Lurie Children’s Expands World-Class Cardiac Care for Children With Complex Pulmonary Artery Conditions

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is widely recognized as one of the most comprehensive centers for families around the world seeking treatment for complex congenital heart disease in infants, children and young adults.

In 2025, the hospital’s renowned Heart Cen­ter expanded its expertise by recruiting pe­diatric cardiovascular-thoracic surgeon Dr. Elisabeth Martin and launching its Pulmo­nary Artery Reconstruction (PAR) Program.

This highly specialized program focuses on restoring or rebuilding the pulmonary ar­teries – the vessels that carry blood from the heart to the lungs – in children whose arter­ies are blocked, underdeveloped or missing at birth. Dr. Martin and her colleagues have advanced training in treating conditions such as Tetralogy of Fallot with pulmonary atresia and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs), unilateral absence or discontinuity of a pulmonary artery, single-ventricle physiology and Williams and Ala­gille syndromes, among others.

Unifocalization
Dr. Martin brings to Lurie Children’s rare expertise in unifocalization, a highly com­plex surgical procedure used when a child does not have normal pulmonary arteries. In these cases, the body often develops al­ternative blood vessels called major aorto­pulmonary collateral arteries (MAPCAs). These vessels are not organized like typical pulmonary arteries, making it difficult for the lungs to receive blood efficiently.

During unifocalization, surgeons collect these collateral vessels – along with any na­tive pulmonary artery branches that exist – and reconstruct them into a single func­tional pulmonary artery system. This rebuilt pathway is then connected to the heart, al­lowing for more normal and efficient blood flow to the lungs. For many children, par­ticularly those with pulmonary atresia with MAPCAs or discontinuous pulmonary ar­teries, this surgery can be life-changing.

Lurie Children’s is also recognized for its comprehensive perioperative care. Recov­ery typically begins in the cardiac intensive care unit followed by close monitoring on a specialized cardiac floor. As children grow, the reconstructed pulmonary artery system requires regular evaluation and some pa­tients may need additional procedures to ensure continued optimal function.

Lurie Children’s Heart Center – ranked No. 1 in Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery in Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Children’s Hospitals 2025 – brings together an expert team of pediatric heart surgeons, cardiolo­gists, imaging specialists, anesthesiologists and intensive care experts. This collaborative approach ensures that every child receives an individualized treatment plan based on their unique anatomy and medical needs. Detailed diagnostic imaging, including CT scans, MRI, echocardiography and cardiac catheteriza­tion, allows the team to understand each pa­tient’s condition with exceptional precision.

In addition to pulmonary artery recon­struction, the Heart Center provides a full spectrum of services, ranging from fetal cardiology and cardiac disease prevention to pediatric interventional cardiology and heart transplantation.

International Patient Services
Families traveling from abroad benefit from Lurie Children’s extensive experi­ence caring for international patients, including assistance with medical record coordination, travel planning and follow­up care. Social workers, interpreters, child life specialists and dedicated internation­al patient services staff support families throughout their stay.

For children with some of the most complex heart conditions, Lurie Chil­dren’s offers advanced surgical expertise, comprehensive multidisciplinary care and a deep commitment to long-term patient well-being.

• Learn more at LurieChildrens.org