Pediatric Heart Surgery
Full-spectrum surgical care for pediatric heart disease
When it’s your child, no surgery is routine. Children’s Hospital has one of the most experienced pediatric heart surgery teams in the nation. We provide surgical care for children with congenital heart problems. Our heart surgeries range from closures of septal defects to very complex procedures, including Norwood and Fontan operations and heart transplants.
We perform surgeries at Children’s Hospital in Nashville. We are able to see patients before and after surgery at several locations across Middle Tennessee.
Conditions We Treat
Meet Your Care Team
David P. BichellMD
- Adult Congenital Heart and Valve Disease, Cardiac Surgery, Cardiac/Heart Transplantation, Congenital Heart Diseases, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Heart Transplant, Pediatric Surgery
Karla G. ChristianMD
- Cardiac/Heart Transplantation, Congenital Heart Diseases, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Heart Transplant, Pediatric Surgery
Nhue L. DoMD
- Cardiac/Heart Transplantation, Congenital Heart Diseases, ECMO and Critical Care, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Surgery
Why choose the Heart Surgery Program at Children’s Hospital
- Proven outcomes
Children's Hospital has three cardiac surgeons who perform more than 600 operations annually, making ours one of the top ten busiest congenital heart surgery programs in the United States, according to STS. Even taking into account the most complex patients, Children's Hospital has a greater than 97-percent survival rate.
- Dedicated intensive care
Following heart surgery, children go to our Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. Unlike ICUs in adult hospitals, our unit includes equipment sized just for kids, and experts who are specialists in caring for children with heart disease.
- Coordinated care
Our doctors, nurses and staff work closely together to develop a personalized care plan for your child. We also work closely with your pediatrician to provide your child with seamless ongoing care.
- Experienced care
Children’s Hospital is a part of the Vanderbilt Heart Transplant program, performing more heart transplants than any other program in the world.
- Specialized anesthesiology care
Our team of pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists and cardiac certified registered nurse anesthetists have specialized training and experience in providing anesthetics during heart surgeries for children. We carefully select these experts to join the Children's Hospital staff after they complete years of additional training in this field.
Tests, Treatments and Services
- Aortic valve replacements
- Fontan surgery
- Mitral valve repairs