When a child or teen has a condition that affects the arteries and veins (also called the vascular system), vascular surgery can be a potential treatment option as part of their care plan. Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is the only hospital in the Philadelphia region and one of the only pediatric centers in the world to offer a dedicated vascular surgery team for children and teens.

Our pediatric center of excellence is one of the few to offer:

• Large team of experts with vast experience helping children with vascular disease and the unique needs that come with these conditions.
• Multidisciplinary evaluation by a team of experts who will examine your child very carefully to find out exactly what kind of vascular disease they have. This helps us make sure we know the best way to help your child.
• Treatment plan made just for your child based on what your child needs and what you are worried about.

Our team has extensive experience helping kids with all kinds of blood vessel problems. We work together to give your child and your family very careful and special care. We continue to support your child as they grow up. Our goal is to make sure we take care of all your child’s needs, no matter how simple or complex their condition might be.

Conditions we treat

Many conditions can lead to problems with the arteries and veins that make up the vascular system. Our specialists provide medical, surgical, and minimally invasive care for a wide variety of these conditions.

Listed below are some of the conditions we treat:

• Renovascular hypertension This is high blood pressure caused by abnormal blood flow to the kidneys. There are many causes of pediatric renovascular hypertension. Some of them include middle aortic syndrome/aortic coarctation (a narrowing of the artery in the belly) and fibromuscular dysplasia (a condition that causes narrowing of arteries in the body). Renovascular hypertension is a rare illness in children and can lead to serious problems if not treated. We use different tests to find out what's causing it and then decide on the best treatment. This might include procedures to open up the narrowed blood vessels or even surgery.
• Arterial aneurysms. This is when the arteries get wider (dilate). It can happen in the aorta, the arteries in the arms and legs, and the neck. Many conditions that are there since birth (congenital) or caused by inflammation can lead to this in children. Some of the conditions we treat include neurofibromatosis, Williams syndrome, tuberous sclerosis and polyarteritis nodosa. Inflammatory conditions we treat include Takayasu arteritis, Kawasaki disease, collagen vascular diseases such as Marfan’s and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and infections. It's important to find and treat this early to prevent serious problems. We will do different tests to find out what's causing it and then decide on the best treatment. This might include medicine or procedures to fix the widened arteries.
   
• Thoracic outlet syndrome. This is a condition where the nerves or blood vessels between the first rib and the collarbone get pressed on (compressed). There are three types:
  • Venous/Pagett-Schroetter syndrome/Effort thrombosis. This problem occurs when the veins and nerves in the shoulder get squished. It can happen if you do the same arm movements repeatedly. The blood clot can cause your arm to swell up and hurt.
  • Neurogenic. In this condition, the brachial plexus (the main nerves to the upper extremity) is compressed, leading to chronic pain and decreased function of the upper extremity.
  • Arterial aneurysms. In this condition, the artery is compressed, leading to a lack of blood flow to the upper extremity and, at times, the development of an aneurysm in the subclavian/axillary artery.
• Vascular malformations and venous disorders. This includes varicose veins.
• Vascular trauma. When an artery or vein experiences some sort of injury.

Multidisciplinary care

Children with vascular problems get better when different kinds of doctors work together. At CHOP, the first thing we do for a child with a vascular issue is to check them in many ways. We are experts in kids' health and work as a team.

Your child's care may include specialists from general surgery, nephrology, interventional radiology, cardiology, cardiac surgery, hematology, and genetics who know a lot about surgery, heart problems, and blood diseases. They all work together to give each child the best care. We will keep a close watch on your child for a long time to make sure they stay healthy. This means your child will get the best care possible.

Meet Our Team

Alexander Fairman, MD
Director of Pediatric Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy

Sylvia Witek, MSN, CRNP
Nurse Practitioner

Robin Cook, MS, RD, CSP, LDN
Clinical Dietitian

Tracy Brister
Administrative Assistant

Lori Mazza
OR Scheduler

Contact us

Whether your child was just diagnosed with a vascular disorder or you’ve been on this journey for a while and are looking for a second opinion, we are here to help.