Pediatric Heart Transplant Program
Offering the hope of better health since 1987
Since our first pediatric heart transplant in 1987, Children’s Hospital has offered children with heart problems the hope of better health.
Our program performed 22 heart transplants in 2019, with 276 total procedures. We also follow about 150 transplant patients with continuing care at any given time. With survival rates above the national average, our transplant program is one of the best in the nation.
We are proud of our numbers, but they don’t tell the whole story. Our transplant team is dedicated to supporting your child and family before, during and after the transplant.
Request a referral to the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program.
Meet Your Care Team
Your complete Heart Transplant care team includes physicians, a pharmacist, transplant coordinators, a financial counselor, child life specialists, social workers and nutrition experts.
Why Choose the Heart Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital
- Experienced care
Nationally we are a top-five pediatric heart transplant program, with 22 procedures performed in 2019 (U.S. Dept. of Health & Human Services data). Forty percent of our transplant patients are under one year old.
- Leading-edge treatments
We use leading-edge ventricular assist devices (VADs) that increase your child’s chances of getting a heart. Our program has performed 38 VAD procedures.
- Better recoveries
We don't use steroids to maintain immune system suppression. Instead, we use newer drugs that cause fewer side effects and are helping children recover faster and stay healthy longer.
- Noninvasive testing
The noninvasive tests we use, such as echocardiograms, are better at pinpointing heart problems. They hurt less and reduce your child's stress.
- Extra support
Our program receives help from many support services at Children’s Hospital. For example, your child receives crucial interventional catheterization and arrhythmia management support before and after receiving a heart transplant.
