Pediatric heart transplant 

For some kids with heart problems, medications and surgeries aren’t enough. In some cases, they need a new heart.

If this is the case for your child, we understand that it can be scary to hear your child needs a heart transplant. A heart transplant can be a major decision. Our pediatric cardiology team is here to support you with expert and compassionate care every step of the way.

Call the Advocate Children’s Heart Institute at (708) 684-5580 to schedule an appointment with a pediatric heart specialist.

The heart transplant process at Advocate Children’s Hospital

Our transplant process starts with extensive screening. A team of pediatric specialists including cardiologists, electrophysiologists, surgeons, social workers and other experts will evaluate your child’s medical history to ensure a transplant is the right choice.

If your child is a good transplant candidate, we’ll put them on the waiting list for a new heart. When needed, we use heart pumps such as ventricular assist devices (VAD) to help a child’s heart until a new heart is available.

When it's time for surgery, your child is in expert hands. Our pediatric heart surgery outcomes are consistently identified among the nation’s best by the Society for Thoracic Surgery and U.S. News & World Report.

Our team of world-renowned experts uses the latest tools and techniques to ensure transplants go as smoothly as possible. We’ll continue to support your child for years after their surgery and into adulthood.

Why choose Advocate Children’s Hospital

Expert care

Our team includes surgeons who specialize in pediatric heart transplants and have performed transplant surgeries across the country for years. This experience helps us know when a transplant is the right option for your child, so we can give them the best chance at a positive outcome.

Comprehensive team

Heart transplants require several doctors, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, psychologists and other experts. We have all these specialists on our team, and they work together to help your child have the best possible outcome.

This starts with keeping kids as strong as possible before their transplant. After the surgery, we will stay by your child’s side to monitor their heart, all the way through adulthood. As part of the Chicagoland Children’s Health Alliance, we have the region’s largest adult congenital heart disease program and the most advanced subspecialty care from birth to adulthood.

Sophisticated, dedicated facilities

Our Oak Lawn campus features a state-of-the-art dedicated pediatric cardiac ICU (PCICU) for pediatric heart surgery patients. Having dedicated operating rooms and staff means we can meet any urgent need of a child with heart disease.

Support for the whole patient

At Advocate Children’s Hospital, we pride ourselves on providing family-centered care that ensures your entire family is involved in your child’s care plan. Our multidisciplinary team will work with you to create a comprehensive treatment plan that considers all your child’s needs before, during and after surgery.

Care beyond the heart

We don’t just support your family through surgery, we support you through every part of your child’s illness. Whether you need financial assistance or help finding accommodations near the hospital, we’re here for you.

Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana to provide an affordable place to call home for families of children in our care. Right across the street from Advocate Children's Hospital – Oak Lawn, parents can live in a comfortable environment that offers privacy along with community space to gather with other families in similar situations.

Lifelong care

Our first goal is to help your child have a successful surgery, but that’s only one part of your heart journey. We’ll monitor your child’s heart for years after the transplant and give them all the care they need to stay strong. We’ll also connect you with specialists such as physical therapists and brain development experts to help your child thrive as they grow.

Meet our pediatric heart transplant team.