The Heart Institute: Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery

Giving Young Hearts Another Chance to Beat

The Heart Institute – a world leader in pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery and the care of children with congenital heart disorders – serves as a beacon to families confronting the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect.

girl with down syndrome smiles in front of pink background. click to watch video.
girl with down syndrome smiles in front of pink background. click to watch video.

Support our work to confront the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect with the best team and most innovative techniques.
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Support our work to confront the reality of a child or newborn with a heart defect with the best team and most innovative techniques.
foundation logo Donate

Offering Same and Next-Day Appointments
And
Second Opinion Consultations

With Pediatric Cardiologists in locations throughout Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, and Martin counties.
*Subject to insurance approval and authorization.
Request an Appointment

Or call 305-662-8301 for more information.
 

Congenital heart disorders occur in approximately eight out of every 1,000 newborns. These disorders can range from mild to severe, with two to three babies in 1,000 displaying signs of a heart defect requiring medical intervention.

Our pediatric heart programs and clinics offer the most innovative, least invasive approaches in pediatric cardiology, interventional cardiology, and cardiovascular surgery to the treatment of congenital heart disease, including many first-in-the-world procedures that were pioneered right here by the Heart Institute’s own internationally renowned team.

Highlights of the Heart Institute:

Cardiovascular Surgery
  • First in Florida to utilize the Ozaki method to repair a pulmonary valve in an infant, a technique that utilizes the infant's own tissue instead of traditional methods.
  • One of few in the nation to utilize the Ozaki method to repair the aortic valve in children
  • One of few in the world to offer Kawashima procedures with preparation for transcatheter Fontan, avoiding an open-heart surgery
  • One of few in the nation to utilize virtual reality for surgical planning
  • One of the first in the nation to perform living heart valve transplantation (partial heart transplant)
  • Leading the first CHSS-based national registry in pediatric cardiac surgery, registry focused on understanding the new technique called partial heart transplant nationwide.
  • First in Florida and one of few in the world to offer robotic open-heart surgery, avoiding scarring on the chest
  • One of few in the nation to offer open-heart surgery through the armpit
  • Performs the most advanced and innovative techniques to repair heart valves in children
  • Performs complex biventricular repairs to avoid the long-term issues related to having only one single ventricle 
Interventional Cardiology
  • Completed 14 cases of bedside PDA closure in premature infants. The smallest baby was 500 grams
  • First in Florida to use Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality for procedural planning and guidance for congenital heart disease (CHD) patients - 4th hospital in the U.S. to use in congenital cardiac interventions
  • First in Florida to use percutaneous ECMO for a patient with congenital heart disease– 3rd in the U.S.
  • First percutaneous sinus venosus defect closure in Florida
  • The third program in the world and first in Florida to successfully redirect Fontan circulation percutaneously ​
  • First in Florida to perform lymphatic imaging and intervention in CHD patients
  • First in Florida to use pulmonary flow restrictors (PFR) in PDA stents
  • First children's hospital in Florida to establish a PERT (pulmonary embolism response team)

A Team Approach to Care Makes a Difference

Nicklaus Children’s Heart Institute is committed to driving excellence in patient care, pioneering research, and community outreach. Their leadership marks an exciting new chapter for the region’s children as we continue to lead the way in transforming cardiovascular care.

As the largest and most experienced pediatric cardiac service in South Florida, The Heart Institute is comprised of: 

  • Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeons
  • Pediatric Cardiologists
  • Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologists
  • Cardiac Intensivists
  • Advanced Practice Providers
  • Non-Invasive Cardiac Imaging Physicians
  • Electrophysiologists

Comprehensive Programs and Services

Treatments and Procedures

  • Biventricular Repair
  • Cone Repair
  • En Bloc Rotation
  • MAPCA Unifocalization
  • Multimodality Fusion Imaging
  • Pulmonary Flow Restrictors (PFRs)
  • Pulmonary Valve Repair with Ozaki
  • Rehabilitation Procedure
  • Transcatheter Sinus Venosus ASD Closure
  • Ventricular Septation

Treatments and Procedures

Conditions We Treat

Recognition and Outcomes Tell the Story

Our pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery services are ranked among the nation’s best for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S.News & World Report.
 

A Distinguished History of Saving Little Hearts

During the 1960s, Nicklaus Children's Hospital became the first facility in Florida to perform pediatric open-heart surgery. Over the years, the hospital has continued to build on this tradition of leadership and excellence in children's cardiology.

In 1995, Nicklaus Children's Hospital, recruited top cardiac physicians and surgeons in pediatric cardiology to oversee new services that included Florida’s first dedicated Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, a state-of-the-art Interventional Cardiac Catheterization Program, and, later, a Clinical Research Program and Electrophysiology Program.

1st

In 1960, we became the first facility in Florida to perform pediatric open-heart surgery

11,000+

cardiac surgeries performed since 1995, including open-heart procedures

97%

Survival rate for all congenital heart surgeries since 2019
featured patient photo.
featured patient photo.

Stories to Inspire

Kimberly and her husband learned their unborn son, Jack, had a congenital heart defect (Transposition of the Great Arteries), and after being referred to Nicklaus Children's Hospital for specialized care, Jack underwent open-heart surgery within days of his birth, leaving his future uncertain.
More Stories

Pediatric Cardiology Locations

Awards & Associations