Cardiothoracic Surgery

The cardiothoracic surgeons at Le Bonheur Children's have the expertise to care for children with a wide range of cardiac disorders. In addition to performing pediatric surgery, our team can provide surgical care to adults who were diagnosed with cardiac disorders as children.  Our cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists collaborate to determine the best surgical path for our patients – both pediatric and adult. We have access to all of Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare’s facilities to perform the surgeries that our individual patients require.

When less invasive measures are not an option, Le Bonheur cardiac surgeons utilize state-of-the-art techniques to care for neonates, infants, children, adolescents and adults with cardiac and thoracic disorders. These disorders include structural heart defects, irregular heart rhythms and structural malformations within the chest cavity. 

Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

The five-bed Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) focuses on the unique needs of critically ill neonatal and pediatric patients with congenital and acquired heart disease. A team of cardiac specialists, respiratory therapists and a variety of other services provide multidisciplinary collaboration aiming to provide high-quality therapeutic outcomes. In addition to specialized technology in the Intensive Care Unit, the CVICU also offers:

• Bedside surgical procedures
• Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) – a regional saturation monitor assisting in cardiac output measurement
• Transesophageal echo
• Pericardiocentesis
• Balloon atrial septostomy

Surgery Team

Our team is available for appointments or referrals. If you would like to schedule an appointment, please call the Le Bonheur Referral and Resource Center at our toll free number, (866) 870-5570.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons
Umar Boston, M.D.
Christopher Knott-Craig, M.D.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Staff
Craig Mathis, MSN, APRN, B.C.
Stephen Wilson, BSN, RN

Perfusionists
Mike Solimine, CCP
Kerri Davis, CCP

For more information please contact: Cardiac Institute