- Medical School - Yale University School of Medicine (1996-2001)
- Residency - New York Presbyterian Hospital (2001-2007), General Surgery
- Fellowship - New York Presbyterian Hospital (2007-2008), Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery
- Residency - New York University Medical Center (2008-2009), Thoracic Surgery
![Ryan Davies, M.D.](https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/utsw-patientcare-web-production/original_images/davies-ryan-175318-200x200.jpg)
Ryan Davies, M.D.
- Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery
Biography
Ryan Davies, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the UT Southwestern Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the Surgical Director for Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Children's Health.
After earning his medical degree at Yale University School of Medicine, Dr. Davies completed residencies in general and cardiothoracic surgery at NewYork-Presbyerian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center and a fellowship in pediatric cardiac surgery at Stanford University/Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital. Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty, he served as a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon at and Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support and Cardiac ECLS at Nemours Cardiac Center/A.I. duPont Hospital for Children and as a faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Davies focuses on surgical management of complex congenital heart problems in neonates, children, and adults. He specializes in caring for patients with aortic disease, heart failure, and other congenital issues, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome and transposition of the great arteries. He also conducts research on long-term neurologic outcomes and implications for children who undergo heart surgery.
A prolific scientific author, presenter, and lecturer, Dr. Davies is also a reviewer for a wide range of medical journals. He is a member of the Congenital Heart Surgeon’s Society, the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.
Meet Dr. Davies
Heart Disease Specialist in Dallas
As a cardiothoracic surgeon and the Surgical Director for Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Children's Health, Ryan Davies, M.D., is an expert at healing the youngest of hearts. He specializes in treating congenital heart defects in newborns, infants, and children.
“I like having the opportunity to take care of kids,” he says, “and especially to give a child the rest of his or her life with a healthy heart.”
Dr. Davies treats a wide range of heart problems <link to Q&A>, from aortic disease to pediatric heart failure. In every case, he works in collaboration with his patient’s cardiologist to determine the best treatment for that child.
“Our goal is to provide not only the best survival but also the best quality of life for each infant or child. That can mean different things for different patients. Sometimes it means doing nothing for a while, sometimes it means surgery or a nonsurgical intervention, and sometimes it’s a combination of those things.”
While heart disease in infants and children can be challenging to treat and frightening for parents and children alike, Dr. Davies says that many aspects of caring for children with heart problems have improved in the past 10 years. “We’re now able to diagnose problems with fewer invasive tests,” he says, noting that many heart problems can be identified before a child is born.
Researching Long-Term Implications
Children today are also much more likely to survive heart surgeries and to spend less time in the hospital. “That means that we've also started to think more about the long-term implications of heart surgery for these children,” says Dr. Davies, who also conducts research on the brain and neurodevelopment after heart surgery.
“Kids who need heart surgery early in life tend, on average, not to do as well in school compared to kids who don't need heart surgery,” he says. “We want to figure out why that is and what we can do to mitigate those effects.”
Dr. Davies has a grant from the American Heart Association to explore such questions. He says research is an important part of his work because it’s an opportunity to improve the care of all children with heart problems.
“In surgery, I get to help one kid a lot; in research, I have the opportunity to give a little help to a lot of kids.”
Offering the Best Options for Each Patient
At UT Southwestern and Children’s Health, Dr. Davies says a team approach is at the heart of the care strategy.
“We all discuss each patient and figure out, as a team, the best way to take care of each child,” he says. “And we have all of the tools and expertise available to treat any heart problem that comes our way. We can offer our patients whatever treatment they need, rather than trying to fit our patients into the options that we have available.
“From diagnostic testing all the way to a heart transplant, we provide all the services a family could need,” Dr. Davies says. “It’s exciting to be part of a team that can always offer the best option for each of our patients.”
Education & Training
Books & Publications
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Publications
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Changes in renal function after left ventricular assist device placement in pediatric patients: A Pedimacs analysis.
Friedland-Little JM, Hong BJ, Gossett JG, Deshpande SR, Law S, Hollifield KA, Cantor RS, Koehl D, Kindel SJ, Turrentine MW, Davies RR The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2018 Oct 37 10 1218-1225 -
Alternatives to PumpKIN: The ongoing development of ventricular assist devices for infants.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2018 Jul -
Waiting for repair: Neonatal risk for brain injury during the preoperative period.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2018 Jul -
Surgical Management and Outcomes of Ebstein Anomaly in Neonates and Infants: A Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database Analysis.
Holst KA, Dearani JA, Said SM, Davies RR, Pizarro C, Knott-Craig C, Kumar TKS, Starnes V, Kumar SR, Pasquali SK, Thibault DP, Meza JM, Hill KD, Chiswell K, Jacobs JP, Jacobs ML The Annals of thoracic surgery 2018 May -
Another step toward successful mechanical support of neonatal patients with single-ventricle circulation
Ryan R Davies J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 May -
Cumulative Effect of Preoperative Risk Factors on Mortality after Pediatric Heart Transplantation (Commentary).
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2018 May -
Invited Commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2017 11 104 5 1618-1619 -
All the small things: The impact of central venous catheters in neonates undergoing cardiac surgery.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2017 Nov -
Investigating the causes of neurodevelopmental deficits in congenital heart disease through multiple gestations.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2017 Jul 154 1 282-283 -
The new United States heart allocation policy: Progress through collaborative revision.
Davies RR, Farr M, Silvestry S, Callahan LR, Edwards L, Meyer DM, Uccellini K, Chan KM, Rogers JG The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2017 Jun 36 6 595-596 -
Heading toward the future of pediatric heart failure with continuous-flow ventricular assist devices.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2017 Jun -
Identifying children appropriate for bridge-to-transplantation with the Berlin Heart EXCOR.
Davies RR The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2017 May -
The persistence of cognitive deficits into adulthood after the arterial switch procedure: Can we change things?
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2017 May -
Invited Commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2017 Apr 103 4 1320-1321 -
Developmental screening in children with CHD: Ages and Stages Questionnaires.
Noeder MM, Logan BA, Struemph KL, Condon N, Mueller I, Sands B, Davies RR, Sood E Cardiology in the young 2017 Apr 1-8 -
Urgent listing exceptions and outcomes in pediatric heart transplantation: Comparison to standard criteria patients.
Davies RR, McCulloch MA, Haldeman S, Gidding SS, Pizarro C The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2017 Mar 36 3 280-288 -
Assessment of Growth 6 Years after the Norwood Procedure.
Burch PT, Ravishankar C, Newburger JW, Lambert LM, Pemberton VL, Granger S, Floh AA, Anderson JB, Hill GD, Hill KD, Oster ME, Lewis AB, Schumacher KR, Zyblewski SC, Davies RR, Jacobs JP, Lai WW, Minich LL The Journal of pediatrics 2017 Jan 180 270-274.e6 -
Surgical Reconstruction for Severe Tracheal Obstruction in Morquio A Syndrome.
Pizarro C, Davies RR, Theroux M, Spurrier EA, Averill LW, Tomatsu S The Annals of thoracic surgery 2016 Oct 102 4 e329-31 -
A case for using "marginal" hearts.
Davies RR Pediatric transplantation 2016 09 20 6 740-1 -
Emergent Interhospital Transport of Pediatric Patient With a Berlin Heart Device.
Hertzog JH, Pearson TE, Priest MA, Spurrier E, Davies RR Air medical journal 2016 Sep-Oct 35 5 314-6 -
The technique matters, it's just not clear how.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2016 Aug 152 2 480-1 -
Evidence supports severe renal insufficiency as a relative contraindication to heart transplantation.
Hong KN, Merlo A, Chauhan D, Davies RR, Iribarne A, Johnson E, Jeevanandam V, Russo MJ The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2016 Jul 35 7 893-900 -
Perventricular repair of ventricular septal defects: Specific techniques have specific risks.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2016 May 151 5 e87-8 -
Low body mass index is associated with increased waitlist mortality among children listed for heart transplant.
Davies RR, Haldeman S, McCulloch MA, Gidding SS, Pizarro C The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2015 Nov 34 11 1462-70 -
A range of options for staged palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
Davies RR, Pizarro C The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2015 Aug 150 2 436-7 -
Can linking databases answer questions about paediatric heart failure?
Pasquali SK, Schumacher KR, Davies RR Cardiology in the young 2015 Aug 25 Suppl 2 160-6 -
Improving early outcomes following hybrid procedure for patients with single ventricle and systemic outflow obstruction: defining risk factors†.
Pizarro C, Davies RR, Woodford E, Radtke WA European journal of cardio-thoracic surgery : official journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery 2015 Jun 47 6 995-1000; discussion 1000-1 -
Hybrid palliation for critical systemic outflow obstruction: neither rapid stage 1 Norwood nor comprehensive stage 2 mitigate consequences of early risk factors.
Davies RR, Radtke W, Bhat MA, Baffa JM, Woodford E, Pizarro C The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2015 Jan 149 1 182-91 -
First use of an intra-pericardial continuous flow ventricular assist device in a child with muscular dystrophy.
Davies RR, Priest M, Pizarro C Cardiology in the young 2015 Jan 25 1 184-6 -
Stage 1 hybrid palliation for hypoplastic left heart syndrome--assessment of contemporary patterns of use: an analysis of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database.
Davies RR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2015 Jan 149 1 203-4 -
Decision-Making for Surgery in the Management of Patients with Univentricular Heart.
Davies RR, Pizarro C Frontiers in pediatrics 2015 3 61 -
Invited commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2014 Oct 98 4 1441-2 -
Creation of a quantitative score to predict the need for mechanical support in children awaiting heart transplant.
Davies RR, Haldeman S, McCulloch MA, Pizarro C The Annals of thoracic surgery 2014 Aug 98 2 675-82; discussion 682-4 -
Laryngopharyngeal dysfunction independent of vocal fold palsy in infants after aortic arch interventions.
Davies RR, Carver SW, Schmidt R, Keskeny H, Hoch J, Pizarro C The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2014 Aug 148 2 617-24.e2 -
Neurodevelopmental outcomes after infant cardiac surgery with circulatory arrest and intermittent perfusion.
Pizarro C, Sood ED, Kerins P, Duncan D, Davies RR, Woodford E The Annals of thoracic surgery 2014 Jul 98 1 119-24 -
Ventricular assist devices as a bridge-to-transplant improve early post-transplant outcomes in children.
Davies RR, Haldeman S, McCulloch MA, Pizarro C The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2014 Jul 33 7 704-12 -
Longitudinal assessment of growth in hypoplastic left heart syndrome: results from the single ventricle reconstruction trial.
Burch PT, Gerstenberger E, Ravishankar C, Hehir DA, Davies RR, Colan SD, Sleeper LA, Newburger JW, Clabby ML, Williams IA, Li JS, Uzark K, Cooper DS, Lambert LM, Pemberton VL, Pike NA, Anderson JB, Dunbar-Masterson C, Khaikin S, Zyblewski SC, Minich LL Journal of the American Heart Association 2014 Jun 3 3 e000079 -
Bilateral pulmonary arterial banding results in an increased need for subsequent pulmonary artery interventions.
Davies RR, Radtke WA, Klenk D, Pizarro C The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2014 Feb 147 2 706-12 -
Association of pulmonary conduit type and size with durability in infants and young children.
Poynter JA, Eghtesady P, McCrindle BW, Walters HL, Kirshbom PM, Blackstone EH, Husain SA, Overman DM, Austin EH, Karamlou T, Lodge AJ, St Louis JD, Gruber PJ, Ziemer G, Davies RR, Jacobs JP, Brown JW, Williams WG, Tchervenkov CI, Jacobs ML, Caldarone CA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2013 Nov 96 5 1695-701; discussion 1701-2 -
Current spectrum of surgical procedures performed for Ebstein's malformation: an analysis of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Congenital Heart Surgery Database.
Davies RR, Pasquali SK, Jacobs ML, Jacobs JJ, Wallace AS, Pizarro C The Annals of thoracic surgery 2013 Nov 96 5 1703-9; discussion 1709-10 -
Lower socioeconomic status is associated with worse outcomes after both listing and transplanting children with heart failure.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Reinhartz O, Maeda K, Rosenthal DN, Chin C, Bernstein D, Mallidi HR Pediatric transplantation 2013 Sep 17 6 573-81 -
Regional variation in survival before and after pediatric heart transplantation--an analysis of the UNOS database.
Davies RR, Haldeman S, Pizarro C American journal of transplantation : official journal of the American Society of Transplantation and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons 2013 Jul 13 7 1817-29 -
Predictive value of perioperative near-infrared spectroscopy for neurodevelopmental outcomes after cardiac surgery in infancy.
Sood ED, Benzaquen JS, Davies RR, Woodford E, Pizarro C The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2013 Feb 145 2 438-445.e1; discussion 444-5 -
Gastrointestinal complications after stage I Norwood versus hybrid procedures.
Davies RR, Carver SW, Schmidt R, Keskeny H, Hoch J, Pizarro C The Annals of thoracic surgery 2013 Jan 95 1 189-95; discussion 195-6 -
Using the UNOS/SRTR and PHTS Databases to Improve Quality in Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation.
Davies RR, Pizarro C World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery 2012 Oct 3 4 421-32 -
Outcomes after transplantation for "failed" Fontan: a single-institution experience.
Davies RR, Sorabella RA, Yang J, Mosca RS, Chen JM, Quaegebeur JM The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2012 May 143 5 1183-1192.e4 -
What is high risk? Redefining elevated pulmonary vascular resistance index in pediatric heart transplantation.
Chiu P, Russo MJ, Davies RR, Addonizio LJ, Richmond ME, Chen JM The Journal of heart and lung transplantation : the official publication of the International Society for Heart Transplantation 2012 Jan 31 1 61-6 -
Invited commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2011 Oct 92 4 1389-90 -
Invited commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2011 Sep 92 3 913 -
Age less than two years is not a risk factor for mortality after mitral valve replacement in children.
Rafii DY, Davies RR, Carroll SJ, Quaegebeur JM, Chen JM The Annals of thoracic surgery 2011 Apr 91 4 1228-34 -
Increased short- and long-term mortality at low-volume pediatric heart transplant centers: should minimum standards be set? Retrospective data analysis.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Hong KN, Mital S, Mosca RS, Quaegebeur JM, Chen JM Annals of surgery 2011 Feb 253 2 393-401 -
Listing and transplanting adults with congenital heart disease.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Yang J, Quaegebeur JM, Mosca RS, Chen JM Circulation 2011 Feb 123 7 759-67 -
The Fontan procedure: evolution in technique; attendant imperfections and transplantation for "failure".
Davies RR, Chen JM, Mosca RS Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Pediatric cardiac surgery annual 2011 14 1 55-66 -
Standard versus bicaval techniques for orthotopic heart transplantation: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Morgan JA, Sorabella RA, Naka Y, Chen JM The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2010 Sep 140 3 700-8, 708.e1-2 -
High lung allocation score is associated with increased morbidity and mortality following transplantation.
Russo MJ, Iribarne A, Hong KN, Davies RR, Xydas S, Takayama H, Ibrahimiye A, Gelijns AC, Bacchetta MD, D'Ovidio F, Arcasoy S, Sonett JR Chest 2010 Mar 137 3 651-7 -
The effect of body mass index on survival following heart transplantation: do outcomes support consensus guidelines?
Russo MJ, Hong KN, Davies RR, Chen JM, Mancini DM, Oz MC, Rose EA, Gelijns A, Naka Y Annals of surgery 2010 Jan 251 1 144-52 -
Posttransplant survival is not diminished in heart transplant recipients bridged with implantable left ventricular assist devices.
Russo MJ, Hong KN, Davies RR, Chen JM, Sorabella RA, Ascheim DD, Williams MR, Gelijns AC, Stewart AS, Argenziano M, Naka Y The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2009 Dec 138 6 1425-32.e1-3 -
The neural basis of semantic memory: evidence from semantic dementia.
Davies RR, Halliday GM, Xuereb JH, Kril JJ, Hodges JR Neurobiology of aging 2009 Dec 30 12 2043-52 -
Who is the high-risk recipient? Predicting mortality after lung transplantation using pretransplant risk factors.
Russo MJ, Davies RR, Hong KN, Iribarne A, Kawut S, Bacchetta M, D'Ovidio F, Arcasoy S, Sonett JR The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2009 Nov 138 5 1234-1238.e1 -
Matching high-risk recipients with marginal donor hearts is a clinically effective strategy.
Russo MJ, Davies RR, Hong KN, Chen JM, Argenziano M, Moskowitz A, Ascheim DD, George I, Stewart AS, Williams M, Gelijns A, Naka Y The Annals of thoracic surgery 2009 Apr 87 4 1066-70; discussion 1071 -
Despite decreased wait-list times for lung transplantation, lung allocation scores continue to increase.
Iribarne A, Russo MJ, Davies RR, Hong KN, Gelijns AC, Bacchetta MD, D'Ovidio F, Arcasoy S, Sonett JR Chest 2009 Apr 135 4 923-928 -
The use of mechanical circulatory support as a bridge to transplantation in pediatric patients: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Hong KN, O'Byrne ML, Cork DP, Moskowitz AJ, Gelijns AC, Mital S, Mosca RS, Chen JM The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2008 Feb 135 2 421-7, 427.e1 -
Predicting survival among high-risk pediatric cardiac transplant recipients: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database.
Davies RR, Russo MJ, Mital S, Martens TM, Sorabella RS, Hong KN, Gelijns AC, Moskowitz AJ, Quaegebeur JM, Mosca RS, Chen JM The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2008 Jan 135 1 147-55, 155.e1-2 -
Invited commentary.
Davies RR The Annals of thoracic surgery 2007 Oct 84 4 1262-3 -
Thoracic Surgery Directors Association Award. What is the optimal management of late-presenting survivors of acute type A aortic dissection?
Davies RR, Coe MP, Mandapati D, Gallo A, Botta DM, Elefteriades JA, Coady MA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2007 May 83 5 1593-601; discussion 1601-2 -
Natural history of ascending aortic aneurysms in the setting of an unreplaced bicuspid aortic valve.
Davies RR, Kaple RK, Mandapati D, Gallo A, Botta DM, Elefteriades JA, Coady MA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2007 Apr 83 4 1338-44 -
The effect of ischemic time on survival after heart transplantation varies by donor age: an analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing database.
Russo MJ, Chen JM, Sorabella RA, Martens TP, Garrido M, Davies RR, George I, Cheema FH, Mosca RS, Mital S, Ascheim DD, Argenziano M, Stewart AS, Oz MC, Naka Y The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2007 Feb 133 2 554-9 -
Adult-age donors offer acceptable long-term survival to pediatric heart transplant recipients: an analysis of the United Network of Organ Sharing database.
Russo MJ, Davies RR, Sorabella RA, Martens TP, George I, Cheema FH, Mital S, Mosca RS, Chen JM The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2006 Nov 132 5 1208-12 -
Familial thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections--incidence, modes of inheritance, and phenotypic patterns.
Albornoz G, Coady MA, Roberts M, Davies RR, Tranquilli M, Rizzo JA, Elefteriades JA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2006 Oct 82 4 1400-5 -
Novel measurement of relative aortic size predicts rupture of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Davies RR, Gallo A, Coady MA, Tellides G, Botta DM, Burke B, Coe MP, Kopf GS, Elefteriades JA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2006 Jan 81 1 169-77 -
Indications, timing, and prognosis of operative repair of aortic dissections.
Gallo A, Davies RR, Coe MP, Elefteriades JA, Coady MA Seminars in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2005 17 3 224-35 -
Trends and outcomes in transplantation for complex congenital heart disease: 1984 to 2004.
Chen JM, Davies RR, Mital SR, Mercando ML, Addonizio LJ, Pinney SP, Hsu DT, Lamour JM, Quaegebeur JM, Mosca RS The Annals of thoracic surgery 2004 Oct 78 4 1352-61; discussion 1352-61 -
Yearly rupture or dissection rates for thoracic aortic aneurysms: simple prediction based on size.
Davies RR, Goldstein LJ, Coady MA, Tittle SL, Rizzo JA, Kopf GS, Elefteriades JA The Annals of thoracic surgery 2002 Jan 73 1 17-27; discussion 27-8 -
Stroke in surgery of the thoracic aorta: incidence, impact, etiology, and prevention.
Goldstein LJ, Davies RR, Rizzo JA, Davila JJ, Cooperberg MR, Shaw RK, Kopf GS, Elefteriades JA The Journal of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2001 Nov 122 5 935-45 -
Low Molecular Weight Heparin: An Evaluation of Current and Potential Clinical Utility in Surgery.
Davies RR, Coady MA, Hammond GL, Elefteriades JA, Gusberg RJ The International journal of angiology : official publication of the International College of Angiology, Inc 1999 Nov 8 4 203-215 -
Familial patterns of thoracic aortic aneurysms.
Coady MA, Davies RR, Roberts M, Goldstein LJ, Rogalski MJ, Rizzo JA, Hammond GL, Kopf GS, Elefteriades JA Archives of surgery (Chicago, Ill. : 1960) 1999 Apr 134 4 361-7 -
For once then, something...
Davies RR The Yale journal of biology and medicine 1999 Jan-Feb 72 1 33-5
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Changes in renal function after left ventricular assist device placement in pediatric patients: A Pedimacs analysis.