Congenital Heart Surgery
Overview
Heart surgery at Akron Children’s Hospital is provided in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Congenital Heart Surgery team. We determine the best treatment option for your child based on his or her heart problem.
World class care.
Children and young adults born with heart disease receive state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatment close to home through the Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Center, a collaboration between Akron Children's and Cleveland Clinic.
Before surgery is considered, our specialists review all of the treatment options available for your child. For some kids, the best treatment may be minimally invasive surgery – an approach that results in less discomfort and risk and a faster return to normal activities. For others, traditional open heart surgery is the best option for successful treatment.
Heart surgeries are performed at both the Akron Children's Hospital Akron campus and Cleveland Clinic's main campus in downtown Cleveland.
Children born with complex heart defects are at an increased risk for developmental, learning and behavioral disorders. Akron Children’s Hospital offers the only neurodevelopmental follow-up program for congenital heart patients in northeast Ohio.
Locations/Contact Us
Contact Cardiovascular Surgery
Akron Children's Hospital Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery, Akron
Considine Professional Building
215 West Bowery Street
Suite 5200
Akron, Ohio 44308
Fax: 330-543-3850
More about this location...
Map & directions
Our Doctors/Providers
Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery; Cardiovascular Surgeon
Gosta Pettersson, MD
Cardiovascular Surgeon
Alistair Phillips, MD
Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgeon
Michael Spector, MD
Associate Division Director, Cardiovascular Surgery; Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgeon
Greg Padrutt, PA-C
Physician Assistant
What Should Families Expect When They Come for an Appointment?
At Akron Children’s, your child’s health and safety is our priority. Please continue to bring your child for wellness visits, vaccinations or sick care appointments that keep children healthy. We want to assure you that we have taken additional precautions to ensure a safe environment for your child and family. The following are additional safety efforts, in addition to our normal cleaning protocols, that we are taking to help you be comfortable bringing your child to an appointment.
Limiting the Number of Caregivers and Face Covering
The number of caregivers permitted to accompany a child to an appointment is dependent on the department you are visiting. Everyone visiting an Akron Children's facility is asked to wear masks or face coverings, except for kids under 2 or those with sensory issues. Masks will be provided for visitors who do not bring their own.
Checking In and Screening of Visitors
Akron Children's now offers Mobile Check-in to limit your exposure to others. You'll receive a text an hour before your child's appointment arrival time. Click the link in the text when you reach the Akron Children's facility for your child's appointment. You will receive a confirmation text that reminds you to wait in your car. Once we determine appropriate spacing is available inside the building, you'll receive a third text to let you know it's OK to come in for your appointment.
Immediately upon entering the building, your temperature will be taken, either by a thermal scanner or a greeter who will also ask you a few questions.
If you are in a waiting room, you’ll notice signs and a limited number of chairs. This is to remind our patients to keep 6 feet of physical distance between your family and others.
Precautions If You Suspect Your Child Has COVID-19
Call your child’s healthcare professional if your child is sick with fever, cough, or difficulty breathing and has been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19, or if you live in or have recently traveled from an area with ongoing spread of COVID-19. Your health care professional will work with Ohio’s public health department and the CDC to determine if your child needs to be tested for COVID-19.
View all the safety precautions Akron Children's is taking.
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