PROVIDING INNOVATIVE AND COMPREHENSIVE CARDIOTHORACIC CARE FROM NEONATE TO THE ELDERLY
The innovative and comprehensive care offered by the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at University of Utah Health includes care across all life spans in one program. It is also the only lung transplant center in the Mountain West with innovative ways to expand the donor pool, making it the most comprehensive cardiothoracic surgical center in a five-state region.
Cardiothoracic Care Across a Lifespan
Unique among cardiothoracic surgery programs, U of U Health offers continuous care across a patient’s lifetime, from helping neonates to the elderly. The same team, comprised of 14 surgeons—seven cardiac, three thoracic, and four pediatric—serves patients throughout their lives, from congenital disorders through transplants, ensuring consistent, specialized care at every stage.
Only Lung Transplant Program in the Mountain West
U of U Health has the only lung transplant center in the Mountain West, positioning it as a critical resource for patients with advanced lung failure in the expansive five-state region. Comprehensive care for both heart and lung disease extends beyond transplantation, addressing the full spectrum of advanced cardiopulmonary diseases with a variety of treatment options.
Expanding the Donor Pool
Limited donor pools are a consistent challenge across all fields of transplant. Expanding the donor pool through the use of Donation After Circulatory Death (DCD) organs has significantly reduced waitlist times for patients with advanced heart failure, offering them quicker access to life-saving transplants. The division’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of available procedures and technologies, such as mechanical circulatory support and the total artificial heart, further underscores its leadership in the field.
“DCD allows patients, who oftentimes are already registered donors, the opportunity to donate organs they wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to,” said Matthew Goodwin, MD, MS.
As the region’s only lung transplant center continually expanding donor options, the division is proud to lead the field in offering consistent, high-quality care from infancy through adulthood.