Are you or a loved one in need of a life-saving heart transplant? Central Texas is home to a network of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons who specialize in all stages of congestive heart failure, including heart transplantation. In the United States, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) determines the priority of a heart transplant by grouping patients according to the severity of their condition. The two most common heart problems are coronary artery disease (plaque buildup in the heart's arteries) and idiopathic cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease with no known cause). The Heart Failure, Assisted Care and Transplant Program diagnoses, treats and manages the care of children and adults with congenital heart disease, who have a heart muscle problem, or have heart failure.
At any given time, there are more than 3000 patients on the national waiting list for a heart transplant, but only about 2000 donor hearts are available for transplantation in a year. Today, heart transplantation provides hope to a select group of patients who would otherwise die of heart failure. As the heart problem worsens, the heart weakens and is less able to pump oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body. In the United States, 246 UN-approved heart transplant programs work together to ensure that the entire usable donor heart is used. The Heart Failure, Ventricular Assistance and Transplant Program is the first pediatric heart transplant program in Central Texas.
The Heart Failure, Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) and Transplant Program is a specialized program of the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Diseases, a clinical partnership between Dell Children's Medical Center and UT Health Austin. A heart biopsy involves removing small pieces of tissue from the new heart to see if the body is rejecting the organ. Your primary care doctor or cardiologist can refer you to the Heart Failure Clinic, or you can refer you yourself. In Central Texas, the clinical research group at the Ascension Seton Heart Institute is comprised of a team of experienced and dedicated clinical trial specialists. With little free time, Vernon Perdue was transferred from Parkland Hospital to UT Southwestern because he was suffering from congestive heart failure and would need a heart transplant.
If you or someone you know is in need of a life-saving heart transplant in Central Texas, it's important to understand all your options. Knowing what to expect before, during, and after your procedure can help you make an informed decision about your care. The Heart Failure Clinic at Ascension Seton Heart Institute offers comprehensive care for patients with advanced stages of congestive heart failure. Our team of cardiologists and cardiac surgeons specialize in all stages of congestive heart failure, including heart transplantation.
We provide personalized care for each patient based on their individual needs. Our team will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise as well as medications that can help improve your condition. We also offer advanced treatments such as ventricular assist devices (VADs) and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) that can help improve your quality of life while waiting for a donor organ. At Ascension Seton Heart Institute, we understand that each patient's situation is unique.
Our team will work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan that meets your needs and provides you with the best possible outcome.
