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Transformative Fetal Cardiac Intervention Program

Advancing Care for Congenital Heart Defects Before Birth

January 30, 2025

With the launch of the Fetal Cardiac Intervention (FCI) Program, experts at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health are pioneering a new era of fetal cardiac care in the Midwest, offering innovative treatments for complex congenital heart defects in utero. Led by Sheetal R. Patel, MD, MSCI, Medical Director of the Fetal Cardiology Program, and Alan W. Nugent, MD, Section Head of Interventional Cardiac Catheterization, the FCI Program is one of only a few in the nation to provide these advanced interventions. 

With modern imaging techniques, such as fetal echocardiography, congenital heart defects can be diagnosed during pregnancy, enabling timely parental counseling and care planning. The program’s focus includes treating a range of severe conditions like aortic valve stenosis, where in-utero balloon dilation can potentially prevent progression to hypoplastic left heart syndrome

The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health, led by Aimen F. Shaaban, MD, provides the infrastructure and multidisciplinary expertise to support this program. Drs. Patel and Nugent have established clinical protocols to ensure best practices and compliance.

While maternal risks for FCI procedures are minimal, fetal outcomes depend on advancements in technology. Future innovations, including the miniaturization of instruments, hold promise for improving safety and efficacy.

Lurie Children’s FCI Program is committed to delivering new possibilities for families in the Midwest facing complex congenital heart diseases. For information on consultations and referrals, visit luriechildrens.org/fci.