The pediatric heart failure and heart transplant program began in 1981. Since then, more than 60 children have received heart transplants at University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital. The program has successfully transplanted several very high-risk patients, including patients refused by other major transplant centers. These patients often have advanced pulmonary hypertension or advanced heart failure from congenital (inherited) heart disease.

Our pediatric heart failure and transplant team offers your child the full array of the most proven and innovative medical and surgical treatments -- from medical management to heart transplantation to circulatory assist devices using the newest technologies available. 

Pediatric Heart Transplant Facts

• More than 60 pediatric patients have received a heart transplant at our center since 1981.
• Several of the children at our center have been high-risk patients, including patients refused by other major transplant centers. These patients often have advanced pulmonary hypertension or advanced heart failure from congenital heart disease. 
• The youngest heart transplant patient at our hospital was 1 month old.
• The longest pediatric heart transplant survivor in our program received his heart in 1986. This equals the longest survival rate on record for a pediatric heart transplant patient in the United States.
• Our center is one of only 13 transplant programs in the country that are approved to implant the Berlin Heart into children. The Berlin Heart is a device that helps pump blood to the body. Without it, some children who need a transplant might die while they are waiting. In other cases, the pump can help the heart to heal so that no transplant is necessary.
• In 2008, a pediatric patient at our center was able to wean off the Berlin Heart. He is now healthy and active, and is no longer in need of a heart transplant.