GITNUXREPORT 2025

Pediatric Heart Transplant Statistics

Pediatric heart transplants achieve over 75% five-year survival rate worldwide.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking • Reputable sources • Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

The median waiting time for a pediatric heart transplant is approximately 2-4 months, depending on the organ matching and availability

Statistic 2

The utilization of donor hearts from older donors (above 15 years old) in pediatric patients has increased, though it still remains less than 10%

Statistic 3

Donor-recipient size matching is critical, with a mismatch greater than 30% associated with poorer outcomes

Statistic 4

Increased use of donor hearts from donors with hepatitis B or C is being explored with antiviral therapies to expand the donor pool

Statistic 5

The median waitlist time has decreased slightly due to improved organ allocation policies, from around 3-6 months to 2-4 months

Statistic 6

The average total cost of pediatric heart transplantation, including pre- and post-transplant care, exceeds $1 million

Statistic 7

The median age of pediatric heart transplant recipients is approximately 3 years old

Statistic 8

The overall survival rate at 1 year post pediatric heart transplant is around 90%

Statistic 9

Approximately 40% of pediatric heart transplant recipients are under the age of 1 year

Statistic 10

The most common cause for pediatric heart transplant listing is cardiomyopathy

Statistic 11

The prevalence of pediatric heart transplant for congenital heart disease has increased by about 20% over the past decade

Statistic 12

The 5-year survival rate for pediatric heart transplant recipients exceeds 75%

Statistic 13

The primary immunosuppressive therapy used in pediatric heart transplant patients includes calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, and corticosteroids

Statistic 14

The use of advanced support systems like ventricular assist devices (VADs) has increased as a bridge to transplant in pediatric patients

Statistic 15

The use of gene expression profiling as a non-invasive method to monitor rejection is increasingly being adopted in pediatric heart transplant management

Statistic 16

Survival rates are better in pediatric patients transplanted at younger ages, particularly under 2 years old, compared to older children

Statistic 17

Pediatric heart transplants have improved significantly with the advent of better immunosuppressive drugs, resulting in increased long-term survival

Statistic 18

Pediatric heart transplant candidates are evaluated using a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data to optimize candidate selection, with the goal of maximizing survival

Statistic 19

Pediatric heart transplant centers are increasingly participating in multi-center registries to improve outcomes and share best practices

Statistic 20

The risk of post-transplant mortality is higher in patients with congenital heart disease compared to those with cardiomyopathy

Statistic 21

Pediatric recipients of heart transplants often need lifelong medication adherence, which correlates strongly with improved graft survival

Statistic 22

The pediatric heart transplant survival rate at 10 years post-operation is approximately 60-70%, depending on underlying conditions and treatment quality

Statistic 23

About 15-20% of pediatric heart transplant patients experience graft rejection within the first year

Statistic 24

Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) occurs in approximately 5-10% of pediatric heart transplant recipients

Statistic 25

Pediatric heart transplant recipients have a higher risk of developing infections due to immunosuppression, with bacterial and viral infections being most common

Statistic 26

About 35% of pediatric heart transplant patients require reoperation or additional surgeries within the first year

Statistic 27

The risk of post-transplant coronary vasculopathy in pediatric patients is significantly reduced with aggressive immunosuppressive management

Statistic 28

Pediatric heart transplant patients often require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, which has significant side effects such as growth retardation and increased infection risk

Statistic 29

Approximately 30% of pediatric heart transplant recipients develop post-transplant hypertension as a complication

Statistic 30

Cardiac allograft vasculopathy remains a leading cause of graft failure beyond the first year in pediatric heart transplant recipients

Statistic 31

The most common time for acute rejection in pediatric heart transplant is within the first 3 months, with rates declining afterward

Statistic 32

The incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus in pediatric heart transplant recipients is approximately 10%, linked to immunosuppressive therapy

Statistic 33

About 50% of pediatric heart transplant patients develop some degree of renal dysfunction due to calcineurin inhibitors

Statistic 34

The risk of lymphoma and other malignancies post-transplant is increased by immunosuppressive therapy, occurring in approximately 2-5% of pediatric patients

Statistic 35

The percentage of pediatric heart transplants performed using donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs is increasing, reaching approximately 10% in recent years

Statistic 36

Lung and heart-lung transplants are also performed but are less common than isolated heart transplants in pediatrics, accounting for approximately 10% of pediatric cardiac transplants

Statistic 37

Pediatric heart transplants account for roughly 10-15% of all heart transplantations performed annually worldwide

Statistic 38

Advances in 3D imaging and printing are improving pre-surgical planning for complex pediatric heart transplants, reducing operative times and complications

Statistic 39

Pediatric heart transplantations are increasingly performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques, though still less common than traditional approaches

Slide 1 of 39

Sources

Our Reports have been cited by:

Trust Badges - Publications that have cited our reports

Key Highlights

The median age of pediatric heart transplant recipients is approximately 3 years old
The overall survival rate at 1 year post pediatric heart transplant is around 90%
Approximately 40% of pediatric heart transplant recipients are under the age of 1 year
The most common cause for pediatric heart transplant listing is cardiomyopathy
The prevalence of pediatric heart transplant for congenital heart disease has increased by about 20% over the past decade
The 5-year survival rate for pediatric heart transplant recipients exceeds 75%
The primary immunosuppressive therapy used in pediatric heart transplant patients includes calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, and corticosteroids
The median waiting time for a pediatric heart transplant is approximately 2-4 months, depending on the organ matching and availability
About 15-20% of pediatric heart transplant patients experience graft rejection within the first year
The use of advanced support systems like ventricular assist devices (VADs) has increased as a bridge to transplant in pediatric patients
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) occurs in approximately 5-10% of pediatric heart transplant recipients
Pediatric heart transplant recipients have a higher risk of developing infections due to immunosuppression, with bacterial and viral infections being most common
The percentage of pediatric heart transplants performed using donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs is increasing, reaching approximately 10% in recent years

Pediatric heart transplants are transforming young lives—with a remarkable 90% survival rate at one year and ongoing advances that are extending these children’s futures beyond what was once imaginable.

Donor Selection and Matching

The median waiting time for a pediatric heart transplant is approximately 2-4 months, depending on the organ matching and availability
The utilization of donor hearts from older donors (above 15 years old) in pediatric patients has increased, though it still remains less than 10%
Donor-recipient size matching is critical, with a mismatch greater than 30% associated with poorer outcomes
Increased use of donor hearts from donors with hepatitis B or C is being explored with antiviral therapies to expand the donor pool
The median waitlist time has decreased slightly due to improved organ allocation policies, from around 3-6 months to 2-4 months

Donor Selection and Matching Interpretation

While the median wait time for pediatric heart transplants has shortened and innovative strategies like utilizing older and hepatitis-positive donors are expanding the pool, precise size matching remains vital to ensure better outcomes, highlighting both progress and ongoing challenges in pediatric cardiac transplantation.

Healthcare Infrastructure and Costs

The average total cost of pediatric heart transplantation, including pre- and post-transplant care, exceeds $1 million

Healthcare Infrastructure and Costs Interpretation

While a million-dollar price tag underscores the immense financial and emotional investment in saving young lives through pediatric heart transplants, it also raises urgent questions about accessibility and the need for broader healthcare reforms.

Patient Outcomes and Survival Rates

The median age of pediatric heart transplant recipients is approximately 3 years old
The overall survival rate at 1 year post pediatric heart transplant is around 90%
Approximately 40% of pediatric heart transplant recipients are under the age of 1 year
The most common cause for pediatric heart transplant listing is cardiomyopathy
The prevalence of pediatric heart transplant for congenital heart disease has increased by about 20% over the past decade
The 5-year survival rate for pediatric heart transplant recipients exceeds 75%
The primary immunosuppressive therapy used in pediatric heart transplant patients includes calcineurin inhibitors, antimetabolites, and corticosteroids
The use of advanced support systems like ventricular assist devices (VADs) has increased as a bridge to transplant in pediatric patients
The use of gene expression profiling as a non-invasive method to monitor rejection is increasingly being adopted in pediatric heart transplant management
Survival rates are better in pediatric patients transplanted at younger ages, particularly under 2 years old, compared to older children
Pediatric heart transplants have improved significantly with the advent of better immunosuppressive drugs, resulting in increased long-term survival
Pediatric heart transplant candidates are evaluated using a combination of clinical, laboratory, and imaging data to optimize candidate selection, with the goal of maximizing survival
Pediatric heart transplant centers are increasingly participating in multi-center registries to improve outcomes and share best practices
The risk of post-transplant mortality is higher in patients with congenital heart disease compared to those with cardiomyopathy
Pediatric recipients of heart transplants often need lifelong medication adherence, which correlates strongly with improved graft survival
The pediatric heart transplant survival rate at 10 years post-operation is approximately 60-70%, depending on underlying conditions and treatment quality

Patient Outcomes and Survival Rates Interpretation

While nearly half of pediatric heart transplant recipients are under one and the median age is just three years, advancements in immunosuppression, supportive technologies, and careful candidate selection have collectively transformed early years into a life expectancy that now exceeds 75% at five years, underscoring that in pediatric heart transplantation, the youngest hearts often truly beat the odds.

Post-Transplant Complications and Risks

About 15-20% of pediatric heart transplant patients experience graft rejection within the first year
Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) occurs in approximately 5-10% of pediatric heart transplant recipients
Pediatric heart transplant recipients have a higher risk of developing infections due to immunosuppression, with bacterial and viral infections being most common
About 35% of pediatric heart transplant patients require reoperation or additional surgeries within the first year
The risk of post-transplant coronary vasculopathy in pediatric patients is significantly reduced with aggressive immunosuppressive management
Pediatric heart transplant patients often require lifelong immunosuppressive therapy, which has significant side effects such as growth retardation and increased infection risk
Approximately 30% of pediatric heart transplant recipients develop post-transplant hypertension as a complication
Cardiac allograft vasculopathy remains a leading cause of graft failure beyond the first year in pediatric heart transplant recipients
The most common time for acute rejection in pediatric heart transplant is within the first 3 months, with rates declining afterward
The incidence of post-transplant diabetes mellitus in pediatric heart transplant recipients is approximately 10%, linked to immunosuppressive therapy
About 50% of pediatric heart transplant patients develop some degree of renal dysfunction due to calcineurin inhibitors
The risk of lymphoma and other malignancies post-transplant is increased by immunosuppressive therapy, occurring in approximately 2-5% of pediatric patients

Post-Transplant Complications and Risks Interpretation

Pediatric heart transplant patients face a delicate biomedical tightrope—balancing life-saving immunosuppression to prevent rejection and vasculopathy against significant risks of infections, malignancies, and side effects, exemplifying the sobering reality that hope and health often come with a hefty dose of complexity.

Transplant Procedures and Techniques

The percentage of pediatric heart transplants performed using donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs is increasing, reaching approximately 10% in recent years
Lung and heart-lung transplants are also performed but are less common than isolated heart transplants in pediatrics, accounting for approximately 10% of pediatric cardiac transplants
Pediatric heart transplants account for roughly 10-15% of all heart transplantations performed annually worldwide
Advances in 3D imaging and printing are improving pre-surgical planning for complex pediatric heart transplants, reducing operative times and complications
Pediatric heart transplantations are increasingly performed using minimally invasive surgical techniques, though still less common than traditional approaches

Transplant Procedures and Techniques Interpretation

While pediatric heart transplants remain a relatively small slice of the global cardiac surgery pie, the rise of donation after circulatory death, cutting-edge 3D technology, and minimally invasive techniques are quietly powering a new era of hope and precision in saving young lives.