Leading heart care at Dell Children's
You want the best care for your child’s heart. We do too. The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children's Medical Center at Ascension Seton is the only pediatric program in Central Texas offering heart care for newborns, children and young adults. Our nationally recognized pediatric cardiovascular team delivers advanced specialty care, including heart surgery — even for the tiniest of patients. We start by listening to you. Tell us your concerns and ask us your questions — big and small. By getting to know your child and your family, we deliver heart care that’s right for your child. Only in Austin. Only at Dell Children’s.
Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease
Led by Charles D. Fraser, MD, one of the country’s leading pediatric heart surgeons, the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease brings leading heart care to Central Texas. With more than 150 care team members at the Center, our care teams collaborate to share insights, discuss care plans, and provide advanced treatments and technologies. Because each child has unique and special needs, your child’s care plans are personalized just for them.
For some heart conditions, surgery may be needed. If surgery is recommended as part of your child’s care plan, we coordinate with your child’s referring doctor and other care team members.
Specialized care for your child’s heart
Dell Children's heart and vascular care teams diagnose and treat many conditions, including:
- Aortic coarctation (narrowing of the aorta)
- Arrhythmia (heart rhythm disorder)
- Atrial septal defect (ASD), known as a hole in the heart
- Complete heart block (when the electrical signal in the heart is blocked)
- Congenital heart disease
- Coronary artery malformations
- Fetal heart conditions
- Heart failure
- Heart murmur
- Heart tumors
- Kawasaki disease (inflammation in blood vessels)
- Marfan syndrome (disorder that affects tissues in the body)
- Mitral valve defect
- Pulmonary atresia (malformation of the pulmonary artery)
- Single ventricle defects
- Stenosis (aortic, mitral and pulmonary)
- Tetralogy of Fallot (rare combination of four heart defects)
- Ventricular septal defect (VSD)
- Other fetal and pediatric heart conditions
If your child has developmental delays caused by congenital heart disease, we have a dedicated pediatric heart and developmental care team dedicated to your child's needs. Learn more.
And, our pediatric cardiac surgeons specialize in treating pediatric heart failure with medications, monitoring devices, heart pump implants and heart transplants. Dell Children’s has the first pediatric heart transplant program in Central Texas. And in 2020, Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton was recognized for successfully performing the first pediatric heart transplant in the region.
Connected to the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center at Dell Children’s
When a heart condition is found before your baby is born, pediatric heart specialists at the Comprehensive Fetal Care Center at Dell Children’s Medical Center become part of your care team – working closely with your OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Together, we create a labor and delivery care plan that includes advanced care for your baby.
Babies born with congenital heart disease are cared for by specialists at the pediatric cardiac care unit located within Dell Children’s Medical Center. This unit is dedicated to delivering highly specialized, cardiac care to infants, and also provides advanced care for children into adulthood. Learn more about fetal heart care at Dell Children's.
Pediatric heart care backed by research
The Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease at Dell Children's Medical Center is a collaboration between Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin, the clinical practice of Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin.
A multispecialty team dedicated to your child’s heart care
When you choose Dell Children’s for your child’s care, you and your family will be connected to the most pediatric specialists and specialties in Central Texas. Your child and family have access to pediatric-trained heart surgeons, cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, critical care specialists, hospitalists, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses, advanced practice providers, social workers, psychologists, child life specialists, dietitians, and physical and occupational therapists all at Dell Children’s. Your child’s specialists work closely together, as one team dedicated to your child’s care.
Get a second opinion from a pediatric cardiologist
Get the confidence and peace of mind that your child’s doctor and care plan are right for your child and family. It's easy to get a second opinion at Dell Children’s Medical Center at Ascension Seton. We can review your child’s medical records and healthcare history to answer your questions and discuss options. Talk with one of our doctors about a personalized care plan.
When your child is facing a new diagnosis, there’s a lot to think about. We can discuss both therapeutic or surgical treatment plans. Our team of highly experienced pediatric specialists can provide you with a second opinion based on experience and as part of an integrated national network of care.
Before your child’s appointment, check with your insurance company to find out if a second opinion is covered. We can request your child’s medical records from their doctor on your behalf, so that they can be shared with your care team before your arrival.
Stories from the heart
They fixed my heart: When Will's parents were told he had a hole in his heart, they knew they needed to get care for their child in a place where they were listened to and could feel confident.
Healing Cammie's heart: Cammie was diagnosed with a heart condition at birth and had her first heart surgery when she was one. Thanks to the heart specialists at Dell Children's, she was a candidate for a procedure that would fix her condition without open heart surgery.
An enormous amount of support: When Angie and her husband got a call that their daughter, Alyssa, was having heart problems, they were worried. As soon as they walked through the doors at Dell Children's, they immediately felt supported and informed about their daughter's heart condition.
Refer a patient to a pediatric specialist
Your patients and their families can expect compassionate, personalized care from the moment our specialists connect with them. Our pediatric specialists start by listening to fully understand their needs and to develop an individualized care plan. To make a doctor referral, please call 855-324-0091.
