Children and adolescents with congenital heart defects, acquired heart disease, congestive heart disease, arrhythmias and other heart disorders receive care based on the latest research and designed specifically for each child's developmental needs. Care is provided through the coordinated resources of the Sutter Children's Center and the Sutter Heart & Vascular Institute. Because each child's treatment plan is highly personalized, inpatient services and surgeries are often combined with outpatient services to match the child's needs.

Many patients begin their treatment in the Special Care Nursery when heart defects are discovered before or at birth. Our pediatric cardiovascular surgeons and a team of specialists may provide the first line of treatment, which may include postoperative care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, with follow-up care provided through the outpatient clinic.

Children and adolescents with heart disease that is diagnosed later or that develops over time receive an assessment by pediatric cardiology subspecialists and team members who develop a comprehensive treatment plan. In addition to medical treatment, plans include patient and family education and counseling, along with a nutrition plan.

Outpatient services available include:

• Diagnostic services including fetal and pediatric echocardiography to view the structures of a child's heart and measure size and muscle movement; electrocardiogram (EKG) to measure the electrical activity of the heart; stress testing to record the child's pulse, blood pressure and EKG during exercise; nuclear medicine and diagnostic catheterization
• Pediatric electrophysiology to treat heart rhythm disorders
• Pediatric interventional catheterization to treat heart defects and blood vessel disorders
• Physical and occupational therapy
• Nutrition therapy
• Preventive cardiology

Inpatient services include traditional surgeries and the latest minimally invasive techniques. Conditions addressed through surgery include transposition of the great arteries; congenital malformations of the heart chambers, valves and blood vessels; and acquired heart conditions often caused by viral or bacterial infections.

With a constant eye toward providing the best care possible, Sutter interdisciplinary teams come together as needed to develop and deliver immediate or phased treatment that will help each child to enjoy a full and happy life.

Offering the largest pediatric open-heart surgery program in the area, Sutter is a regional referral center for young heart patients. Our pediatric cardiologists are:

• Robert Achtel, M.D.
• Hessam Fallah, M.D.
• Gregory Janos, M.D.
• Andrew Juris, M.D.
• Jeff Van Gundy, M.D.
• Stan Wright, M.D.


• Naveen Manohar, MD
• Iman Kahwaji, MD

Our cardiovascular surgeon is: Richard Mainwaring, M.D.

Classes and Support Groups are available for children and their families. Referrals to community agencies and resources are also provided. For more information about the Sutter Heart Program for Children and Adolescents, call (916) 733-1025.

• Congenital Heart Disease Family Support Group

Outpatient services provide care to children with medical conditions that require ongoing treatment, education and support. For information on our outpatient Pediatric Heart Care services, visit the Pediatric Cardiology Services page or call (916) 733-1025.

For more information about heart disease in children and treatments available, please visit our health information section and Starbright World Network.

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