Single Ventricle Center of Excellence

Our Patients

We care for patients anywhere along their Single Ventricle journey in a variety of care settings. 

• Pregnant women who receive a single ventricle disease diagnosis will be followed throughout their pregnancy by our multidisciplinary prenatal team through The Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. 
• Infants diagnosed with a single ventricle defect are initially cared for in the Regenstein Cardiac Care Unit. Once ready for discharge home, they are closely monitored through our Tele-Interstage Home Monitoring Program and our High Acuity Transition (HeArT) Clinic.  
• Upon graduation from the Interstage period, infants and toddlers with single ventricle defects either continue with comprehensive follow up care in our HeArT clinic at the main hospital, transition to one of our outreach cardiologists closer to home, or transition to local cardiologists in the community depending on their level of medical complexity and family preference.  Our team strives to keep your care close to home whenever possible.   
• Children and young adults diagnosed with a single ventricle defect following Fontan palliation receive care in our multidisciplinary Single Ventricle Follow-Up Clinic. 
• As they near adulthood, individuals with single ventricle physiology begin the transition to our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program. The bridge between pediatric and adult care helps patients and their families to safely transition and minimizes disruptions in care while helping patients develop independence and gradually learn to take ownership of their own healthcare.   

Journey With a Single Ventricle Defect

Single ventricle physiology is typically treated through a series of two or three palliative (non-curative) surgeries in the first few years of life. Children with these heart defects require lifelong cardiac care to ensure they have every opportunity to lead healthy lives as they grow. Unfortunately, many children will require additional operations or cardiac catheter-based procedures, complex testing, multiple hospitalizations, and frequent outpatient follow-up. Our single ventricle team is uniquely equipped to help these patients and their families face these challenges both inside and outside the hospital. 

View our Single Ventricle Roadmap

Research & Quality Improvement Initiatives

Our team is passionate about pioneering advancements and improvements in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients with single ventricle physiology. 

• National Pediatric Cardiology Quality Improvement Collaborative (NPC-QIC) - multicenter network whose mission is to improve the care and outcome of infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome during the interstage period. 
• Fontan Outcomes Network – multicenter network whose mission is to improve the functional health, neurodevelopment, and quality of life of individuals living with Fontan physiology 
• Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society (PCICS) 
• Cardiac Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Collaborative (CNOC) 
• Advanced Cardiac Therapies Improving Outcomes Network (ACTION) 
• American Board of Pediatrics (ABP) Roadmap Project 

Make an Appointment

Appointments with the Single Ventricle Center of Excellence can be arranged by calling 312.227.8588. 

In addition to in-person visits, we now offer telemedicine visits via video or phone. Some appointments will still require you to be seen in-person, but your physician and care team will let you know if a telemedicine appointment is available.

Second Opinions

For families or providers seeking a second opinion, please call Emilie Weisberg at 312.227.8588.