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The Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: Delivering World-Class Pediatric Cardiac Care


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June 30, 2022

The Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles: Delivering World-Class Pediatric Cardiac Care




The Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a preeminent referral center for diseases of the heart and circulation in childhood, attracting families from across the United States and around the world. Each component of care has been designed with children and families in mind.
 
Beginning with its first pediatric heart surgery in the 1930s, the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has a history of treating small hearts with big problems. Nearly a century later, the Institute is renowned for taking the most challenging cases and maintaining impressive health outcomes for young patients. The Heart Institute is the largest pediatric cardiac center in the Western U.S. and has expertise handling all forms of acquired and congenital heart disease, from the most common to the rarest and most complex cases.
 
Consistently ranked as one of the top pediatric cardiac programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, the Heart Institute provides an integrated suite of inpatient and outpatient services that brings together specialists in cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, heart transplant, cardiac intensive care, cardiac acute care, cardiac anesthesia and cardiovascular rehabilitation in one centralized location.
 
The Heart Institute’s scope of care ranges from treating babies in the womb to adolescents and young adults, ensuring all patients can live up to their full potential.

 
Building on a history of excellence
Within the Heart Institute, the cardiothoracic surgery program is one of the most robust of its kind in the U.S. Our surgeons are renowned for using innovative pediatric surgical techniques, many of which were pioneered at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and have been adopted at hospitals across the country. In fact, the Heart Institute has been a leader in pediatric cardiac care for nearly 90 years and has achieved many firsts, including performing the first pediatric open-heart surgery in Southern California and having the first dedicated pediatric cardiothoracic intensive care unit in the Western U.S.
 
Our experts are among the most experienced pediatric heart surgeons in the Western U.S. The surgical team includes world-renowned pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons and specially trained pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists. Our surgeons perform more than 900 surgeries a year, 30% of which are on newborns with survival rates that exceed national standards. With such a high volume of patients, we have experience with the most complex and rare conditions. Our patients experience excellent outcomes for procedures such as a repair to treat Tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular canal defect, mitral valve disease, and single ventricle palliations. Our valve program is among the best in the country.
 
Recognizing high-quality care
The Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU) at CHLA has received the prestigious Gold Beacon Award for Excellence from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. More than half of the CTICU’s patients are newborns with congenital heart conditions, many of whom require innovative treatments. Novel technologies—along with the attentive care of dedicated specialists and nurses—give patients the best possible chance to achieve a full recovery as quickly as possible.
 
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles has a dedicated Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program, which has been honored with the prestigious Award for Excellence in Life Support by the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization, an international group of health care professionals who evaluate hospital treatment therapies for patients fighting complex cardiac disease and respiratory failure.
 
Using science to provide advanced care
The Heart Institute’s team members bring the latest advances driven by scientific investigation to the bedsides of children. Our physician-scientists and researchers are involved in more than 100 research endeavors, publishing their work in more than 60 publications annually.
 
Team members are engaged in several national and international multicenter trials testing novel treatments for childhood heart disease, including using stem cell injections to grow new heart muscle and gene therapies for disorders of the heart and circulation. On Feb. 1, 2022, a team at CHLA became the first in the world to implant a cardiac stent designed designed specifically for babies and young children that can be expanded with a child’s growing body all the way to adulthood.
 
The Heart Institute is also leading the field of personalized medicine for heart pediatric heart issue. The Cardiogenomics Program is a multidisciplinary clinic that provides comprehensive care for children and adolescents with suspected genetic or inherited cardiac conditions. Using genetic testing, specialists in cardiology and genetics collaborate to identify children at risk for life-threatening heart conditions, provide family education and implement preventative therapies.
 
Among other specialties, the Institute is also home to the:

  • Complex Congenital Heart Disease Program
  • Cardiac Catheterization Program
  • Cardiac Electrophysiology and Device Program
  • Fetal Cardiology Program
  • Single Ventricle Program
  • Cardiomyopathy and Heart Failure Program

 
The Center for Global Health
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles cares for patients across six continents and more than 90 countries, improving the health and well-being of children and their families far beyond our country’s borders. The hospital’s Center for Global Health supports patients and families traveling from around the world to our top pediatric academic medical center for specialty and complex care needs.
 
Our experienced team serves as the single point of contact for international patients and their families to seamlessly access the hospital and navigate all aspects of their health care experience. The Global Health team helps facilitate comprehensive, culturally sensitive care and is dedicated to supporting the unique needs of international patients and families.
 
We understand that if your child has a serious health issue, you will go anywhere to get the best care. The Center for Global Health is here to help make Children’s Hospital Los Angeles your home away from home. We support families during their entire care journey—from initial inquiries to appointments and follow-ups, all the way through to their return to their home countries.




For more information, visit CHLA.org/GlobalHealth.

Online Second Opinion 
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is a top-ranked hospital that sets the standard in pediatric medicine. An online second opinion from our experts will help you ensure that your child is receiving the right care. Our pediatric specialists will review your child’s records, answer your questions and share a report with you securely online so you can receive a second opinion from the comfort of your own home.
 
Learn more about our online second opinion service by contacting us at OnlineSecondOpinion@chla.usc.edu or visiting www.CHLA.org/OnlineSecondOpinions.

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