Pediatric Transplant Care

At University Health, our transplant team focuses on treating life-threatening children’s diseases. You will work with compassionate, experienced transplant care teams that understand your child’s needs.

High-Quality, Advanced Transplant Care

Since our program started in 1988, we’ve given nearly 600 children a second chance at life. Our transplant surgeons perform about 30 pediatric transplants each year.

Our transplant program will provide the best possible chance for a longer, healthier life for your child. We are the only pediatric transplant program in South Texas with expertise to deliver advanced transplant care.

Center of Excellence Recognition

Our specialized transplant team provides high-quality care to meet all your child’s needs.

University Health is a designated pediatric transplant Center of Excellence by Aetna, LifeTrac, OptumHealth, INTERLINK and BlueCross BlueShield Association. We are a designated Institute of Excellence by Aetna for our pediatric liver and living liver donor programs.

This means our pediatric transplant team has met strict criteria for patient safety and outcomes. Our specialized transplant team provides high-quality care to meet all your child’s needs.

Why Choose University Health for Pediatric Transplant Care?

We know the pediatric transplant process can be stressful. You can trust our transplant team to provide personalized care for your child and support for your whole family. Our transplant program offers you and your child patient-centered care, including:

• Connections to education and resources for families before, during and after transplant
• Continued care with your referring pediatric specialist
• A dedicated Champion for Life Program to help you find a living donor
• Living donor kidney and liver transplants to speed up the transplant process for your child
• Options for split and whole liver transplants to fit your child’s organ transplant needs
• Research and clinical trials to expand and advance transplant care for your child and other patients
• Support services, financial counselors and social workers to help you navigate the process

Pediatric Transplant Success

When you explore our transplant program, you’ll see why doctors refer their patients to us.

We have:

• Patient survival rates that have met or exceeded national expectations
  • Pediatric kidney transplant one-year survival rate of 100%
  • Pediatric liver transplant one-year survival rate of 100%
• Kidney and liver programs with short- and long-term outcomes above the national average
• The only pediatric living donor liver program in Texas
• One of the largest pediatric liver transplant programs in Texas

View our most recent pediatric patient outcomes on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients website.

Our Pediatric Transplant Specialties

Find comprehensive, high-quality liver or kidney transplant care for your child.

Pediatric Kidney Transplant

University Health is the only pediatric kidney transplant program in San Antonio.

Some children are born with conditions that affect the kidneys, and others may develop conditions over time. These conditions can lead to kidney failure, which can be life-threatening if not treated.

Your child may need a kidney transplant if they have a condition such as:

• Renal dysplasia
• Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)
• Reflux nephropathy
• Hemolytic uremic syndrome
• Cortical necrosis
• Hyperoxaluria
• Chronic inflammation in the kidney (glomerulonephritis)
• Polycystic kidney disease
• Recurrent infections
• Chronic obstruction or blockage of urinary flow

Pediatric Liver Transplant

University Health Transplant Institute is one of the largest pediatric liver transplant programs in Texas and the only pediatric living donor liver program in the state.

Some children are born with liver conditions, and others may develop liver disease over time. These conditions can cause the liver to stop working properly, which can be life-threatening if not treated.

Our patient outcomes consistently exceed national averages. Our ability to provide living donor liver transplants directly contributes to these improved patient outcomes, quality of life and longevity.

Multidisciplinary Medical Team

University Health and UT Health San Antonio work together to bring your child the knowledge, experience and resources of an academic medical center.

This partnership gives your child’s care team access to the latest research and medical and surgical specialists across kidney, liver and transplant care. By working seamlessly together, our teams provide coordinated, advanced care.

Support Organ Donation and Transplantation

Learn how to help patients in need of a transplant by becoming an organ donor.

You can also give to one of our University Health Foundation transplant funds to help pediatric transplant patients.