ABOUT HEART TRANSPLANT

Also known as Cardiac Transplant

Patients suffering from life threatening heart disease or end stage heart failure may be advised to get a Heart transplant done. Careful screening is done to assess the suitability of the patient for the procedure. The donor heart comes from a brain dead person whose family consents to donate the organs.

DURATION

The procedure can take 4-12 hours. Hospital stay is of 2-3 weeks.

RECOVERY

Depends on factors like age, general health, and response to the transplant; complete recovery may take about 6 months. Immunosuppressive drugs are given to prevent the body from rejecting the new heart.

RISKS

- Organ rejection
- Infection
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Heart rhythm problems
- Deep vein thrombosis

PROCEDURE

Once a donor heart becomes available, it is shifted to the centre where transplant is to take place. Under general anaesthesia, with patient/recipient on heart-lung machine, the diseased heart is removed. The donor heart is attached to the patient`s blood vessels, including the atriums, pulmonary artery, and aorta. The new heart is then perfused with the patient`s blood and begins beating. Defibrillation may have to be applied to gain a productive rhythm. The patient is taken off the heart-lung machine. Medications and/or a pacemaker may be needed initially for few days, until the new heart functions normally on its own.

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