Riley Heart Center

The heart is a complex organ and congenital heart disease (CHD) can be diagnosed at any age and result in long-term consequences, highlighting the need for a collaborative, team-based approach. At the Riley Heart Center, our multidisciplinary pediatric team includes:

• Cardiologists
• Cardiothoracic surgeons
• Cardiac anesthesiologists
• Cardiac intensivists
• Cardiac neonatologists
• Cardiovascular geneticists
• Cardiac psychologist
• Cardiovascular nurses
• Cardiac advanced practice providers

Pediatric cardiologists evaluate and treat a wide range of conditions, including CHD, arrhythmias, heart murmurs, hypertension, heart failure, heart transplantation and more. At Riley Children’s Health, our pediatric cardiologists have advanced subspecialty expertise to diagnose and treat complex congenital heart conditions.

• Working closely with neonatology and maternal-fetal medicine, our fetal cardiologists diagnose and manage complex heart defects in unborn babies, in collaboration with the Fetal Center.
• Our preventive cardiologists focus on reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and other future heart problems in children with heart defects.
• Specializing in minimally invasive, catheter-based procedures, our interventional cardiologists repair heart conditions, such as atrial septal defects, with precision and care.
• Our pediatric cardiologists specializing in electrophysiology (EP) diagnose rhythm abnormalities and perform procedures like ablation, a technique that uses a flexible catheter to correct arrhythmias.

At our statewide outreach locations, we offer access to advanced diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care. Families can consult with our children’s heart center specialists, who take the time to explain conditions and recommend personalized treatment options. Some of the services we provide include:

• Post-surgical follow-up to monitor recovery and ensure continued progress.
• Routine follow-up to detect any changes that may require further attention or treatment.
• Tracking progress and assessing readiness for procedures that need to be performed at the appropriate stage of a child’s development.
• Evaluation of new patients referred by pediatricians for symptoms such as rapid heart rate, heart murmurs, or chest pain.

Search for nearby care

For patients at the highest risk, we provide specialized care at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis. Our dedicated heart unit is fully equipped with:

• Diagnostic technology such as fetal echocardiography, cardiac MRI and stress testing
• Multiple operating suites dedicated to pediatric cardiac surgery
• Multiple advanced hybrid catheterization labs
• Cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU)
• Cardiac step-down unit
• Neonatal cardiac unit

From performing Indiana’s first pediatric open-heart procedure to infant and newborn heart transplants to involvement in the revolutionary Berlin Heart, our program has pioneered advancements in pediatric heart surgery in Indiana and across the nation.

Today, Riley Children’s Health is a leader in surgical complexity, treating a high volume of patients with the most severe heart problems. We offer a full range of mechanical support options, including ECMO technology, which provides oxygenation of blood following surgery, and ventricular assist devices that help the heart pump blood while patients await a heart transplant.

Our CVICU provides specialized, round-the-clock care for infants, delivered by cardiac critical care physicians with a focus on CHD, alongside skilled nurses. These experts continuously monitor each infant’s complex needs, responding swiftly to even the most subtle changes during critical care and recovery.

Pediatric cardiac specialists from the Riley Heart Center generously dedicate their time to help children and families in need around the world. Every year, a team of heart specialists embarks on international mission trips to provide life-saving heart care to children.