Texas Children's Heart Transplant Program celebrates 30th anniversary

HOUSTON - (Dec. 10, 2014) - Last month, Texas Children's Hospital celebrated the 30^th anniversary of Texas Children's Heart Transplant Program. Since Dr. Denton A. Cooley and Dr. O.H. (Bud) Frazier performed the first heart transplant in 1984, Texas Children's Heart Center has performed more than 300 heart transplants, making the program one of the most active and largest in the nation. Texas Children's Heart Center is ranked #2 nationally in cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News World Report. For more information about Texas Children's Heart Center visit texaschildrens.org/heart.

A team of experts - including heart transplant surgeons, pediatric cardiologists, transplant coordinators and dietitians, child life specialists, social workers, pharmacists, physical and occupational therapists, infectious diseases experts, immunology physicians and dedicated nurses - focuses on each aspect of the patient's care. The specialized care the team provides, combined with decades of experience, compassion and state-of-the-art facilities, help children in need of heart transplants survive and thrive.

"The true results of our team's exceptional work over the past 30 years can be seen in the hundreds of success stories of our patient families," says Dr. Jeff Dreyer, medical director of Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Cardiac Transplantation at Texas Children's and professor of pediatrics-cardiology at Baylor College of Medicine. "As one of the largest programs in the nation, our experience in treating patients with heart failure is leading the way in positive outcomes."

The multidisciplinary team at Texas Children's has transplanted hearts in children from newborns to young adults from across the United States.Due to their unique expertise, Texas Children's Heart Program sees some of the rarest and most complex cases, resulting in the best possible outcome for each child.

"Texas Children's has been a pioneer in all aspects of pediatric cardiovascular surgery, and our Heart Transplant Program is a shining example of this," says Dr. Jeffrey Heinle, surgical director of the Heart and Lung Transplant Program at Texas Children's and associate professor of surgery and pediatrics at Baylor. "Over the past 30 years, Texas Children's has consistently led innovations in this field, bringing hope to children and adolescents from all over in need of a heart transplant."

Texas Children's Heart Center is on the cutting-edge of ventricular assist device (VAD) placement, which provides circulatory support until a transplant can be received. Texas Children's offers the best VAD tailored to each child's size, diagnosis and needs for both short- and long-term assistance.

To learn more about Texas Children's Heart Transplant Program, visit the website.

About Texas Children’s Hospital

Texas Children’s Hospital, a not-for-profit health care organization, is committed to creating a healthier future for children and women throughout the global community by leading in patient care, education and research. Consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation, Texas Children’s has garnered widespread recognition for its expertise and breakthroughs in pediatric and women’s health. The hospital includes the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute; the Feigin Center for pediatric research; Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high-risk births; Texas Children’s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; and Texas Children’s Hospital The Woodlands, a second community hospital planned to open in 2017. The organization also created the nation’s first HMO for children, has the largest pediatric primary care network in the country and a global health program that’s channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children’s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine. For more information, go to www.texaschildrens.org. Get the latest news by visiting the online newsroom and Twitter at twitter.com/texaschildrens.