A Milestone in Pediatric Cardiac Care in South Texas
Driscoll Expands Heart Center with a $100 million investment unveiled on June 5, advancing pediatric heart care at its Corpus Christi facility. This major milestone builds on the hospital’s legacy of life-saving cardiothoracic surgeries dating back to 1953.
This 50,000 square foot expansion, located on the third and fourth floors, includes two operating rooms, two cardiac labs, and a 35-bed ICU. As a result, it supports the rising number of young heart patients across Texas and beyond.
Boosting Surgical Capacity and Staff Recruitment
The expansion comes with a long-term vision: to perform over 500 pediatric heart surgeries annually. Driscoll’s enhanced facilities and strategic investments make this goal far more achievable.
Moreover, the additional space enables the hospital to recruit top-tier pediatric cardiologists, cardiac anesthesiologists, nurses, and support staff. These experts will handle more complex cases and improve patient outcomes through innovative, multidisciplinary care.
Expanding Reach Across Texas
Furthermore, beyond Corpus Christi, Driscoll Children’s Hospital is working to serve more families across the state. Recently, it opened a new cardiology clinic in El Paso, expanding its specialized services to West Texas.
Driscoll plans to roll out a mobile ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) program across South Texas. This mobile life-support service will help stabilize critically ill children with severe heart or lung failure during emergency transport—bridging a significant care gap in rural and underserved areas.
A Record of Success and a Bright Future Ahead
The Driscoll Heart Center has a proven track record. Over the last four years, it has performed more than 600 congenital heart surgeries. According to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the hospital maintains an overall survival rate of over 98% for congenital heart disease—a figure that exceeds national averages.
Moreover, surgeons performed 62% of these surgeries on neonates or infants, compared to the national average of 49%. In addition, the hospital sees 53% more patients in the highest-risk categories than the national average, highlighting the team’s expertise in handling complex cases.
Legacy of Pediatric Heart Innovation
Driscoll Children’s Hospital has always led in pediatric heart care. In fact, a Driscoll surgeon performed Texas’ first neonatal arterial switch in 1984, a major step in treating transposition of the great arteries.
Today, the hospital continues to lead in treating a wide array of congenital heart defects, including:
- Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
- Aortic, Mitral, and Tricuspid Valve Dysfunction
- Single Ventricle Heart Disease
- Atrioventricular Septal Defect
- Transposition of the Great Arteries
- Tetralogy of Fallot
A Commitment to Heart Health for the Youngest Patients
The $100 million investment goes beyond bricks and mortar as it represents a commitment to delivering the best outcomes for children with life-threatening heart conditions. As Driscoll expands Heart Center services and broadens its reach, the hospital’s dedication to pediatric heart care shines brighter than ever.
Enhanced care and experience position Driscoll Heart Center as Southwest’s top congenital heart treatment hub.