Heart Transplant

What Is A Heart Transplant?

A heart transplant is a surgical operation wherein a completely unhealthy heart at the stage of failing is replaced and replenished with a healthy heart from a donor. A heart transplant is a treatment modality that is not very common. A heart transplant is generally reserved for those patients who are not in a condition to improve their cardiovascular system through medications or alternative surgeries.

The donor’s heart is a healthy and functioning heart approved by the patient who is donating and the family members. To mark a heart as a donor heart, two or more healthcare professionals need to declare the donor brain-dead. Following this, the patient expected to receive a heart is put on a waiting list. At last, a team of healthcare professionals makes the final decision to replace the patient’s heart via a heart transplant. Then, another set of healthcare providers run a series of tests in order to assure that the patient receiving the donor’s heart is otherwise healthy enough to go through the long process of a heart transplant.

Who Are the Right Candidates for a Heart Transplant?

Heart transplants are given a green signal for those patients with cardiovascular diseases who have tried multiple medication therapies as well as other surgical interventions to correct the functioning of their heart, but the result has always been negative. Heart failure is generally caused due to congenital cardiovascular defects or cardiomyopathy in children. It should be noted that several other organ transplants may be done parallel to a heart transplant. This is referred to as a multiorgan transplant and is performed on specific individuals who are suffering from non-treatable conditions. Such invasive procedures are only conducted at select medical setups with a multidisciplinary approach.

Mentioned below are the individuals who are said to be suitable candidates for a heart transplant:

• Weakness of all the heart muscles.

• Cardiomyopathy.

• Coronary artery disease.

• Heart valve disorders.

• Congenital heart defects.

• Ventricular arrhythmias.

• Failure of a previous heart transplant procedure.

• Kidney failure leading to heart failure.

• Heart failure due to liver failure.

• Lung failure leading to heart failure.

• Good ability to recover from a heart transplant.

• Heart infections that are untreatable.

• Cancer.

• Willing to make lifestyle changes post heart transplant.

• No history of smoking or any other tobacco use.

• No record of drinking.

• Willingness to quit smoking and drinking.

What Are the Risks of a Heart Transplant?

Every procedure has risks. But performing surgery with great expertise always keeps the possibilities of dangers at bay.

Mentioned below are some of the dangers that may occur post or during a heart transplant surgery:

• Rejection of the donor’s heart.

• Excessive bleeding.

• Generalized infection.

• Blood clot.

• No heart biopsy was done in the first year before a heart transplant.

• Primary graft failure.

• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy.

• Heart attack.

• Heart failure.

• Open heart surgery.

• Heart arrhythmias.

• Sudden cardiac death.

• Kidney damage.

• Side effects of immunosuppressants.

• Cancer.

• Skin tumors.

• Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

• Lip tumors.

• Heart infection.

What Happens During a Heart Transplant?

A heart transplant is also called a cardiac transplant. Patients who are generally at the end-stage of heart failure undergo a heart transplant. On the other hand, patients who have had a failed cardiovascular surgery may also be eligible for a heart transplant. A heart transplant is a highly invasive and surgical operation that is performed strictly under a scheduled medical setup. It is never done as an emergency procedure.

Mentioned below are the steps that are carried out during a common heart transplant procedure.

• The functioning heart is taken out of the deceased organ donor.

• The heart can be removed along with the lungs.

• The deceased donors generally are those who have passed away due to brain death.

• The patient suffering from cardiovascular malfunctioning has his or her heart removed via an orthotopic procedure.

• There are cases where the patient's old heart is left inside the body in order to support the new donor heart. Such a kind of heart transplant is called a piggyback or heterotopic heart transplant procedure.

• The patient then receives the donor heart, which is implanted into their cardiovascular system.

What Are the Expected Results After a Heart Transplant?

The majority of the patients who receive a successful heart transplant live a good and high quality of life. Depending on the patient’s underlying condition as well as condition post the transplant, they may be given permission by their healthcare provider to resume most of their day-to-day tasks and activities. These also include sports and participation in specific instructed exercises. The appropriate physical activity that such patients are expected to perform should be discussed with the professional. Females should consult with their gynecologists as well as heart transplant specialists if being pregnant is a good choice post-heart transplant surgery. This is because certain medications prescribed post-heart transplant may not be suitable for pregnancy and may crop some complications for both the mother as well as the child. Survival rates of a heart transplant are based on numerous factors, and fortunately, the rate is continuously improving, according to worldwide statistics.

Conclusion:

A heart transplant is an invasive procedure that replaces a dying heart with a donor heart that is healthy and functioning. This procedure requires an interdisciplinary approach. Multiple tests are done before deciding to go with a heart transplant to make sure the candidate is the right fit. After the procedure is completed, diet adjustments are necessary after consulting a nutritions and a dietician so that the new heart functions as expected. Maintaining the right body mass index and regular exercise can aid in keeping severe complications away. Being physically active has proven to contribute to the control of blood pressure. Additionally, it reduces stress and strengthens the overall bones and muscles of the body. A heart transplant is a major procedure, but the chances of success are high with mandatory follow-up and cardiovascular health care strategies.