From pregnancy through adolescence, we provide comprehensive heart care in our Pediatric Heart Center. This care includes surgical treatments in our level 1 Children’s Surgery Center. We are among the few hospitals nationwide with this designation, meaning our patients experience the highest level of care possible.

Our pediatric cardiology team includes pediatric heart surgeons, pediatric and fetal cardiologists, anesthesiologists, respiratory therapists and nurses. They work together to ensure your child receives thorough, coordinated care.

Our large, single rooms have TVs, sleeping sofas and chairs for loved ones. Children also have access to stress-relieving activities involving music, art and play therapy.

Our fetal cardiologists use advanced technology to diagnose heart problems before birth. Our specialists can find heart anomalies as early as 12 weeks into pregnancy.

Our pediatric electrophysiologists use minimally invasive methods to treat irregular heartbeats in children. Doctors use thin, flexible tubes called catheters that access your child’s heart through a blood vessel. Minimally invasive treatments often result in easier recoveries and shorter hospital stays.

Our cardiothoracic surgeons repair the full range of congenital heart problems and other heart conditions.

When possible, we use cardiac catheterization to diagnose and treat heart conditions. During cardiac catheterization, physicians access your child’s heart using a catheter and tiny incisions.

We have one of Northern California’s only clinics for pediatric lipid disorders. Our new clinic helps lower future heart disease and stroke risk in children with lipid disorders. We care for children with high cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein (a) levels. We also treat children with diabetes and kidney disease.

Sometimes, genes that increase the likelihood of congenital heart disease are passed down through families.

Rarely, a child’s immune system may attack healthy heart tissues to destroy a perceived threat. For example, Kawasaki disease causes blood vessel inflammation. Untreated strep infections are the most common causes of this type of heart damage.

Just like with adults, poor nutrition, lack of exercise and secondhand smoke can cause buildup and blockages in your child’s arteries. Medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity increase this risk.

Certain conditions and their treatments may increase your risk of having a child with congenital heart disease. These issues include phenylketonuria (PKU), seizure disorders, insulin-dependent diabetes, lupus, rubella and depression.