Single Ventricle Program

Providing Specialized Care for the Most Fragile of Patients

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Single Ventricle Program

Through the Single Ventricle Program, The Heart Center at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping children and families cope with the challenges of a single ventricle diagnosis and improve outcomes. The Heart Center is among only a handful of centers in North America that offer this dedicated service.

US News Badge Cardiology

Nationwide Children's Hospital is ranked by U.S. News & World Report for Cardiology and Heart Surgery.

About the Single Ventricle Program

Approximately 1,000 children are born each year with a single ventricle heart defect, in which one lower chamber of the heart is either underdeveloped, too small, or missing a valve. Specific areas of focus for the program include outcomes for hypoplastic left heart syndrome after the hybrid procedure; feeding, nutrition and factors affecting neurodevelopmental outcomes for infants with single ventricle heart defects and parent and family support after diagnosis.

Our Team

The mission of the Single Ventricle Team at Nationwide Children's is to improve mortality, morbidity and quality of life for children and families affected by single ventricle heart defects throughout their lifespan.

We have assembled a dedicated care team that consists of:

Our team works seamlessly with our Fetal Cardiac, Cardiothoracic Surgery and Interventional Catheterization teams to provide the medical care and support that our children and families need. We utilize a holistic approach to aiding the child and family, addressing not only cardiac needs but also developmental, nutritional and psychosocial challenges. Our one team approach allows us to deliver superior care that is fully integrated across the care continuum.

Meet Our Leadership

Nationwide Children's Hospital Medical Professional

Karen M. Texter

Karen M. Texter, MD, is the director of Fetal Echocardiography at The Heart Center at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Her special interests include echocardiography in congenital and acquired heart disease, and fetal cardiology.

Meet Our Team

Our Resources

Nationwide Children's Hospital Patient Photo

Your Guide to Single Ventricle Heart Defects

Your baby has been prenatally diagnosed with a single ventricle heart condition and will require services at Nationwide Children’s. Our expert team of fetal medicine specialists is here to guide and support you each step of the way.

Heart Surgery Patient

Home Monitoring

The Heart Center's Home Monitoring Program arms parents with the ability to monitor weight and oxygen levels at home to help prevent illness and to provide early detection of changing cardiac status.

Family Resource Center

Family Resource Center

The Family Resource Center was designed by families and professionals to support patients and families during their time at Nationwide Children's Hospital, both inpatient and outpatient.

Little sister and big brother sitting on a couch

Sibling Support (Sibling Clubhouse)

The Children's Clubhouse is a special place for preschool and school-aged children to play and learn while their siblings are in the hospital.

Nationwide Children's Hospital Patient Stock Photo

Connecting Families

Do you feel like nobody understands what you're going through after your child's diagnosis? Nationwide Children's Hospital's Connecting Families program can match you with a peer who has gone through what you are going though. Learn more and apply here.

NPC-QIC

Since 2009, a group of clinicians, researchers, and parents from across 60 medical institutions have been collaborating to ensure that families of children, who receive a diagnosis of Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS), and other univentricular hearts, have hope. Nationwide Children's was one of the first participating centers and has attended 14 semi-annual conferences. Parents have represented Nationwide Children's at 100% of the conferences.

Beads of Courage

Provides innovative, arts-in-medicine supportive care programs for children coping with serious illness, their families, and the health care providers who care for them.

Single Ventricle Patient and Family Council

This working group focuses on process improvement, quality improvement, and patient and family education. A one-year commitment, our patient and family council is available to patients and families receiving both inpatient and outpatient care.

Conditions We Treat

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Normal Heart vs. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
Featured Video

Normal Heart Anatomy vs. Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Approximately 1,000 children are born each year with a single ventricle heart defect, in which one lower chamber of the heart is either underdeveloped, too small, or missing a valve. Learn how a Hypoplastic Left Heart is different from a “normal” heart and how it can be treated through a series of procedures.