Congenital heart defects in children care at Mayo Clinic

Your Mayo Clinic care team

Mayo Clinic doctors trained in treating children with heart conditions (pediatric cardiologists), doctors trained in heart disease (cardiologists) and doctors trained in heart surgery (cardiovascular surgeons) work together as a team to treat people with congenital heart diseases.

Having all this expertise in a single place means that your child's appointments are coordinated among the team, and test results are available quickly.

Pediatric expertise

Children with congenital heart disease are cared for in the Mayo Eugenio Litta Children's Hospital at Mayo Clinic's campus in Minnesota. The hospital 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.

Advanced diagnosis and treatments

Specialists at Mayo Clinic's Center for Congenital Heart Disease use the most modern technology and treatment options, including minimally invasive surgical and catheter-based therapies, to provide the best care possible for your child.

Transplant expertise

When needed, Mayo Clinic also offers a heart transplant program. Mayo Clinic's Transplant Center team members are leaders and innovators in heart transplant, immunosuppressive (anti-rejection) medicine and cardiac assist devices that help people live better while waiting for a donor heart.

Expertise and rankings

Doctors at Mayo Clinic have evaluated and treated adults and children with congenital heart disease for many years. Each year, doctors evaluate and treat more than 1,600 children with congenital heart disease.

Nationally recognized expertise

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, Minn., is ranked among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

With Mayo Clinic's emphasis on collaborative care, specialists at each of the campuses — Minnesota, Arizona and Florida — interact very closely with colleagues at the other campuses and the Mayo Clinic Health System.

Learn more about Mayo Clinic's cardiovascular surgery and cardiovascular diseases departments' expertise and rankings.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona, and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, 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.

Locations, travel and lodging

Mayo Clinic has major campuses in Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and Rochester, Minnesota. The Mayo Clinic Health System has dozens of locations in several states.

For more information on visiting Mayo Clinic, choose your location below:

Costs and insurance

Mayo Clinic works with hundreds of insurance companies and is an in-network provider for millions of people.

In most cases, Mayo Clinic doesn't require a physician referral. Some insurers require referrals or may have additional requirements for certain medical care. All appointments are prioritized on the basis of medical need.

Learn more about appointments at Mayo Clinic.

Please contact your insurance company to verify medical coverage and to obtain any needed authorization prior to your visit. Often, your insurer's customer service number is printed on the back of your insurance card.