Congenital Heart Disease

Treatment of Children

Mayo Clinic has been treating congenital heart disease in children and adolescents for more than 50 years. Mayo Clinic physicians and scientists have contributed many new developments in the treatment of these diseases, among them helping to create the subspeciality of pediatric cardiology. (See list of milestones in the treatment of congenital heart disease.)

Each year, Mayo Clinic heart specialists record 5,000 to 6,000 visits by children and adolescents for congenital heart problems. Mayo heart surgeons perform 350 to 400 operations each year to repair congenital heart defects.

A team of physicians from the Center for Congenital Heart Disease work together to offer the latest diagnosis and treatment methods.

Pediatric congential heart patients are cared for in the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital, an 85-bed hospital that is part of Saint Marys Hospital in Rochester. The hospital includes a special 25-bed cardiolvascular (CV) unit dedicated to pre- and post-surgical care of congenital heart patients. The unit has more than 60 nurses with special training and experience caring for children and adolescents with congenital heart patients.

The CV unit features a primary care nursing practice in which one nurse is assigned to each patient.

The CV unit also features:

• Pre-operative post-operative and dismissal education program
• Patient library
• Videos and vcrs
• Pagers for parents
• Children's menu
• Playroom
• Rooming-in options for parents

Appointments

Call (507) 284-9969, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central time.