Heart transplant

Heart transplant is a surgical procedure that involves replacing a diseased or failing heart with a healthy heart from a deceased donor. This procedure is typically considered when heart failure is so severe that it does not respond to any other treatment, but the person's health is otherwise good.

Indications

A heart transplant is considered for patients with severe heart failure when medical treatment and less drastic surgery have failed, but the person's health is otherwise good. The most common reason for heart transplantation is dilated cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the heart becomes enlarged and cannot pump blood effectively.

Procedure

The heart transplant procedure begins with the identification of a suitable donor heart. The donor is usually someone who has died from a non-heart related cause. The recipient's blood type and body size are matched as closely as possible to those of the donor.

Once a suitable donor heart is found, the recipient is prepared for surgery. The diseased heart is removed and the donor heart is connected to the major blood vessels. The new heart begins to receive blood and starts to beat.

Risks

As with any major surgery, there are risks associated with a heart transplant. These include infection, bleeding, and organ rejection. Rejection occurs when the body's immune system attacks the new heart. To prevent this, transplant recipients must take immunosuppressive drugs for the rest of their lives.

Prognosis

The prognosis following a heart transplant varies. Many people lead long and productive lives after a heart transplant. However, complications can occur, and the transplant recipient must be closely monitored for the rest of their life.

See also

• Organ transplantation
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart failure

References

Heart transplant Resources
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