Specialties & ConditionsHeart Center Volumes & Outcomes
Heart Center Volumes & Outcomes
Our Heart Center’s Division of Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery is distinguished by its high patient volume and outstanding outcomes. All major pediatric cardiac surgery centers in the United States publicly publish their surgical outcomes in a database created by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), a professional organization dedicated to improving the lives of patients with cardiothoracic diseases through research.
Every year for the past five years, we have expanded our surgical volume and complexity, all while maintaining the highest standards of patient care. This commitment is exemplified by a steady decrease in our surgical mortality; our congenital heart surgery mortality rate in 2024, 1.67%, was considerably lower than the STS overall risk-adjusted operative mortality from July 2020 – June 2024 of 2.65%. As a result, you can trust our Cardiovascular-Thoracic Surgery team to provide the best possible care to you or your child throughout the entire patient journey.
Cardiac Surgery
Our Heart Center boasts an exceptionally high cardiac surgery case volume, performing almost 500 procedures per year on average, and consistently ranks among the top programs in the country. We have been reporting cardiac surgery volumes and outcomes to STS since 2004, a reflection of our transparency and significant involvement in the field. Please see the figures below for an overview of our cardiac surgery program’s capability and experience. Source: Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Database, 1/1/21-12/31/25
Cardiac Surgery Case Volume
FIGURE ONE: We performed an average of 487 cardiac surgeries (including cardiopulmonary bypass and non-cardiopulmonary bypass cases) each year from 2021-2025, illustrating our center’s extensive experience.
FIGURE TWO: Our cardiac surgery case volume from 2021-2025 is higher than the STS average case volume across centers for every STAT Category, demonstrating our extensive experience and high surgical case load. Learn more about the meaning behind STAT scores and categories.
Source: Table 19 - Data Analyses of the Society of Thoracic SurgeonsvCongenital Heart Surgery Database
Postoperative Length of Stay in Days: By STAT Category
Four-Year Period: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2025Stat 1
Stat 2
Stat 3
Stat 4
Stat 5
Fall 2025 Harvest released December 2025, 4-year period ending 6/30/25
Source: Number Eligible & STS Average of Sample Size / Table 18 - Data Analyses of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons 
Case Volume: Benchmark Operations
Four-Year Period: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2025Coarctation of the Aorta
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)
Arterial Switch Operation (ASO)
ASO + VSD
Glenn
Fontan
Truncus
Norwood
Congenital Heart Surgery Database: Fall 2025 Harvest Report released December 2025, 4-year period ending 6/30/25
Source: Table 18 - Data Analyses of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database
Postoperative Length of Stay in Days: Benchmark Operations
Four-Year Period: July 1, 2021-June 30, 2025Coarctation of the Aorta
Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD)
Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD)
Arterial Switch Operation (ASO)
ASO + VSD
Glenn
Fontan
Truncus
Norwood
Fall 2025 Harvest Report released December 2025, 4-year period ending 6/30/25
Heart Transplant
Since 1988, we have performed more pediatric heart transplants than any other hospital in Illinois. Furthermore, in 2024, our center performed the highest number of pediatric heart transplants of any center in the United States. Our first-year survival rate for heart transplantation, more than 98%, well exceeds the national average of 93%. Our center has experience with neonatal transplantation, ABO-incompatible transplantation, transplantation of highly sensitized individuals, and multiorgan transplantation.
Heart Transplant Volumes By Year
FIGURE ONE: On average, we performed 26 pediatric heart transplants each year from 2019-2025, more than any other hospital in Illinois, demonstrating our center’s transplantation expertise and optimal outcomes.
Heart Transplant Volumes by Age
From January 1988-December 31, 2025
FIGURE TWO: We are highly experienced at performing heart transplants for patients within every age range, including adult congenital heart disease patients over the age of 18.