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Red blood cell transfusions for sickle cell disease

Your child's health-care team may offer red blood cell transfusions to treat your child's sickle cell disease. Learn about the treatment, including its benefits and risks.

Sickle cell treatments

Your health-care team may offer red blood cell transfusions or stem cell transplants to treat your sickle cell disease. Learn about both treatments, including their benefits and risks.

The heart transplant operation

A heart transplant operation takes four to 10 hours. Learn what happens during the transplant and the major problems that may occur.

Life support during heart surgery

During heart surgery, your child will likely be supported by mechanical ventilation, cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal life support, hemoconcentration, circulatory arrest, or selective cerebral perfusion.

Thalassemia

An overview of the causes, symptoms and treatment of this blood disorder caused by a defect in the gene that controls the production of hemoglobin.

Surgical correction of congenital heart defects

Learn about open-heart, closed-heart, and minimally invasive heart surgery.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)

Learn about hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). This condition involves the left side of the heart being underdeveloped, and is extremely serious.

Immediate risks of scoliosis surgery

Read about some of the complications that can arise after having scoliosis surgery. Trusted answers from The Hospital for Sick Children.

Blood, blood components and blood types

Learn about what blood does for the body, the different components of blood and what different blood types mean.

Types of heart conditions

Learn about the types of heart conditions that arise in children. Congenital heart defects and heart rhythm problems are among the conditions discussed.

Getting ready for scoliosis surgery

Learn about what your child should expect when preparing for scoliosis surgery, including a pre-surgery teaching session, X-rays, clinical photos, blood work and other imaging tests.

How respiratory therapists help children with congenital heart conditions

A respiratory therapist (RT) is a health professional specially trained to help patients with breathing disorders. An RT will help care for your child after heart surgery.

Pre-operative visit for heart surgery

Before your child has heart surgery, you will need to come in for a pre-operative visit. The team will assess your child's health and answer any questions you have about the operation.

Aortic stenosis

Learn about aortic stenosis in childhood. With this illness, the aortic valve is unable to open completely, which constricts or squeezes blood flow.

Pulmonary artery stenosis: Balloon angioplasty in the heart catheterization lab

Balloon angioplasty is a surgery that is used to open a narrowed blood vessel in the heart. Learn about balloon angioplasty for pulmonary artery stenosis.

Balloon valvuloplasty

Valve dilation uses heart catheterization to open a narrowed valve in the heart. Read about valve dilation, possible complications and recovery.

Treatment of heart conditions

Learn about the treatment of heart conditions. Find out about the different types of heart treatment and the right questions you should ask the doctor about the treatment.

Common arterial trunk

Learn about common arterial trunk, a defect in which a single great artery comes out of the ventricles instead of the usual pulmonary artery and aorta.

After heart surgery: Caring for your child

Children need extra care and attention after heart surgery. Read about care after heart surgery including diet, pain management and school.

Diagnosis of congenital heart disease

Learn about congenital heart disease in children. Congenital heart disease happens when parts of the heart do not form properly.

Heart transplants

A heart transplant is surgery that replaces a heart that is not working properly with a healthy donor heart. Learn about heart transplants for children.

Kidney transplant: Surgical and post-operative complications

Interrupted aortic arch

Learn about interrupted aortic arch in children. This is a defect of the aorta not developing properly, and causes congestive heart failure.

Fast heart rate (tachycardia)

Learn about different kinds of tachycardia (fast heart rate) and how tachycardia is treated.

Ongoing care after heart surgery

Learn about ongoing care for children with congenital heart disease. Frequency of evaluation, adult care, and non-cardiac surgery are discussed.