surgical and catheter based approaches) for congenital heart diseases.

Following heart surgery, infants and children make their initial recovery in the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit in an area dedicated to the care of children with heart disease. Learn what to expect in the PCICU.

After a brief period (usually one to three days) in the PCICU, patients are moved to private rooms. Most children spend less than a week in the hospital after surgery. Upon discharge, we will arrange a follow-up appointment with the surgeon. The child's pediatric cardiologist, either at Vanderbilt or elsewhere, will continue to see the child in follow-up.