Beneficiary
Advancing Expert Care That Gives Children More Chances to Dream
When a child is treated by the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), it’s often during some of the darkest moments a family can experience. Families bring critically ill and injured children to CHOP for the expert pediatric care, the stop-at-nothing perspective and their best chance at hope.
A dedicated team of anesthesiologists, critical care physicians and nurses stands at the bedsides of some of the sickest children in the country, and the world, working alongside CHOP’s multitude of specialist teams, targeting life-threatening conditions with life-changing care.
Founded more than six decades ago, the department quickly became one of notable firsts. In 1967, it established the first pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in the country, one that today reports an astounding 98-99% survival rate. In 1975, it established the first intensive respiratory rehabilitation care unit for ventilator-dependent children. These firsts didn’t happen by accident. As pioneers in developing cutting-edge treatments, leaders in groundbreaking research and educators of generations of care providers, the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine is driven by the need to improve outcomes for children everywhere.
Providing 24-hour coverage in CHOP’s operating rooms, intensive care units and many more locations, this team takes to heart the trust granted by families and honors it with the most comprehensive and compassionate care possible, every year delivering and supporting:
33,000+
anesthetics
3,000+
cardiac services
31,000+
inpatient ICU days
The Dreamers Who Inspire Us
At CHOP, every day is treated as mission-critical by the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, so that after every child wakes from an operation or survives a life-threatening situation, they have the chance to dream and the possibility to live out those dreams. Meet some of the patients and families who have received lifesaving care at CHOP.
Emma
For 11 painfully long minutes, 16-month-old Emma’s heart stopped beating. What had started as a common cold turned into a life-threatening situation and a terrible nightmare for her parents, but the experts in CHOP’s Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) were right there to save her. CHOP has led the nation, and the world, in training clinicians in the most advanced methods of CPR. Sparing no effort, the doctors and nurses revived Emma as her heart began beating on its own again. With the support of ECMO, a ventilator and two weeks in CHOP’s rehabilitation center, Emma made a full recovery, avoided brain damage and returned to the healthy, happy version of herself.
Edgar
When 12-year-old Edgar was building a sand cave on the beach, it suddenly collapsed, trapping him underneath. Unable to breathe, his heart stopped. Thanks to the quick action of lifeguards and other beachgoers, Edgar was taken via helicopter to a nearby hospital, but the care team was unable to stabilize him. His lungs had filled with wet sand. Fighting against time, Edgar was rushed to CHOP’s PICU where he was placed on ECMO. CHOP’s ECMO team is one of the most experienced in the world. As the ECMO machine did the breathing for Edgar, doctors cleaned the sand from his lungs. After three months of careful recovery and rehabilitation, Edgar is alive and healthy today.
Albe
Albe, 16, and his brother were playing video games together when he suddenly went into cardiac arrest. While his mother called 911, Albe’s older brother immediately began performing CPR until the ambulance came. Albe was rushed to CHOP’s Emergency Department where dozens of critical care medicine and other specialists worked to save him. In addition to cardiac arrest, Albe had experienced a massive pulmonary embolism, a condition in which blood clots block main arteries and prevent blood from flowing to the organs. Once Albe was stabilized, he received two weeks of care in the PICU and was eventually healthy enough to go home.
James
Following multiple open-heart surgeries to treat 4-year-old James’ rare heart condition, he experienced complications due to a separate rare lymphatic condition that made him vulnerable to viral illness. After a series of visits to his local hospital to treat severe symptoms, he was eventually transferred to CHOP, where specialists from multiple disciplines worked swiftly together to identify James’ care plan and provide lifesaving treatment. Supported by CHOP experts and advanced therapies, including ECMO, James overcame critical complications and was able to return home to his family. He now awaits a heart transplant that will help carry him into the future.
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