Nearly one out of every 100 babies born is born with a heart defect. Congenital heart defects can be diagnosed prior to birth and at birth. In some cases the heart defect can go undetected until the child reaches youth or adulthood. Acquired heart defects such as cardiomyopathy and kawasaki disease are conditions that develop during childhood.

Pediatric cardiovascular services are provided through the coordinated resources of Sutter Children's Center, Sacramento and the Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute. Patients and families not only receive excellent pediatric cardiovascular care, but also access to advanced technology and comprehensive services. We are a regional referral center for pediatric cardiovascular patients throughout Northern California for diagnoses ranging from abnormal heart rhythms to congenital heart disease (see Pediatric Heart Conditions for a full list of conditions we treat).

Our center offers care from a well-respected team of board-certified specialists, who were the first in the region to perform pediatric open heart surgery. We offer full diagnostic capabilities along with both diagnostic and interventional heart catheterization services. Inpatient and outpatient heart program clinic services are combined to provide the best possible pediatric cardiovascular care to each child. We also offer a chest wall deformity clinic, a bloodless surgery program and a minimally invasive pediatric cardiothoracic surgery program. Our center participates in the National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative, which focuses on improving outcomes for Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome patients.

Highly trained pediatric cardiovascular doctors, nurses and child life specialists provide care for pediatric heart patients both before and after surgery. Symptomatic or underweight newborn pediatric heart patients who require specialized care have access to one of the most advanced Level IV intensive care nursery in the region, with patients referred from 23 counties.

Our Pediatric Surgery Program participates in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database, an initiative for quality improvement and patient safety within the field of cardiothoracic surgery. In addition to having a low mortality rate, we are pleased to report that our cardiopulmonary bypass times, length of stay and post-operative complications are equal to or better than national standards.