Center for Congenital Heart Disease Overview

Children and adults with congenital heart disease need complex, multifaceted care for continued survival and quality of life. Mayo Clinic doctors have deep experience in treating people with congenital heart disease. Our doctors have been treating all types of congenital heart defects in children and congenital heart disease in adults since the clinic started and have been operating on people with complex congenital heart disease for more than 60 years. Our doctors use advanced technology and techniques, including robot-assisted minimally invasive heart surgery.

At the Center for Congenital Heart Disease, doctors trained in heart conditions and cardiac imaging (cardiologists), heart surgery (cardiac surgeons), anesthesia (anesthesiologists), imaging (radiologists), obstetrics and gynecology, and other areas work together to diagnosis and treat people with congenital heart disease. The staff treats adults with congenital heart disease at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Your health care team talks with you about your heart anatomy, your future health and your risk of heart conditions. And depending on your condition and situation, they also may talk with you about exercise, employability, insurance and pregnancy. At Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, you may be referred to the Cardiovascular Obstetrics Clinic if you're pregnant.

Each year Mayo Clinic helps more than 1,500 children with congenital heart disease. Most are cared for by doctors trained in treating children with heart conditions (pediatric cardiologists). The Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota includes a cardiovascular unit dedicated to pre- and post-surgical care of children who have congenital heart disease. Nurses trained in treating children and adolescents with congenital heart disease staff the unit. Child-life specialists help you and your child manage stress and anxiety due to the disease, medical procedures and hospital care.

Innovative research

Physician-scientists and other researchers study genetics and new treatments for congenital heart diseases. Learn more about research in the Cardiovascular Research Center.

Appointments

You may be referred by your primary doctor, or you may make an appointment without a referral.

Nationally recognized expertise

Mayo Clinic is top-ranked in more specialties than any other hospital and has been recognized as an Honor Roll member according to the U.S. News & World Report's 2023-2024 "Best Hospitals" rankings.

Mayo Clinic campuses are nationally recognized for expertise in cardiology and cardiovascular surgery:

  • Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., are ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
  • Mayo Clinic Children's Center in Rochester is ranked the No. 1 hospital in Minnesota, and the five-state region of Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2023–2024 "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings.