At Cook Children’s, we have extensive experience with common and complex malformations involving the chest and abdomen—conditions that affect how organs develop and function before birth. Although these diagnoses can be serious, our specialists are trained to correct many types of anomalies with excellent results. You can be confident that your child is in expert hands from surgery to recovery.

What are congenital malformations?

Congenital malformations are structural anomalies that cause problems with a child’s organs and tissues. These anomalies occur as the baby is developing in the womb. They vary widely in severity, ranging from life-threatening to mild issues.

Your child may need surgery when the anomaly impacts critical functions, such as breathing, feeding or digestion, or when there's a risk of infection or organ damage. Advances in prenatal diagnosis often allow us to identify these problems before birth and plan early interventions.

Hope and healing happen every day here at Cook Children’s. Discover some of our highlights.