The Heart Center at University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital brings help and hope to pediatric heart patients. We’re saving lives through innovation— leading the nation in developing new treatment methods for kids of all ages. Over the last three years, the Heart Center has demonstrated some of the best success rates of pediatric heart programs in the country. And, for the 11th consecutive year, University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital has earned a spot among the best children’s hospitals in the nation, according to U.S. News & World Report.
We provide outstanding care for advanced heart failure, including mechanical circulatory support, ventricular assist devices and transplant. Our history of exceptional patient outcomes led to our designation as a LifeTrac Center of Excellence and Children’s Cardiomyopathy Foundation Center of Care.
Why parents choose us
We’re stronger together.- A dedicated team of 6 cardiologists, 2 Surgeons, 6 Cardiac Care Intensivists, 3 Cardiac Anesthesiologists, and 13 Advanced Practice Providers
- A 12-bed intensive care unit exclusively for heart patient
- Private rooms that help avoid infections and other complications
- High-level academic research and skilled practitioners
Innovation with children in mind
- The Melody Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve®—the first transcatheter valve approved for children—restores pulmonary valve function, delaying open heart surgery as long as possible.
- Our state-of-the-art pediatric hybrid catheterization lab combines surgery and catheter-based treatments for children.
- We were the first in Minnesota to implant a Berlin Heart EXCOR®pediatric ventricular-assist device, which keeps the heart beating while a child waits for a heart donor.
- We conducted the first Stage I Hybrid Norwood in the Upper Midwest, a nonsurgical treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome, or underdeveloped mitral valve, left ventricle, aortic valve and aorta.
We have achieved many breakthroughs, including:
- First successful open-heart surgery using hypothermia
- First repair of a ventricular-septal defect, a hole in one of the heart’s chambers
- First repair of tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect involving three or four malformations of the heart (including narrowing of the valve that pumps blood to the lungs [pulmonary stenosis], an aorta that connects both ventricles, a ventricular septal defect and thickened right ventricular wall)
- First use of a pacemaker
Our cardiologists see patients in the Twin Cities metro area as well as those from neighboring states and provide state-of-the-art services such as ablation, ventricular-assist devices, catheterization, surgery and transplantation.
Research and innovation
PumpKIN Trial for external heart support devices
University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital has been selected as a clinical site in an NHLBI trial of new technology for blood circulation in infants and children. The PumpKIN trial (Pumps for Kids, Infants and Neonates) will use two types of advanced heart support devices to treat children who have failing hearts. This ground-breaking study includes 22 premier children’s hospitals throughout the United States and Canada. Our selection was supported by the success of the Berlin Heart Program, introduced by the University in 2008. Rebecca Ameduri, MD, medical director of the Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Program, and Gwenyth Fischer, MD, director of the Pediatric Device Innovation Consortium, lead this five-year study.
Our pediatric cardiology team currently conducts clinical and epidemiologic studies of:
- Metabolic syndrome, a group of risk factors related to obesity that increase the possibility of heart disease
- Insulin resistance, when the body produces insulin but doesn’t use it properly, which increases the possibility of heart disease
- Cardiovascular risk factors
In addition, our team is exploring minimally invasive ways to repair heart lesions.
Specialized programs
The Heart Center has several programs designed to help children with specific needs.
The Preventive Cardiology Program aims to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes in children. This comprehensive preventive program provides an integrated approach, including risk assessment for children and families, lifestyle consultations, clinical care and opportunities to participate in clinical research studies. We believe that a family-oriented approach is essential for a successful outcome, and the entire family participates.
The programs includes:
- Lipid Clinic
- Weight Management Clinic
- Type II Diabetes Clinic
The Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Genetics Program is designed to meet the growing needs of older teens and adult patients with congenital heart disease and genetic or acquired conditions. An adult cardiologist, two pediatric cardiologists, an echocardiographer and a genetic counselor staff the program.