Cardiology

“While I take great pride in the exceptional outcomes we achieve, what fills me with the deepest pride is the remarkable cohesion and culture of our team – a community of experts dedicated to caring for families not only across Texas, but from all corners of the country. United by gratitude and driven by the trust of our patients and families, we are fortunate to be part of such a talented, compassionate and collaborative community in pursuit of better outcomes for all children with pediatric and congenital heart disease.”

Nicolas Madsen, M.D.
Co-Director of The Heart Center at Children’s Health
Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, UT Southwestern

“I am very proud of the extraordinary results our team has achieved. These outcomes reflect our commitment to a multidisciplinary approach in caring for patients with complex pediatric and congenital heart disease. Our team of experts provides world-class care today while taking an innovative approach that will transform the care of the future, redefining what excellence will look like tomorrow.”

Ryan Davies, M.D.
Co-Director of The Heart Center at Children’s Health
Division Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, UT Southwestern

PATIENT OUTCOMES

1.43 Four-year combined adjusted mortality rate (AMR)
2.65 National benchmark

1 in 10 Infant heart transplants in the U.S. from 2023-2025 with a 93.5% survival rate

44 Fontan surgeries avoided since 2023 with successful biventricular repair with 100% survival

KEY PROGRAMS

Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Care (PACC)

As the busiest VAD and transplant program in the country, our expert team provides innovative care while achieving outstanding outcomes. Utilizing expert VAD support and heart transplantation protocols, we have achieved a low waitlist mortality rate of <5%. Our team also provides unique expertise with transplantation for some of the most complex congenital heart diseases.

Complex Biventricular Repair

Our expert team offers leading-edge care for children with severe congenital heart defects traditionally associated with single ventricle physiology.

Optimizes the opportunity to redirect toward biventricular physiology through our state-of-the-art multidisciplinary approach
44 patients redirected away from Fontan to biventricular physiology since 2023, sparing them from long-term renal, hepatic and lymphatic dysfunction

Advanced Cross-Sectional Imaging

We offer one of the largest, most experienced pediatric advanced cross-sectional imaging programs in the country. In fact, we will launch a second cardiac MRI in 2026, utilizing low-field technology that cannot be found anywhere else in the country. Our team also uses MRI-guided cardiac catheterization, available at only a handful of centers nationwide, which can reduce radiation exposure to patients while offering more detailed images than ever before.

Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3)

Children’s Health is home to the Pediatric Acute Care Cardiology Collaborative (PAC3), the only pediatric cardiology collaborative in the world that focuses on the needs of hospitalized patients as they transition from the intensive care unit to home.