A heart transplant is a surgical procedure where a diseased or damaged heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart, typically performed when a patient has end-stage heart failure.
A heart transplant is usually advised in cases where heart failure has occurred & medication or any other treatment is not improving the condition of the patient.
Conditions that can lead to heart failure, eventually needing a heart transplant:
1. Transplant evaluation - The first step in the transplant process is evaluation. During this process, you will meet the transplant team, which includes the transplant surgeon, cardiologist, psychiatrist, transplant nurse, nutritionist, social worker, financial coordinator, physical therapist, and counsellor.
You may need to come in more than once to be evaluated by different specialists. Our team will guide you through the transplantation process while empowering you to decide if transplantation is the best way forward for you.
2. After transplant surgery - After the surgery, you will typically spend 5 to 7 days in the cardiac intensive care unit and about 5 to 7 days in the transplant observation rooms. You will be constantly monitored to ensure that your new heart is functioning well and that there are no complications from the surgical procedure. You also will begin taking special medications to help prevent your body from rejecting your new heart.
Heart transplant recipients must take many different medications, each prescribed for a specific therapeutic reason. They fall into four categories:
Unfortunately, there is no way to predict how long you must wait for a donor heart. The wait time is dependent on several factors, including the urgency of transplantation, the size of the heart, blood type, tissue type, and how long you have been on the waiting list. The time may vary from several days to months or, in some cases, years. Focus on staying healthy during the waiting period.
Members of the transplant team will evaluate you regularly and adjust medical treatment as necessary. Sometimes, patients may need hospitalisation to support them during the waiting period. Occasionally, we recommend other procedures or mechanical circulatory support devices if required. Our team will ensure you have the appropriate care for your needs.
After the surgery, you will typically spend 5 to 7 days in the cardiac ICU and about 5 to 7 days in the transplant observation rooms. During this time, you will be constantly monitored to ensure that your new heart is functioning well and that there are no complications from the surgical procedure. You also will begin taking special medications to help prevent your body from rejecting your new heart.
Before you are discharged, you and your family will receive education and instructions about managing your medications, caring for your surgical incision, and scheduling follow-up visits in our outpatient clinic.
Members of the transplant team will evaluate you regularly and adjust medical treatment as necessary. Sometimes, patients may need hospitalisation to support them during the waiting period. Occasionally, we recommend other procedures or mechanical circulatory support devices if required. Our team will ensure you have the appropriate care for your needs.
Heart transplant recipients must take many different medications, each prescribed for a specific therapeutic reason. They fall into four categories:
Immunosuppressants: Drugs and agents that shut down the body's natural immune responses that would damage your new heart.
Antibiotics, antivirals, and fungicides: Drugs that fend off infection while your natural immune responses are disabled.
Vitamins, minerals, and nutritional supplements: Compounds to aid your body in healing and maintaining proper functioning.
Coronary disease prevention and antihypertensive medications: Drugs to prevent coronary artery disease and regulate blood pressure.
After your hospital discharge, the post-transplant team will closely monitor you on an outpatient basis. It will include regular tests on your new heart, including blood tests, ECGs, heart biopsies, and clinic visits with the cardiologist. The transplant team will communicate with your cardiologist and primary care physician to provide seamless, coordinated care.
The appropriate time to return to work will depend on at least two factors: how you feel after surgery and what type of work you will do. As soon as your incision is healed and you are feeling well, you can discuss with your transplant cardiologist when to return to work. Some patients can return to work quickly. We encourage patients to resume working as soon as they feel ready and the transplant cardiologist considers the decision medically safe. Typically, most recipients can return to work within 6 months following surgery.
We treat the following cardiovascular diseases:
