Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at
St. Vincent Children's Heart Center
The Cardiovascular Center at St. Vincent Hospital is the largest in the state
of Indiana and is consistently ranked as one of the top heart programs in the
country by organizations such as the US News and World Report. Our goal is to
provide the highest quality care for patients undergoing reconstructive cardiac
surgery and transplantation. The facilities available to accomplish these goals
at the Children's Heart Center include:
- Two pediatric cardiovascular surgical suites
- Dedicated pediatric perfusion and OR personnel
- Pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratories
- Pediatric intensive care unit
- Highest volume neonatal intensive care unit in the state of Indiana
State-of-the-art technologies available to support the surgical program include:
- Nitric oxide to treat pulmonary hypertension
- High frequency ventilation
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
The pediatric cardiac surgical program brings together numerous pediatric
specialists who are trained in providing peri-operative care for children
undergoing heart surgery along with the support systems only available at a
major cardiovascular center. The program has an interest and expertise in
providing surgical care for patients with congenital heart disease from the
newborn period through adulthood.
A multidisciplinary team from cardiovascular surgery, cardiology, pediatric
anesthesia and critical care provide around-the-clock care of your child during
and following surgery. Only fully trained board-certified physicians are
entrusted in the care of your child. These physicians in conjunction with
intensive care nurses meet daily to evaluate your child's need and create an
optimal plan for his recovery.
After surgery, our policy of 24-hour visitation allows parents to remain with their child in the critical phase of recovery. Family sleep rooms are available in the hospital and at the Marten House, a hotel on the St. Vincent Hospital campus.
Dr. Simon Abraham heads the pediatric cardiovascular program. Dr. Abraham obtained his surgical training at Johns Hopkins. He underwent further speciality training in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Michigan. He has held faculty positions at Johns Hopkins and the University of Kentucky. He is joined by an OR team with extensive pediatric surgical experience.
Educational Material for Families
Pre-operative Instructions for Heart Surgery
Home Care After Heart Surgery
Guide for Parents of Children Having Heart Surgery
