Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect. At Ochsner Hospital for Children, a passionate, highly talented team led by gifted pediatric cardiologists and internationally renowned congenital heart surgeons offer care that is second to none. Our team provides advanced care for even the most complex pediatric cases. Our team gets results. Our dedicated professionals have made it their mission to provide excellent outcomes for every CHD patient.

Learn more about care for congenital heart disease in children and adults.

The services we offer range from EKGs to non-invasive valve replacements to heart transplants. In fact, we performed the first pediatric heart transplant in the Gulf South.

As part of The John Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute (JOHVI), our committed cardiovascular experts collaborate with a large team of adult cardiac specialists and subspecialists. Together, our continuum of care spans a lifetime - from fetal cardiology to adult congenital cardiology - allowing our experts to care for the entire family at all stages.

What’s more, our team works side by side with some of the best pediatric cardiology nurses in the country. Unlike most centers, our nurses subspecialize; they have a level of education, experience and expertise that is unrivaled.

We treat all conditions including the following:

Symptoms

• Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia)
• Fainting (syncope)
• Fast heart rate (tachycardia)
• Heart murmurs
• Slow heart rate (bradycardia)

Congenital Heart Defects

• Anomalous pulmonary veins
• Aortic valve stenosis
• Atrial septal defect
• Atrioventricular canal defect
• Coarctation of the aorta
• Coronary artery anomalies
• Ebstein’s anomaly
• Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
• Mitral valve abnormalities
• Patent ductus arteriosus
• Pulmonary artery stenosis
• Pulmonary valve atresia
• Pulmonary valve stenosis
• Pulmonary valve atresia
• Pulmonary valve stenosis
• Tetralogy of Fallot
• Transposition of the great arteries
• Tricuspid atresia
• Truncus arteriosus
• Vascular ring
• Ventricular septal defect

Heart Rhythm Disorders (arrhythmias)

• Atrial fibrillation
• Atrial flutter
• Long QT syndrome
• Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

Heart Function Disorders (cardiomyopathies and heart failure)

• Dilated cardiomyopathy
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Myocarditis

Acquired Heart Disorders /Conditions

• Eisenmenger syndrome
• Kawasaki disease
• Systemic hypertension
• Pulmonary hypertension
• Stroke
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Obesity

We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic procedures including:

• Fetal Echocardiograms
• Cardiac MRI and CT
• 3-D & 4-D Echocardiograms
• Transesophageal Echocardiograms (TEE)
• Electrocardiogram (EKG)
• Electrophysiologic Studies
• Exercise Stress Test
• Home monitoring of Pacemakers and Defibrillators
• Holter Monitoring
• Diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization

Take a virtual tour of the Pediatric Interventional Cardiology Lab.

Same Day Appointments are Available

When your child is having heart trouble, the “next available appointment” never seems to be soon enough. Ochsner’s pediatric cardiologists offer same-day appointments at Ochsner Hospital For Children in New Orleans and in communities near you. Online scheduling is available by phone and computer. Peace of mind is never far away.

• Anna Barham, PA-C
• Jerry Batson, NP
• Ivory Crittendon, MD
• Jake Kleinmahon, MD
• Diego Lara, MD
• Katherine Lindle, MD
• Victor Lucas, MD
• Brandon Phillips, MD
• P. Elizabeth Thomas, MD
• Jennifer Watson, NP
• Thomas Young, MD
• Terry King, MD
• Megan Lanier, PA
• Jessica Mouledoux, MD
• Hans Mudler, MD
• Kathryn Smiley, PA-C
• Michael White, MD
• Jenna White, PA

Pediatric cardiology appointments are available at the following locations:

New Orleans
Ochsner Health Center for Children
1315 Jefferson Highway
New Orleans, LA 70121

Ochsner Baptist
2700 Napoleon Avenue
New Orleans, LA 70115

Alexandria
Christus St. Frances Cabrini Hospital
3330 Masonic Drive
Alexandria, LA 71301

Covington
Ochsner Health Center for Children Pediatric Subspecialties - Covington
71121 Highway 21, Ste. B
Covington, LA 70433

Houma
Ochsner Health Center for Children Pediatric Subspecialties – Houma
8120 Main Street, Ste. 303
Houma, LA 70360

Lafayette
Ochsner Health Center for Children – Lafayette
1460 S. College Road
Lafayette, LA 70503

Opelousas
Opelousas General Hospital
539 E Prudhomme Lane
Opelousas, LA 70570

Raceland
Ochsner Specialty Health Center - Raceland
141 Twin Oaks Drive
Raceland, LA 70394

Slidell
Ochsner Health Center for Children – Pediatric Specialties Slidell
105 Medical Center Drive, Ste. 304
Slidell, LA 70461

*** For further information or program referral assistance, please contact the cardiology clinic child life specialist at (504) 703-8274. ***

1. Cardiology Family Resource Handbook CHD Resource Book.pdf
2. Wish Granting Organizations: Wishes are experiences for those with life threatening and limiting illnesses to celebrate one’s medical journey. Individuals may receive 1 wish in their lifetime. Please see organization details for specific qualifications and referral process.
   1. Make A Wish: https://wish.org/refer-a-child & https://wish.org/medical-referral
   2. Dreams Come True: https://dctofla.com
   3. Kids Wish Network: https://www.kidswishnetwork.org/
   4. A Child’s Wish
   5. Children’s Wish Endowment: https://www.childrenswishendowment.org
3. Camps & Retreats: Medically sound year-round camp programs for children/teens with serious illness’ & their families to connect with those battling similar diagnosis’ and gain a sense of belonging, self-worth, and accomplishment.
   1. Camp Boggy Creek: https://www.boggycreek.org
   2. Camp Bon Coeur: https://www.heartcamp.com
   3. Brainy Camps: https://www.brainycamps.com
   4. MedCamps of Louisiana: https://www.medcamps.org
4. Patient Participation Opportunities
   1. Beads of Courage: https://beadsofcourage.org
   2. Monkey in My Chair: www.monkeyinmychair.org
5. Caregiver Support & Resources: A collection of blogs, podcasts, support groups, education, advocacy and more to support families of a child with CHD.
   1. Blogs & Podcasts
      1. NOLA Hawts: https://nolahawts.buzzsprout.com/
      2. Mended Little Hearts: https://mendedhearts.org/category/mended-little-hearts-blog/
   2. Support Groups
      1. Kids with Heart: https://kidswithheart.org/page/support/
      2. Mended Little Hearts: https://mendedhearts.org/connect/chapters_groups/find-your-chapter/
      3. Gift of Life Family House: https://giftoflifehowieshouse.org/bridge-caregiver-support/
   3. Additional Support
      1. Mended Little Hearts: https://mendedhearts.org/about-us/about-mended-little-hearts/
      2. Parent & Caregiver Resource Guide: https://mendedhearts.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/MLHG_2015.pdf
      3. Local Heart Foundation: https://www.localheartfoundation.org
      4. The Children’s Heart Foundation: https://www.childrensheartfoundation.org
      5. Henry Aucoin Foundation: https://henryaucoinfoundation.org
      6. Courageous Parents Network: https://courageousparentsnetwork.org
      7. Transplant and CHD Resources: https://www.texaschildrens.org/departments/heart-transplant/resources
6. Cardiology Teaching Books
   1. https://www.conqueringchd.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/CHD-Themed-Childrens-Books-.pdf
7. Patient Housing Resources
   1. Brent House Hotel: Speak with your healthcare provider for potential discounts. https://brenthouse.com
   2. Ronald McDonald House: https://rmhc-sla.org/how-to-stay/
8. Heart Surgery: What to Expect
   1. Heart Surgery Pre-Op Brochure
      1. English: Pre-Op Information\Heart Surgery Pre-Op Brochure
      2. Spanish: Pre-Op Information\Heart Surgery Pre-Op Brochure Spanish.pdf
   2. Preparation Books
      1. Henry Has Heart Surgery: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzBdiO4FAwo&t-34s
      2. Zip-Line by David Humpherys
      3. Ochsner’s Surgery Center