C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute
Wolfson Children’s Hospital provides heart services in collaboration with Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, as well as other area physician groups.
Heart Surgery
The congenital heart surgeons at Wolfson Children’s have expertise in all congenital heart procedures, ranging from simple to highly complex.
Experience Matters
Whether it’s open-heart, minimally invasive or video-assisted surgery, our board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons use the most advanced technology and techniques to repair heart defects. Our surgeons not only know how to operate, but they know which procedure is best for each individual’s situation and when it should be performed. The team uses advanced imaging techniques, including echocardiography, cardiac MRI and 3-D imaging, to help determine the right approach, resulting in some of the best pediatric heart surgery outcomes in the nation.
Why Wolfson
Cardiothoracic surgeons at Wolfson Children’s perform delicate heart surgeries and patients benefit from their collaboration and years of experience. The team includes pediatric cardiac anesthesiologists who have specialized training to ensure your child’s comfort and safety. Other important members of the surgery team are cardiac nurses, cardiac nurse practitioners, cardiopulmonary perfusionists who operate ventricular assist devices, and many others.
C. Herman and Mary Virginia Terry Heart Institute
Wolfson Children’s Hospital provides heart services in collaboration with Nemours Children’s Health, Jacksonville, as well as other area physician groups.
Related Information
Heart Surgery at Wolfson
Quality and Outcomes
Wolfson Children’s is dedicated to the very best cardiac care and outcomes for every patient. We believe that what gets measured always gets better, and this focus on quality ensures the best care for patients.
Our outcomes are some of the best in the country, and you can compare it to national benchmarks from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) to make better decisions about your child’s care.
Below is the most current data available, based on 768 congenital heart operations during the last 4 years. Last updated: June 2023
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Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
100% survival rate
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Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
100% survival rate
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Arch Reconstruction
100% survival rate
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Overall Survival Rate for All Surgeries
98.97%
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Neonatal Heart Surgery Survival Rate
(1st 30 days of life)
95.08% survival rate -
Single Ventricle Procedures
Fontan, Kawashima, Glenn, Pulmonary Artery Banding, Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction, Shunt
96.2% survival rate
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Our specialized team is a collaboration of cardiologists, electrophysiologists, board-certified cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiac anesthesiologists, cardiovascular nurses and rehabilitation therapists working together to deliver the highest level of individualized care for your child.
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We provide outstanding pediatric heart care at the Terry Heart Institute in Jacksonville and at satellite locations throughout North Florida and South Georgia, so help is never far from home.
Soft Comfort Helps Surgery Patients
Heart surgery patients at Wolfson Children’s Hospital receive special heart-shaped pillows upon admission. Not only are they cuddly and welcoming, but they’re therapeutic and educational as well. Doctors sometimes use the attached marker to draw on the heart diagram on the pillow, explaining the procedure to help put nervous children and parents at ease. After surgery, the pillow can be used to reduce pain by supporting the chest during movement, deep breathing therapy and coughing. Many families have their heart team sign their pillow before going home, which provides memories of the loving care they received.
Patient Stories
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Healing Nic's heart
Nic underwent an electrical catheter study and an ablation procedure to locate an extra electrical connection and correct his heart arrhythmia.
Read Nic's Story -
Like mother, like child(ren)
Tracy, who was born with multiple ventricular septal defects (VSD), gave birth to a son with VSD and a daughter with both an ASD (a hole in the upper chamber of the heart) and a VSD.
Read Their Story -
A brand new rhythm
Southwest Georgia youth gets an automated implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (AICD) after doctors diagnosed him with Long Q-T syndrome, a rare heart rhythm disorder.
Read Rylan's Story