The WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center is home to pediatric heart specialists who are trained to provide answers and solutions to ease parents’ fears and create positive outcomes for their kids.
Our comprehensive team of leading heart specialists are equipped with the knowledge and experience to fix or manage even the most serious conditions. Thanks to the technology, tools, and talent available within the WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center, we can diagnose and treat heart problems early — giving children the best chance to live long, healthy lives - and we continue to care for patients into adulthood.
Modern pediatric heart treatments are safer and more effective than ever before, and you’ll find them right here in West Virginia at WVU Medicine Children’s Hospital.
Why Choose WVU Medicine Children’s Heart Center
Without proper treatment, heart problems can affect a child’s health, development, and long-term quality of life. That’s why it’s important to seek care and advice from experts who have a deep understanding of these conditions — and the best ways to manage them.
Families across the region turn to us for care because we offer:
Less invasive treatment options: We offer a range of nonsurgical treatments for heart conditions. For example, we can close a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants as small as 700 grams (about 1.5 pounds) using catheters and a tiny mesh device. Another option is the Harmony Valve, a minimally invasive procedure for pulmonary valve replacement in patients with congenital heart defects. These innovations reduce the need for traditional surgery, providing safer and less invasive care for our patients.
Pacemaker care: In addition to performing pacemaker implantation, we offer in-person and remote monitoring through our pediatric pacemaker clinic.
Specialized intensive care: Our eight-bed Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) provides specialized, 24/7 care for children recovering from heart surgery or managing serious heart conditions. Staffed by a team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants with advanced training in cardiac critical care, the CICU is equipped to handle critically ill patients, including those needing advanced interventions like ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation). Our team ensures the highest level of care throughout each child’s recovery, both before and after surgery.
Advanced heart and lung support: We offer extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) for children who need cardiac or respiratory support after surgery or a life-threatening illness. Blood is pumped from the body into a machine, mixed with oxygen, and pumped back into the body. The machine takes over for the heart and lungs, giving them time to rest and recover.
Access to research: Families who want to give their child the opportunity to test promising new treatments for heart conditions have access to clinical trials.
Heart Care for Kids of All Ages (and Kids at Heart)
Our Heart Center has all the medical, surgical, and support services your child may need — all under one roof. Our pediatric and adult subspecialty programs include:
- Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) care: Our ACHD specialists care for adults who were born with heart defects and need lifelong follow-up care to maintain their heart health.
- Cardiac Anesthesiology: Pediatric cardiac anesthesia specialists provide expert care for children undergoing heart procedures, ensuring their safety and comfort throughout surgery with specialized anesthesia tailored to their unique needs.
- Cardiac Catheterization: Doctors called interventional cardiologists use thin, hollow tubes (catheters) to diagnose and treat heart problems without surgery.
- Cardiac imaging: We offer the latest noninvasive procedures to diagnose heart problems. These include fetal echocardiograms, cardiac CT, and cardiac MRI.
- Cardiac Intensive Care Unit: Our Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) team provides specialized, around-the-clock care for children with cardiac conditions, both before and after heart surgery. They are equipped to manage critically ill patients, including those requiring advanced support such as ECMO (Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation), ensuring the highest level of care during recovery.
- Cardiogenetic services: Our cardiogenetic clinic serves children and families who have (or are at risk) for hereditary heart problems such as inherited arrhythmias. Knowing your child’s family history and genetic profile helps us customize their care.
- Cardiology: Our general cardiologists provide routine heart care, including prescribing medications and can coordinate referrals for advanced treatments.
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing: This diagnostic procedure helps us assess how well your child’s heart and lungs function during physical activity.
- Electrophysiology (arrhythmia care): Our arrhythmia specialists, also known as electrophysiologists, offer services ranging from Holter monitoring and stress tests to pacemaker placement and monitoring.
- Comprehensive Cardiac Diagnostics and Testing: Comprehensive cardiac diagnostic and monitoring services offer a full range of testing to evaluate and monitor heart health. These services include ardiac imaging, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, stress testing, echocardiogram, Holter monitoring, and EKG.
- Electrophysiology (arrhythmia care): Our Fetal Cardiac Clinic offers specialized care for unborn babies to assess and diagnose heart conditions.
- Fetal Cardiac Clinic: Our Electrophysiology specialists provide expert care for children with heart rhythm disorders, such as arrhythmias.
- Heart surgery: Our cardiac surgeons provide expert surgical care for the full spectrum of congenital heart defects.
- Lipid Clinic: Our pediatric lipid clinic provides specialized care for children with abnormal cholesterol and lipid levels.
- Pacemaker Clinic: Our clinic provides specialized care for children with pacemakers, offering comprehensive monitoring and adjustments to ensure optimal device performance.
- Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic: This clinic offers specialized care for children with pulmonary hypertension, focusing on comprehensive management in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.
- Single Ventricle Care: Our Single Ventricle Clinic provides highly specialized care for babies born with single ventricle heart defects, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome. These children often require a series of heart surgeries and need critical care and support to maintain their health between procedures. Through comprehensive management and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team, we ensure the best possible outcomes for your child throughout their treatment journey.
