Heart Center

Statistics and Outcomes

At Seattle Children’s Heart Center, our outcomes are among the best in the nation for simple to complex heart procedures and transplants for children. Our heart surgeons perform more pediatric cardiac procedures than any other providers in the Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WWAMI) region.

  • What Seattle Children’s measures and why

    "Outcomes” refer to the results of treatment and evaluate how effective care is. We also provide statistics such as the number of patients seen (volumes). 

    We gather this data to:  

    • Measure the health of our patients
    • Improve the quality of the care we provide
    • Help you make informed decisions about your child’s care 

    Learn more about outcomes at Seattle Children’s.

Heart Center Volumes and Survival Rates

We treat the entire range of pediatric heart conditions – from the most common to the most complex and rare. We only treat babies, children, teens and young adults. This means we bring years of experience to your child’s unique situation.

Seattle Children’s Heart Center is the largest pediatric heart program in the WWAMI region. 

Total number of heart surgeries, 2017 to 2023

3,736

Total number (volume) of Heart Center surgeries by calendar year

This chart shows that the Heart Center team performed 570 surgeries in 2023. Read more about Seattle Children’s Heart Surgery Program.

570
2023
426
2022
531
2021
513
2020
558
2019
590
2018
578
2017

Number of surgeries and 30-day survival rate

This table shows:

  • The number (volume) of each type of complex heart surgery performed at Seattle Children’s Hospital
  • The number of patients who survived more than 30 days after surgery (outcome). “30-day survival” is the measurement for success used by hospitals throughout the nation. Using this measurement allows you to compare us with other hospitals.
  • These data are for procedures performed from January 1 through December 31, 2023.
  • Arterial switch (transposition of the great arteries)
    15
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Atrial septal defect (ASD) repair
    11
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • AV canal repair
    19
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Coarctation repair
    9
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit and pulmonary valve insertion
    4
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Single ventricle defect-related surgeries

    Norwood

    7
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate

    Fontan

    5
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate

    Glenn

    15
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate

    Ross procedures

    4
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Tetralogy of Fallot repair
    11
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous return repair
    7
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Valve repair and replacement (mitral/aortic)
    18
    Numbers of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate
  • Ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair
    35
    Number of surgeries
    100%
    30-day survival rate

Cardiac catheterization lab volume, 2023

833

This data is for procedures performed from January 1 through December 31, 2023. Data is coming from IMPACT. Our catheterization laboratory is the largest of its kind in the region. Read more about cardiac catheterization at Seattle Children's.

Heart Transplant Volumes and Survival Rates

Total number of heart transplants, January 2017 to December 2023*

116

* Please note that the total number and total numbers, by year, were pulled via STS.

Heart transplant volumes by year, 2019 to 2023

This chart shows that the Heart Center team performed 14 transplants in 2023. Read more about Seattle Children’s Heart Transplant Program.

14
2023
14
2022
21
2021
11
2020
20
2019

Pediatric heart transplant survival rates

This table compares survival rates at Seattle Children’s with the national average for pediatric patients. Pediatric patients are children who are not yet 18 years old when they are put on the transplant waitlist.

  • One-year patient survival
    91.60%
    Seattle Children’s 1-year patient survival
    92.31%
    National average 1-year patient survival
    39
    Number of patients evaluated at Seattle Children’s
  • One-year graft survival
    91.83%
    Seattle Children’s 1-year graft survival
    92.33%
    National average 1-year graft survival
    40
    Number of transplants evaluated at Seattle Children’s
  • Three-year patient survival
    97.37%
    Seattle Children’s 3-year patient survival
    89.10%
    National average 3-year patient survival
    39
    Number of patients evaluated at Seattle Children’s
  • Three-year graft survival
    97.56%
    Seattle Children’s 3-year graft survival
    88.90%
    National average 3-year graft survival
    42
    Number of transplants evaluated at Seattle Children’s

These data are for transplants performed in the following periods:  

  • 1-year survival: July 1, 2020, to December 31, 2022
  • 3-year survival: January 1, 2018 to March 12, 2020, and June 13, 2020, to June 30, 2020

Transplant data updated January 2024. Next SRTR update: July 2024

Prenatal Diagnosis Volumes and Accuracy

This table shows the number of prenatal heart exams we did in each of the previous 3 years. It also shows how accurate we are in making the diagnosis during pregnancy. Some things cannot be detected before birth due to the differences between blood circulation during pregnancy and after birth.

2023
1,746
Number of prenatal evaluations
99.5%
Accuracy
2022
1,603
Number of prenatal evaluations
99.7%
Accuracy
2021
1,195
Number of prenatal evaluations
100%
Accuracy

Where does this information come from?

These statistics and outcomes reflect national metrics reported to the National Quality Forum, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Talk with your child’s doctor or contact the Heart Center at 206-987-2015.

Updated February 2024.