Pediatric Heart Surgery

At the University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's Hospital, the safest, most advanced surgical options for the treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease are available to children of any age, even the tiniest newborns. Our pediatric heart surgeons have special expertise in complex and high-risk cases — cases that in the recent past were considered inoperable. We treat problems early in an effort to reduce unnecessary complications that can arise as the child grows.

Advanced Treatment Options

Comer Children's cardiac surgeons perform the full range of surgeries to treat pediatric heart problems and congenital heart defects, including the arterial switch procedure and "redo" reconstructive procedures in teens and adults who have had prior surgeries for congenital heart disease.

Selecting the Best Treatment Method

Before surgery is considered, our specialists review all of the available options to determine the best treatment for your child's heart problem. In some cases, children referred for surgery can be treated with catheter-based interventions — procedures that are less invasive than traditional surgery.

Minimally Invasive Pediatric Heart Surgery

Cardiac surgeons at the Comer Children's are able to operate on the hearts of children through tiny openings in the chest, eliminating the need for sternotomy — a large incision through the breastbone (sternum). This method of surgery, called minimally invasive cardiac surgery, is a remarkable improvement over traditional, open-chest procedures. Surgeons use sophisticated thin instruments and miniature cameras to perform the operations.

Benefits of Minimally Invasive Surgery

The benefits of minimally invasive surgery are sometimes the most evident in children. Because this advanced technique does not alter the breastbone and minimizes damage to healthy tissue, children have less post-surgical complications as they grow.

The benefits of minimally invasive cardiac surgery can be many, including:

A few small incisions, instead of a long incision through the breastbone. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery requires little or no cutting of the breastbone or ribs.
Less damage to tissue and muscle
Less pain
Less scarring
Less blood loss
Shorter stay in the hospital
Faster return to normal activities
Elimination of a cardiopulmonary bypass (heart-lung) machine, in some cases. By avoiding the bypass machine, patients are not exposed to the extra risks associated with bypass, such as clots.

Heart Conditions for Minimally Invasive Surgery

Our team has experience treating many types of congenital and acquired heart problems using minimally invasive techniques. Some conditions successfully treated with minimally invasive surgery include:

Atrial septal defect
Mitral valve regurgitation or stenosis
Patent ductus arteriosus
Sinus venosus defect
Tricuspid valve regurgitation or stenosis
Vascular ring disorders
Ventricular septal defect

Meet Our Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Team

Narutoshi Hibino, MD, PhD

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Luca Vricella, MD

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

Comprehensive Pediatric Cardiology Care

Image of pediatric hematology patient smiling with mother

Get a Second Opinion

Pediatric patient Drew Mastrino and his mom, Kristina Mastrino of Naperville, Il, on January 16, 2013. Drew is treated at Comer Children's Hospital by pediatric gastroenterologist TImothy Sentongo, MD, for an allergic condition called eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE).

Meet our Pediatric Heart Care Team

Find a Clinical Trial

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