Pediatric Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant

If your child has end-stage lung disease, and pediatric lung or combined heart-lung transplant has been suggested as a treatment, we’re here for you. The Pediatric Lung and Heart-Lung Transplant Program at Stanford Medicine Children’s Health is an internationally recognized Center of Excellence. We treat children from all over the world for a broad range of pulmonary conditions, whether they affect only the lungs or are causing both the heart and lungs to fail. We treat pediatric patients of all ages, from infancy through early adulthood.

With us, your child will receive access to No. 1 ranked pediatric pulmonary experts in California, according to U.S. News & World Report, and nationally respected cardiothoracic surgeons. Our renowned expertise lets us provide exceptional pediatric transplant services and innovative treatment options, including alternatives to transplant, when appropriate.

Why choose us for lung and heart-lung transplant

• The only program in the West to provide transplants for children of all ages. We are the only pediatric lung and combined heart-lung transplant program in the Western United States to offer lung or combined heart-lung transplantation to children from infancy through early adulthood.
• Expert care for children with highly complex needs. Other national centers refer some of their most challenging cardiothoracic cases to us, even those deemed inoperable or too high risk. We are not afraid to act boldly. We may offer surgical options (transplantation or otherwise) to our young patients that may lead to a longer and better quality of life.
• Performed 100 lung and combined heart-lung transplants. Lung and combined heart-lung transplants for children are rare. According to OPTN, in 2024, only three pediatric heart-lung transplants and 24 pediatric lung transplants were completed in the United States. Since our first pediatric heart-lung transplant in 1986, we have performed 60+ pediatric lung transplants and 40+ heart-lung transplants. We treat more pediatric lung and heart-lung patients than any other transplant program in the Western United States.
• Provide innovative, advanced bridge-to-transplant care and alternative treatments. With our research-driven, innovative therapies, we expertly manage your child’s advanced lung/heart-lung disease to optimize their health for transplant. In collaboration with Stanford Medicine Children’s Health’s cutting-edge Center for Advanced Lung (CEAL) Therapies, Pulmonary Artery Reconstruction (PAR) Program, and Pediatric Advanced Cardiac Therapies (PACT) Program (heart failure/heart transplant), we offer novel treatments, including alternatives to transplant for some patients and mechanical bridge-to-transplant care for others.
• Achieve exceptional outcomes. Our posttransplant patient survival is above the national average, even though we take on highly complex cases.
• Care for the whole child and family. Our multidisciplinary care team includes highly specialized transplant dietitians, pharmacists, psychologists, social workers, and nurse coordinators to care for you and your child. We also partner with Child Life Specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other pediatric specialists—all in one location—to support your child and your family through the transplant process.