Expert Heart Care That’s Worth the Drive
Congenital heart disease is one of the most common birth defects in the United States.
If your child has been diagnosed with a congenital heart defect, trust the experts at one of the most recognized centers for pediatric heart care. The Heart Institute, part of UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, is home to world-renowned experts in the management and treatment of congenital and acquired heart disease.
At the Heart Institute, we offer a range of services that span a patient’s lifetime. From the tiniest patients — those who are still in the womb — to adults with congenital heart disease, we care for patients of all ages. Some of our specialized programs and services include:
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center.
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
- The Center for Complex Transposition.
- The Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly.
- Fetal and Perinatal Cardiology Program.
- Heart Failure.
- Interventional Cardiology.
Schedule an Appointment or Receive a Second Opinion with an Expert from Our Team
To schedule an appointment or receive a second opinion, fill out the contact form below or call 412-692-5540.
Why Choose the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s?
At the Heart Institute, our team is at the forefront of clinical excellence and outstanding patient care. Each year, more than 18,000 patients of all ages travel to receive care at our center in Pittsburgh.
- UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh consistently ranks among the top programs in the nation for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.
- Led by Victor Morell, MD, our Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has advanced expertise in treating all types of congenital heart disease. Our team achieves outstanding surgical outcomes that the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) consistently recognizes. Learn more about our program’s outcomes.
- We are home to the Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly, where the creator of the cone procedure, Jose da Silva, MD, alongside Luciana da Fonseca da Silva, MD, care for patients from around the world with Ebstein’s anomaly.
- Our team at the Heart Institute helps coordinate travel assistance and overnight accommodations with patients and their families who are traveling for care. Learn more about traveling to Pittsburgh for care.
- The Heart Institute is a member of the Pediatric Heart Network (PHN), an international consortium of nine congenital heart programs across North America.
- The Adult Congenital Heart Association (ACHA) has accredited the UPMC Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program for its excellence in clinical care and patient support. It's one of only 50 centers across the nation to receive this recognition.
Conditions We Treat
At the Heart Institute at UPMC Children’s, our team specializes in caring for patients with congenital heart disease throughout every stage of life. We offer the most advanced treatments and technology to care for a range of congenital heart defects, including:
In 1993, Jose Pedro da Silva, MD, created the cone procedure, a new surgical technique to treat Ebstein’s anomaly. More than 30 years later, it has become the gold standard of treatment for this congenital heart defect. Together with Luciana da Fonseca da Silva, MD, Dr. da Silva treats patients from around the world at the Heart Institute’s Da Silva Center for Ebstein’s Anomaly.
Nearly all babies with DORV require surgery within the first year of life. Our team of expert cardiothoracic surgeons will work with you to provide a second or third opinion on your child’s case. We collaborate with teams across UPMC, including Magee-Womens Hospital and the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute, to create a comprehensive treatment plan that spans a lifetime.
At the Heart Institute, we take a multidisciplinary approach to treating patients with TGA. Our experts from fetal and perinatal cardiology, advanced imaging, the CICU, and The Adult Congenital Heart Disease Center work together to create a coordinated treatment plan for your child.
Children diagnosed with HLHS require surgical intervention to fix their heart. Led by Victor Morell, MD, our Cardiothoracic Surgery program provides advanced care to patients with congenital heart disease, including HLHS. Our team achieves outstanding surgical results that are recognized by national forums, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS).
Pulmonary atresia and tricuspid atresia may be diagnosed during a routine prenatal ultrasound or soon after birth. It’s crucial for children or adults with these heart conditions to continue to see a congenital heart disease specialist throughout their life to monitor the condition and detect complications early.
Resources Available to Patients Traveling for Care
Our team at the Heart Institute partners with colleagues across UPMC to ensure your journey to Pittsburgh is seamless. We offer patients and their families transportation services, affordable overnight accommodations, translation services, and other support resources.
Learn more about the resources we offer to patients traveling for care.
