About the Heart Transplant Program
The Heart Transplant Program provides compassionate, state-of-the-art care to children with heart disorders. We have the technology and expertise to treat even the most complex heart problems.
We treat infants, children, teens and young adults from birth through age 21 for congenital heart defects, heart disease and heart failure in our Heart Transplant Clinic.
We’ve been performing heart transplantation surgeries at Children’s since 1994, and our outcomes are among the best in the nation. In 2005, our team performed 10 pediatric heart transplants.
For children with heart failure, we provide care before, during and after heart transplant.
Our Team
Our heart transplant team is led by Dr. Lester Permut and Dr. Yuk Law. Seattle Children's has performed over 100 pediatric heart transplants. We are dedicated to helping your whole family return to an active, normal life.
Advancing Treatment for Children
Seattle Children's has a long history of advancing treatment for children with heart failure. Our heart transplant program was the first and remains the only program in our region to offer innovative treatments that include:
- Ventricular assist devices that allow children to wait until transplants become available
- ABO blood group–mismatched transplants so babies don't have to wait as long for a transplant
- Catheterization intervention combined with surgical techniques to help improve the health of children with heart failure, whether or not they need transplants later
- Surgical techniques that use state-of-the art tissue typing, blood banking and immunological treatment so children who otherwise would not qualify for a heart transplant can undergo successful transplantation
- Two-ventricle pacing devices that treat heart failure by improving the performance of a child's heart
- Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) program for children that provides life support when a child's heart or lungs are not working properly or need a rest
What Is a Heart Transplant?
A heart transplant is the process of removing a diseased heart and replacing it with a healthy heart from a deceased donor. This is a treatment option for children with heart defects or diseases that cause heart failure — a condition that can’t be treated by medications or any other type of surgery. The transplant process requires extensive preparation and lifelong follow-up care.
Illnesses that may lead to heart transplant in children include:
- Complex congenital heart disease, a heart problem that is present from birth
- Cardiomyopathy, a disorder of the heart muscle that prevents it from squeezing properly
Several other heart diseases can cause heart failure.
How Does the Transplant Process Work?
One way that Children’s supports your child and family through this challenging time is by helping you understand as much as possible about the transplant process. Learn what to expect if your child needs a heart transplant.