Preparing for Surgery

At UNC Children's, our goal each and every day is to take care of you as if you are a member of our own family. We recognize that having a child with a congenital heart defect is frightening and anxiety-producing. We are here to walk through your child's care with you, every step of the way. We hope that a familiarity with the process will help you to feel somewhat at ease as you begin this journey.

Most journeys begin in the NICU, where your child's diagnosis of congenital heart disease is confirmed. The videos below provide a glimpse of that journey:

Preparing for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery [Video]

Preparing for Pediatric Surgery- en español [Video]

Your child's case is reviewed thoroughly in our multidisciplinary cardiothoracic conferences. It involves cardiologists, intensivists, cardiothoracic surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and advanced practice providers, to ensure we plan the appropriate surgery for your child.

This video takes you through the steps of surgery starting with the pre-operative visit:

Preparing for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery- Admission from Home [Video]

Preparing for Pediatric Cardiac Surgery- Admission from Home- en español [Video]