Cardiac Center

The NeuroCardiac Care Program (NCCP)

Children with complex congenital heart defects (CHD) are now surviving neonatal and infant surgery with a frequency thought to be impossible only a generation ago.

In the United States, over 35,000 infants are born each year with CHD, and more than a third of these infants are expected to undergo temporary or corrective surgical interventions in the first year of life.

Advances in medicine and surgery have allowed the ability to “mend” children born with CHD. The increasing number of survivors has created a growing population of children entering our school systems. As these children grow, so does our understanding of and attention to the long-term effects of their disease and treatment. We are discovering that at least half of children with complex CHD experience problems, ranging from very mild to more significant, related to neurodevelopmental issues.

As a group, children with complex CHD (CHD severe enough to require surgery, or other interventions, in the first few months of life) have a higher likelihood of academic, behavioral and coordination problems compared to children without CHD. This does not mean that all children with CHD have these difficulties, but the number of children is much higher than that seen in the general population. Importantly, children with less severe forms of CHD are much less likely to have neurodevelopmental delays.

As a world leader in pediatric cardiac care, we believe it is our responsibility at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to continue pioneering care for these children.

The NeuroCardiac Care Program (NCCP) at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia was created to provide screening, evaluation and ongoing coordinated care for CHD children who are at risk for neurodevelopmental issues. These can include problems affecting:

Program highlights

Identifying problems early offers the best opportunity for intervention and treatment, to help each child develop to his or her fullest potential. The NCCP offers comprehensive evaluations at scheduled intervals and care coordination that includes:

Care is provided by an interdisciplinary team, bringing together the expertise of many specialists including:

The NCCP supplements the care from a child's primary physician and pediatric cardiologist. Our team is focused on the neurological aspects of your child's development. We partner and communicate frequently with a child's other care providers on a routine basis.

Hope for every child

The outlook for our children with CHD remains quite optimistic. The best way to improve the outcomes for future generations is a continued partnership between patients, parents, researchers, nurses and physicians.

Advocacy at the government level for continued research funding by physicians, parents and patients is crucial to continue to pursue the causes and treatment of heart disease in children, as well as the secondary effects on the brain and quality of life. Philanthropic contributions play a significant role in start-up funds for research as well.

Finally, if families and children are willing, voluntary participation in clinical research studies remains the cornerstone of the process. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia provides a unique setting for the NeuroCardiac Care Program, with its combination of exceptional patient care resources and exceptional research capabilities.

Contact us

Enrollment in the NeuroCardiac Care Program is being offered initially to selected young infants with complex CHD who have been cared for in CHOP’s Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. As the program grows, we plan to enroll older children and those not previously seen at CHOP.

To learn more about the program, please contact Jean M. Carroll, RN, MSN, Program Manager, at 267-426-8186 or carrollj@email.chop.edu.

  • Print
  • Share

Contact Us

For more information on our services or to schedule an appointment.

Get Driving Directions