Physicians in this pediatric subspecialty work closely with hospital neonatologists, intensivists, and other specialists in treating children with congenital heart defects, acquired heart disease, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

In addition, children benefit from specialized cardiac care from a licensed clinical nurse specialist, Celia Buckley , who is an advanced practice nurse in the care of children and families with cardiac conditions.

Children who are treated at UC Davis Pediatric Heart Center have access to comprehensive state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic services, including:

Fetal echocardiography: This prenatal procedure can detect heart conditions prior to a child’s birth. If necessary, physicians can treat the child immediately after birth. Pediatric echocardiography is used to diagnose heart problems in children.

Non-surgical treatment using cardiac catheterization: Some heart conditions that could once be corrected only through surgery can now be treated using catheters to repair or bypass a defect without open heart surgery.

Fetal and pediatric electrophysiology: Abnormally fast heart rhythms (arrhythmias) can be treated using a revolutionary procedure called radiofrequency catheter ablation. Our staff includes the only certified pediatric EPS specialist in the region.