Heart Failure Program

As the number of diagnoses for pediatric heart failure increases, so has our experience in treating patients. Our dedicated team of physicians, nurse coordinators and administrative personnel cares for more than 2,000 cardiomyopathy and heart failure patients.

Treatment is tailored to the individual needs of each patient. The majority of cardiomyopathy and heart failure patients are managed with medication. A small percentage of patients will go on to require a heart transplant. Since it's inception in 1984, Texas Children's Heart Center has become one of the largest and most successful heart transplant programs in the nation.

Some patients awaiting a heart transplant may require mechanical circulatory support with a Ventricular Assist Device (VAD). We offer a variety of circulatory support devices as a bridge to transplantation. Since we implanted our first VAD in 1985, we have become one of the largest, most comprehensive pediatric VAD programs in the world.

In many organizations, the only option for pediatric heart failure patients is extracorporeal membrance oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO can provide partial or total support for patients, but it is a temporary, short-term option.

Texas Children’s Hospital offers a comprehensive range of both short and long-term mechanical devices for children of all sizes.

Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation’s Accredited Center of Care

Texas Children’s Hospital has been named an accredited center of care by the Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation (CCF), a national nonprofit committed to improving the health outcomes and quality of life for children with cardiomyopathy. Cardiomyopathy is a chronic heart disease that affects how the heart pumps blood through the body. Texas Children’s Hospital received this recognition for providing consistent high-quality cardiac care and specialized disease management to children with cardiomyopathy.

Center accreditation is based on self-reported hospital data, which is evaluated on the volume of pediatric cardiomyopathy patients, variety of pediatric patient services offered, expertise in the treatment and management of cardiomyopathy in children, and affiliation with an academic research institution. Information about CCF’s Accredited Center of Care program and selection criteria is available on CCF’s website.