Cardiothoracic Surgery
At the Cardiac Center, children with complex heart conditions who require surgery are treated by our expert team in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. The members of this world-renowned surgical team are pioneers in developing innovative surgical techniques, including improvements in heart-lung bypass and heart surgery, with outcomes among the best in the world.
Some patients require pediatric heart surgery within the first hours of life. Others undergo carefully orchestrated medical therapy for weeks or months before surgery. No matter when your child requires care — from before birth through infancy and young adulthood — we offer innovative technology, breakthrough research, state-of-the-art facilities and a full range of support services tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy and cardiac care journey.
How we serve you
Our Cardiac Center is one of the largest and most accomplished pediatric cardiac centers in North America. We are ranked among the best pediatric cardiac programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and Newsweek. We offer a wide range of specialized programs and support services to meet your child's unique needs.
Conditions we treat
Our Cardiac Center is ranked one of the best programs in the nation, with outcomes among the best in the world. We provide care and treatment for common, rare and complex heart conditions.
Not all the conditions listed here require surgical intervention. Each patient is evaluated by a multidisciplinary team of physicians, surgeons and other cardiac experts to determine the best course of treatment.
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Anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery (AAOCA) -
Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery -
Aortic regurgitation -
Aortic stenosis -
Atrial septal defect -
Atrioventricular canal (AVC) defects -
Coarctation of the aorta -
Congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries -
Cor triatriatum -
Double inlet left ventricle -
Double outlet right ventricle -
Ebstein’s anomaly of the tricuspid valve -
Heart failure -
Child heart transplant -
Heterotaxy syndrome (isomerism) -
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) -
Interruption of the aortic arch -
Mitral valve defects -
Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) -
Pulmonary atresia -
Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA IVS) -
Pulmonary regurgitation -
Pulmonary stenosis -
Pulmonary vein stenosis -
Single ventricle heart defects -
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) -
Total anomalous pulmonary venous return (TAPVR) -
Transposition of the great arteries (TGA) -
Tricuspid atresia -
Truncus arteriosus -
Vascular ring -
Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
Why choose us for cardiothoracic surgery
CHOP’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is one of the highest volume centers in North America, performing more than 525 open cardiac procedures and nearly 900 total cases each year at both CHOP and the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (where we perform approximately 60 adult congenital heart disease operations annually).
We offer specialized programs to address a wide range of conditions, with treatments that begin before birth, a world-class cardiac intensive care unit and close monitoring and follow-up as your child grows. And our outcomes are among the best in the world.
Meet your team
Your child will be cared for by one of the most accomplished cardiothoracic surgical teams in the world. We make sure you and your child will get the highest level of support.
Cardiac Center resources
We know that caring for a child with a heart condition can be stressful. To help you find answers to your questions – either before or after visiting the Cardiac Center – we’ve created this list of educational health resources.
Patient stories
Patient outcomes: by the numbers
Our survival rates (surgical outcomes) are among the best in the world, placing us in the top tier of pediatric cardiac programs. We also perform nearly 900 pediatric cardiothoracic surgeries each year.