Condition

Heart Failure

When the heart cannot pump enough blood to the body

At the Herma Heart Institute, we understand the fears and challenges facing families like yours. We are here to answer all your questions and support you in every step of your heart journey. Our team provides expert heart care that fits what your child needs. We care for patients of all ages and stages — from before birth and into adulthood.

What Is Heart Failure?

Heart failure is a huge problem in adults. It is most commonly caused by coronary artery disease and chronic hypertension. In children, the causes of heart failure are more varied than seen with adults. Some of the most common causes are:

Being born with a heart defect (congenital heart disease)
Inherited diseases of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathies)
Muscular dystrophy and other neuromuscular disorders
Auto-immune or infectious myocarditis.

The Herma Heart Institute has special programs for treating these and other causes of heart failure in children.

Congenital heart disease is a complicated diagnosis. In some patients, congenital heart disease causes heart failure. In other patients, heart failure can be a caused by the treatment of a defect. In these cases, the term “heart failure” isn’t really true. The heart may be working well. It is the related heart and lung problems that cause the symptoms.

Our multidisciplinary approach to pediatric heart failure lets us bring together a large team of experts. They will make the right diagnosis and provide the safest, most effective treatment. Our patients and their families are part of this team. Everyone works openly and honestly to provide the best care for your child.

Types of Heart Failure

Neuromuscular Disorder Clinic
Muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis and other neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves that control a child’s voluntary muscles, like the arms and legs. These disorders can lead to muscle weakening, which can harm heart function. The Pediatric Heart Failure Program team helps care for children with neuromuscular disorders. We use a family-friendly approach that organizes all your child’s care into one clinic visit.

Cardiomyopathy Clinic
Cardiomyopathy is simply "sick heart muscle." There are many types, so our Pediatric Heart Failure Program team works hard to find the exact type of your child’s cardiomyopathy. They will also work to find any related problems and cause of the disease.

We are proud to have our program recognized as a Cardiomyopathy Center of Care by the Children's Cardiomyopathy Foundation.

Fontan Survivorship Program
Our Fontan Survivorship Program serves children, adolescents and adults who are living with single ventricle heart disease. We are leaders in the care and management of Fontan circulation. Our multidisciplinary program is also committed to leading research through national collaborations.

Heart Failure Treatments We Offer

The Pediatric Heart Failure Program at Children's Wisconsin uses a variety of methods of evaluation and treatment.

Cardiac Resynchronization
Heart muscle disease or issues with the heart’s electrical system can make the heartbeat not regular. If this happens, the heart doesn’t pump blood as well as it should. In some patients, a pacemaker can fix the timing of the heartbeat and its pumping. This can help fix heart failure symptoms.

Medical Management
Many of the same medications that help adult patients with heart failure can also be used for children. Careful use of these medications can take care of heart failure symptoms. For some children, they can lead to long-term improvement or even recovery.

Surgical Management
Sometimes surgery is the best approach to helping your child manage the symptoms of heart failure. Common procedures include repair or replacement of leaking heart valves, repair of scar tissue from previous heart surgeries or the use of mechanical circulatory support.

Cardiac Catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a testing tool. It allows pediatric heart specialists to measure the pressure in the heart and lungs. This can help figure out the best treatments. Cardiac catheterization can also be used to treat problems. It can open or close abnormal blood vessels or repair or replacing stents and valves.

Mechanical Circulatory Support and Heart Transplant for Advanced Heart Failure
If your child has a more serious type of heart failure, they may not have enough heart strength to support the body’s needs. Symptoms of heart failure may continue to get worse. It may even lead to the failure of other organs. Fortunately, Herma Heart Institute specialists are experts in care strategies for patients with advanced heart failure.

Our experts can use IV medications, mechanical circulatory support devices (including ventricular assist devices, or VADs) to help patients recover. They can also be used to support your child as they wait for a heart transplant. Patients will be cared for in our dedicated Cardiac Intensive Care Unit. It has the best and newest support for children with advanced heart failure.

Why Choose the Herma Heart Institute for Heart Failure

Outstanding outcomes: If your child needs surgery, you’ll have access to world-class heart surgeons. The Herma Heart Institute has some of the best results for even the most complex types of heart disease.

Care close to home: The Herma Heart Institute has 10 clinic locations. These clinics can be found in Wisconsin and upper Michigan.

Lifelong support: We provide care to our patients in all ages and stages of life — from before birth through adulthood. Your fetal heart doctor can care for your child through their childhood. As they age, they can transition into our Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program.

Commitment to innovation: Our team is leading the way in congenital heart disease research. We are working to discover breakthrough treatments and procedures to improve outcomes.

Support beyond the clinic: We know that our heart families need support that extends beyond the clinic. That’s why we invest in programs that help children thrive and get them back to being kids sooner:

What To Expect

For some families, it can be helpful to come prepared with a plan before of your appointment with a cardiologist. Here are things to consider documenting and having ready for your appointment:

Symptoms your child is experiencing: Sharing when these symptoms appeared and how frequently they occur is helpful to the medical team. Don’t be afraid to share symptoms that seem unrelated — congenital heart disease can affect other parts of the body.

Medications: This should also include any supplements or vitamins your child takes.

Related history: This includes family medical history and recent changes in your family’s life.

Your questions: This will help ensure you don’t forget to ask all your questions. It is okay to ask the same question several times if you are unclear. Our team is here to help you understand the big picture and make sure you walk away with your questions answered.