European Pediatric Heart Center

The European Pediatric Heart Center (Europäisches Kinderherzzentrum, EKHZ) is a fusion of the Department for Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery at the German Heart Center Munich (Technical University Munich) and the Division for Congenital and Pediatric Heart Surgery at Ludwig Maximilian University Hospital Munich, Campus Großhadern.

Both hospitals offer pediatric cardiac surgery at the highest medical and scientific level and together are leading centers in Germany for the treatment of congenital and acquired heart defects. There is a joint surgical team for both sites consisting of 9 surgeons. Any congenital heart defect can be corrected 24/7/365. This includes extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist device (VAD) therapy, as well as heart and lung transplants. We also offer surgical treatment of simple heart defects such as persistent ductus arteriosus in smaller hospitals outside of Munich.

The advantages and facilities of the two sites can be used for Clinical and Experimental Research. We conduct clinical outcomes research, particularly in the field of single ventricle physiology (Fontan), Morbus Fallot, grown-up congenital heart disease (GUCH) and heart transplantation. Our experimental work focuses on the development of artificial heart valves and cardiac xenotransplantation. We have numerous international collaborations (US, Switzerland, Japan).

We conduct clinical courses in the field of Congenital Heart Disease for medical students both at LMU and TU Munich.