SLCH a Pioneer in Bridge to Transplant Technology

The Novalung® sLA is the latest advancement in “bridge to transplant” technology pioneered at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH). In 2008, the FDA granted unconditional approval to use the Berlin heart for clinical trials in the United States. St. Louis Children’s Hospital was the first in Missouri and one of the first in the country to use the device. Like the Novalung sLA, the Berlin heart acts as a bridge to transplant for children in heart failure, allowing the patient mobility and freedom to rehabilitate in preparation for transplant surgery. Manufactured in Germany, it is the only heart bridge device available for children under 2 years old.

SLCH operates the most active pediatric lung transplant program in the world, having performed more than 330 lung and heart-lung transplants since the program began in 1990. The cardiology department, which managed Owen Stark’s care, is ranked No. 6 in the nation by Parents magazine.