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The Heart Failure and Transplant Program team is part of the Ward Family Heart Center at Children’s Mercy. This team combines experts from several departments of the hospital to provide care for children and teens who are in various stages of heart failure, preparing for heart transplant or who have undergone heart transplant.
  

What is heart failure?


When your child’s heart is not pumping blood as effectively as it should, this is known as heart failure. Often, heart failure occurs in children who were born with a heart condition (often called a congenital heart defect), but it can also be a result of an infection or other medical problem that damages the heart muscle. Conditions associated with heart failure include:

  • Cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscles) 

  • Congenital heart disease (heart disease a child is born with) 

  • Continued heart problems following surgery for a congenital heart disease, such as the heart not working properly or the valves being too leaky
     

Your heart care team


At Children’s Mercy, your heart team includes experts from many different areas who all work together to build a care plan for your child’s unique needs. The same care team will stay with your family throughout your journey, and they meet regularly to be sure everyone is up to date on your child’s plan. Your care team may include:

  • Cardiac surgeon 

  • Cardiologist 

  • Advanced practice provider 

  • Nurse coordinator 

  • Pharmacist 

  • Nutritionist 

  • Psychologist 

  • Social worker 

  • Spiritual services 

  • Child Life specialist 

  • Financial coordinator

Treatment options for heart failure


Medications can help manage heart failure for many children. When medications alone are not effective, Children’s Mercy also offers ventricular assist devices (VADs), which provide critical support to kids as they wait for a new heart. 

Ventricular Assist Devices (VAD)


VADs are used in patients with severe heart failure to improve blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body. When standard medical management has not be able to correct the heart’s pumping problem, these devices are used as a bridge to heart transplant.  


The most common device used at Children's Mercy is the Berlin Heart EXCOR pediatric VAD.  This can be used to support the left, right, or both sides of the heart depending on your child's needs.  


Cannulas (flexible tubes) are sewn into the heart and connected to a pump, or pumps, outside the body. A machine connected to the pump takes over the workload of the heart and allows for adequate blood flow to the body.  


When the VAD improves the function of the heart, other organs begin to work properly as well. Although your child must remain in the hospital while on this device, it allows for them to resume some regular activities and have improved quality of life while waiting for transplant. 

Kids at Children’s Mercy on a VAD have access to all kinds of resources. From playgroups and teen hangouts organized by Child Life specialists to first steps and tricycle rides with physical therapists, our support specialists help your child stay on track with developmental and academic milestones, as well as help them have fun and stay positive while they are in the hospital.

Heart Transplant Program


When no other medical or surgical options are available to fix a failing heart, your child may need a heart transplant. Waiting for a transplant can be a long and frustrating process. Our team will do everything possible to help your family stay comfortable, up-to-date and involved throughout the process.  

A clinical psychologist will meet regularly with your family starting at the time of your diagnosis. A full team of support specialists—Child Life specialists, hospital-based school teachers, occupational and physical therapists, and other support staff—will give your child a sense of normalcy while you wait for a heart.

Read more about the Heart Transplant program