A Day in the Life of a Pediatric Heart Surgeon

Congenital heart defects -- heart problems that someone is born with -- are the most common birth defect, says Benjamin Peeler, MD, a congenital heart surgeon. Up to 1 in 100 babies are born with a heart defect.

Dr. Peeler operates on patients with heart defects of all ages, from babies through adulthood. In this video, you can follow along with Dr. Peeler on a typical day of seeing and operating on patients and working with his team.

Dr. Peeler said his team does 250 to 300 surgeries a year. We take pride in our team's acknowledgment for clinical superiority by U.S. News & World Report and exceptional results as documented by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Our seasoned surgeons collaborate closely with our cardiologists, ICU specialists, anesthesiologists and subspecialists. However, the most crucial collaboration is with our patients and their families, as we jointly develop personalized care plans that are innovative, effective, and safe. When choosing Ochsner, families and patients can rest assured, knowing they are entrusting their loved ones to the finest experts in the field.