Physicians now can treat more patients with congenital heart disease using minimally invasive procedures. Sophisticated tools and procedures have nearly eliminated the need for open heart surgery. In a minimally invasive procedure, surgeons insert a catheter — a small tube — into a blood vessel and then thread tools through the tube. The catheter gives the surgeon access to the area that needs repair or testing.

The Cardiac Catheterization Program cardiologists with Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, use the newest catheter and device technologies to provide advanced diagnoses and treatment.

Norton Children’s Hospital has two dedicated, state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac catheterization laboratories. Norton Children’s Hospital is the only hospital in Kentucky to offer to replace poorly functioning pulmonary valves.

The Right Kind of Collaborative Care for Your Child

The Cardiac Catheterization Program team works closely with other physicians and programs within Norton Children’s Heart Institute, affiliated with the University of Louisville. Our team performs all diagnostic testing, surgeries and follow-up care at Norton Children’s Hospital.

Our providers are skilled in treating congenital heart conditions in children. You can draw strength, comfort and confidence from our highly trained specialists, including:

• Pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons
• Pediatric transplant surgeons
• Pediatric cardiologists
  • Fetal cardiologists
  • Adult congenital heart cardiologists
  • Heart failure/heart transplant cardiologists
  • Pediatric cardiac catheterization cardiologists
  • Pediatric electrophysiologists
• Pediatric critical care physicians
• Cardiovascular anesthesiologists
• Cardiac critical care nurses
• Cardiac nurse practitioners
• Critical care pharmacists
• Child life specialists
• Diagnostic imaging specialists
• Dietitians
• Family support team
• Genetic counselors
• Intensive care specialists
• Psychologists
• Social workers

Why Choose Norton Children’s Heart Institute

• Norton Children’s Hospital has been a pioneer in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, performing Kentucky’s first pediatric heart transplant in 1986 and becoming the second site in the United States to perform an infant heart transplant.
• The American Board of Thoracic Surgery has certified our cardiothoracic surgeons in congenital heart surgery.
• The Adult Congenital Heart Association has accredited Norton Children’s Heart Institute’s Adult Congenital Heart Program as the only comprehensive care center in Kentucky and Indiana treating adults born with a heart defect.
• More than 5,000 children a year visit Norton Children’s Heart Institute for advanced heart care.
• Norton Children’s Heart Institute has offices across Kentucky and Southern Indiana to bring quality pediatric heart care closer to home.
• The Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Norton Children’s Hospital is the largest dedicated CICU in Kentucky, equipped with 17 private rooms and the newest technology available for heart care.