Heart Disease: Heart Transplantation Treatment
A heart transplant is the replacement of a person's diseased heart with
a healthy donor's heart. The donor is a person who has died and
whose family has agreed to donate their loved one's organs.
In the three decades since the performance of the first human
heart transplant in 1967, heart transplantation has changed from
an experimental operation to an established treatment for
advanced heart disease. Approximately 2,300 heart transplants
are performed each year in the U. S.
Why Are Heart Transplants Performed?
A heart transplant procedure is considered when heart failure is so severe that it does not respond to all
other therapies, but the person's health is otherwise good. The
leading reasons why people receive heart transplants are because
they have:
It is important to note that there are many new innovations
for the treatment of heart failure, from new medications to
pacemakers and new surgical therapies. When determining your
treatment options, it is important to be evaluated by a doctor
who specializes in heart failure.
Who Is Considered a Candidate for a Heart Transplant?
People who have advanced (end stage) heart failure, but are
otherwise healthy may be considered for a heart transplant.
The following basic questions should be considered by you,
your doctor, and your family to determine if heart
transplantation is right for you.
- Have all other therapies been tried or excluded?
- Are you likely to die without the transplant?
- Are you in generally good health other than the heart
or heart and lung disease?
- Can you adhere to the lifestyle changes, including
complex drug treatments and frequent examinations, required
after a transplant?
If you answered no to any of the above questions, heart
transplantation may not be for you. Also, if you have additional
medical problems, such as other severe diseases, active
infections, or severe obesity, you most likely will not be
considered a candidate for transplant.
What Is the Process for Getting a Heart Transplant?
In order to get a heart transplant, you must first be placed
on a transplant list. But, before you can be placed on the
transplant list, you must go through a careful screening
process. A team of heart doctors, nurses, social workers and
bioethicists review your medical history, diagnostic test
results, social history and psychological test results to see if
you are able to survive the procedure and then comply with the
continuous care needed to live a long healthy life.
Once you are approved, you must wait for a donor to become
available. This process can be long and stressful. A supportive
network of family and friends is needed to help you through this
time. The health care team will monitor you closely to keep your
heart failure in control. The hospital must know where to
contact you at all times should a heart become available.
How Are Donors Found?
Donors for heart transplants are individuals who may have
recently died or become brain dead, which means that although
the their body is being kept alive by machines, the brain has no
sign of life. Many times, these donors died as a result of a car
accident, severe head injury or a gunshot wound.
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