Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit

The Pediatric Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (PCVICU) at Connecticut Children's Medical Center is a highly specialized, round-the-clock facility providing care for newborns, babies, children, adolescents, and adults with cardiac disorders. 

Our cutting-edge facilities and specialized staff are dedicated to treating complex cardiac conditions. We take a family-centered approach to care that prioritizes both neuro-developmental and physical healing, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients with congenital heart disease.

Our team includes:

  • Cardiothoracic Surgeons
  • Cardiac Intensivists
  • General Cardiologists 
  • Advanced Practice Providers 
  • Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Nurses 
  • Respiratory Therapists 
  • Pharmacists 
  • Nutritionists 
  • Social Workers
  • Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, Speech-Language Pathologists 

Treatments & Services

Technology within our state-of-the-art facility allows us to continuously monitor heart function, identify anomalies, and react to any changes in a patient's condition.

The PCVICU provides comprehensive pre- and post-operative care to patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Patients in the PCVICU may undergo interventional cardiology procedures during their stay, including Balloon Valvuloplasty, Balloon Atrial Septostomy, Device Closure of Septal Defects, Percutaneous Pulmonary Valve Implantation, and Coarctation of the Aorta Repair. These procedures take place in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and the Electrophysiology Laboratory. Our interventional cardiology services include catheter-based treatments, which are less invasive and allow for quicker recovery times compared to traditional surgeries.

Recognizing the critical role of nutrition in cardiac recovery, our dedicated nutritionists develop personalized dietary plans for each patient. 

We offer comprehensive respiratory support, from mechanical ventilation to specialized breathing treatments, tailored to the needs of each patient.

The PCVICU team collaborates closely with our pediatric-trained staff pharmacists to prescribe medicines and therapies that provide the best possible results with the fewest adverse effects. 

We provide ongoing counseling and psychological support to help patients and families cope with the challenges of cardiac conditions.

We provide families with educational materials and host workshops to help them understand the patient's condition and care procedures.

We share all medical information with the patient's primary care provider and other specialists prior to discharge to ensure proper continuation of care. 

Meet the Team

Allison Schilling, BSN, MSN, PNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner, Cardiac ICU

Monika Gupta, MD

Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist

Andrea Guardenier, MD

Pediatric Intensivist

Shalin Parekh, MD

Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist

Testimonials

Hear directly from patient families about their experience in the PCVICU. 

 

"I love that they let me be a part of rounding."

“My daughter, Ivette, spent five months in the intensive care unit. If I could tell parents with kids recently admitted to the ICU one thing, I would say: Don’t lose faith, don’t lose hope. You might be going through the worst situation imaginable, but the staff in the pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit will hold your hand throughout this journey. They did it for me. It’s a whole other world in there, and I know it may seem scary at first. There are so many machines and equipment, and your child is really sick. But the doctors, nurses and staff are incredible. They know what they’re doing and they really care. I love that they let me be a part of rounding. I got to listen to their care plans for my daughter. It really helped me. By joining rounding, I was part of the decision making and felt even more confident in the care my daughter was receiving.” —Rosalynd Lasalle

 

"The staff became like a second family."

"After my son, Daniel, was born, he was brought to the NICU at Connecticut Children’s. We knew he needed open heart surgery. Knowing your newborn needs surgery is scary, but everyone was wonderful, everyone was knowledgeable, and you could tell they really cared about my son, Daniel, and wanted what was best for him. We spent about four months in the ICU, and the staff became like a second family. Plus, the sleep room in the cardiac intensive care unit was a godsend. Daniel is a twin, and I was able to stay overnight with his twin in the sleep room, so I could spend as much time as possible with Daniel.”  —Ashley Chrzanowski

 

"I dreaded going back to the ICU because it meant my son needed the care, but I knew he was in the best hands."

“We found out at 20 weeks that my son, Joseph, had a congenital heart defect. All the doctors were excellent at explaining what was happening. After he was born, we were in the PICU for six days before he had an open heart procedure. He healed really well from that, and we probably would have been sent home within a week for the heart issue, but Joseph also had Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC). It’s a really scary condition, and the team was great about giving us enough information, but not overwhelming us. Joseph had a long road to recovery; we were discharged after 7 weeks. Since then, we’ve been back to the ICU twice: first when Joseph contracted RSV and then when he underwent his second planned heart surgery. I dreaded going back to the ICU because it meant my son needed the care, but I knew he was in the best hands." —Katie Offsay

 

Quality and Safety Measures

We adhere to strict quality and safety protocols to ensure the highest national standards of care and continuously work on improving our practices based on the latest research and feedback. We participate in national registries.