Heart Failure

The Decline of a Historic Transplant Program

ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle are investigating troubles at Baylor St. Luke’s in Houston, an illustrious heart program that has recently had some of the worst outcomes in the country.

Impact of Our Reporting

St. Luke’s to Suspend Heart Transplants After Recent Deaths

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

June 1, 2018, 4:15 pm EDT

30 stories published since 2018

Texas Appeals Court Throws Out Defamation Lawsuit Against ProPublica, Houston Chronicle

by Jeremy Schwartz

April 25, 2024, 6:00 pm EDT
Blistering Report Details Serious Safety Lapses at St. Luke’s in Houston

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

May 17, 2019, 5:40 pm EDT
Numerous Mistakes Led to Fatal Blood Transfusion at St. Luke’s in Houston, Report Finds

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

February 26, 2019, 6:15 pm EST
Two New Lawsuits Allege Surgical Errors During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s in Houston

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

January 16, 2019, 2:00 pm EST
St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Its President, Other Top Leaders After Series of Care Lapses, Recent Deadly Error

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

January 14, 2019, 7:40 pm EST
An Unsigned Letter Alleged Mistakes During Heart Transplants at St. Luke’s. Now a Widow Is Suing.

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

December 14, 2018, 6:00 am EST
As St. Luke’s Heart Program Faltered, Deaths After Liver and Lung Transplants Also Ticked Upward

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

November 30, 2018, 6:00 am EST
As Houston Methodist’s Lung Program Grew, So Did Its Rate of Failed Transplants

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

November 30, 2018, 6:00 am EST
Federal Inspectors Cite St. Luke’s in Houston for Problems in a Heart Transplant

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

October 31, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
St. Luke’s in Houston Replaces Heart Transplant Surgical Director After Program Loses Medicare Funding

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

October 19, 2018, 12:45 pm EDT
“They’ve Got to Execute You”: St. Luke’s Doctor Faces Discipline After Raising Patient Care Concerns

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

October 11, 2018, 12:00 pm EDT
Trump Administration Proposes Weakening Rules Governing Organ Transplant Centers

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

September 21, 2018, 3:00 pm EDT
Heart Surgery “Legend” a Factor in Transplant Deaths, a St. Luke’s Colleague Told Inspector

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

September 7, 2018, 2:30 pm EDT
Prominent Houston Judge Quits St. Luke’s Board After Heart Transplant Troubles Revealed

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

September 4, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program to Lose Medicare Funding Today

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

August 17, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
Famed Houston Surgeon Updates Conflict-of-Interest Disclosures

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

August 10, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
For Most Common Heart Surgery, St. Luke’s Has Been Among the Nation’s Worst

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

August 3, 2018, 1:31 pm EDT
Prominent Texas Surgeon Sues ProPublica and the Houston Chronicle

by Ryan Gabrielson

July 10, 2018, 7:00 pm EDT
He Went In for a Heart Transplant. He Suffered Severe Brain Damage. Now His Family Is Suing St. Luke’s.

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

July 5, 2018, 12:00 pm EDT
Supporters of a Famed Houston Surgeon Have Alleged Inaccuracies in Our Investigation. Here’s Our Response

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

June 29, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
Medicare to Terminate Funding for St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program in Houston

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

June 22, 2018, 6:00 pm EDT
After Two-Week Review, St. Luke’s in Houston Reopens Its Heart Transplant Program

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

June 15, 2018, 1:10 pm EDT
Patients Wait in Limbo as St. Luke’s Heart Transplant Program Reviews Its Problems

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

June 13, 2018, 5:00 am EDT
A Pioneering Heart Surgeon’s Secret History of Research Violations, Conflicts of Interest and Poor Outcomes

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

May 24, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
Here’s How ProPublica Analyzed Bud Frazier’s Medicare Outcomes

by Hannah Fresques, Olga Pierce and Charles Ornstein

May 24, 2018, 5:59 am EDT
A Death in Slow Motion

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

May 22, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
At St. Luke’s in Houston, Patients Suffer as a Renowned Heart Transplant Program Loses Its Luster

by Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, and Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle

May 16, 2018, 6:00 am EDT
As Wait for New Heart Got Longer, Patient Grew Sicker

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

May 16, 2018, 5:59 am EDT
Help Us Investigate Care at the Texas Medical Center

by Mike Hixenbaugh, Houston Chronicle, and Charles Ornstein, ProPublica

May 16, 2018, 5:59 am EDT
Broken Hearts

by Katie Campbell

May 6, 2018, 12:00 am EDT