Fetal Cardiology Program | Our Approach

Boston Children's Hospital’s Fetal Cardiology Program first made history in 2001, when a team of Boston Children's pediatric cardiologists, with maternal-fetal medicine specialists at Brigham and Women's Hospital, opened a narrowed heart valve while a fetus was still in the mother's womb. The baby, born two months later, did well after birth and continues to thrive. Boston Children’s has remained at the forefront of fetal cardiac care and has performed more 185 fetal cardiac interventions.

At Boston Children’s Benderson Family Heart Center, our treatment is informed by our research. This means that your baby is supported by our cardiovascular researchers who are intensely focused on improving our understanding and treatment of heart defects and disorders that affect unborn infants and children. Our clinical and basic scientists work together to quickly move discoveries to the bedside, so you have access to the most advanced care possible.

As part of Boston Children’s Fetal Care and Surgery Center, we work closely with obstetricians and delivery teams to support medical decision-making and offer a range of clinical services, including:

• Advanced imaging and prenatal diagnosis
• Fetal cardiology
• Neonatal intensive care
• Prenatal consultation services
• Prenatal genetics

If you already have a care plan with your existing care team, we can provide additional clinical expertise and guidance if needed.

Much of our work focuses on hypoplastic left heart syndrome — its treatment and its prevention. Recent fetal cardiac research studies at Boston Children’s include:

• Balloon Dilation of Severe Aortic Stenosis in the Fetus: Potential for Prevention of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Creation of an Atrial Septal Defect in utero for Fetuses with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Intact or Highly Restrictive Atrial Septum
• Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome with Intact or Highly Restrictive Atrial Septum: Outcome After Neonatal Transcatheter Atrial Septostomy
• Improved Surgical Outcome After Fetal Diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome