Heart Transplant Surgery Best Hospitals Low Cost Top Surgeons India

FAQ's Heart Transplant in India

How will a transplant change my life?

A successful transplant will dramatically improve the symptoms of heart diseases. Many transplant recipients are able to perform the same physical activities and enjoy the same quality of life as those without transplants. However, all the transplant recipients are committed to daily drug treatments and close medical supervision for the rest of their lives

Who is not a candidate for heart transplantation?

Heart transplant surgery is not for everyone. As donor hearts are hard to come by, strict rules are put into place when approving someone for the candidacy. It is likely that you won't qualify for candidacy if you suffer or have suffered from any of the following:

• Pulmonary hypertension
• Severe kidney, lung, or liver diseases
• HIV
• Cancer
• Hepatitis
• Diabetes that has caused severe vital organ damage
• Stroke
• Malnourishment
• Active infection
• Continued use of smoking, drugs, or alcohol

Where does the donor heart come from?

Donor hearts come from someone who is brain dead but still on a life support and all other attempts of saving their life have failed before organ donation becomes an option. A heart donor is under the age of 65 with little or no history of heart disease or trauma to the chest. Unfortunately they are hard to come by.

Is the evaluation very difficult?

The transplant evaluation is very thorough. Along with specific heart assessment, tests are performed to evaluate the function of all the major organ systems, cancer, screen for infectious diseases, and try and predict how well you and your family will manage with the rigors of the transplant procedure. Most of the tests, even the complex ones, are fairly standardized and can be done at your local community. Some tests may need you to be briefly admitted to a hospital. Typically most of the evaluation can be completed within a week or two. The transplant team meets weekly for discussing the patient evaluations and make decisions on appropriate treatment. The patients who are felt to be good candidates for transplant are then put on a national waiting list.

How long is the waiting list?

Unfortunately the waiting times for the heart transplants are longer, often over six months. The organ offers are made on the basis of the blood type, heart size and the waiting time on the waiting list. While waiting for the donor heart, it is significant to stay healthy so that when it becomes available you are in the best possible condition to undergo the transplant surgery.

What happens when an organ is available?

The patients are contacted as soon as possible when the organ transplant team decides that a potential donor is suitable for one of our recipients. There is a limited amount of time to recover the organs successfully as it is not possible to predict when a suitable organ will become available. Hence, it is fundamental to locate recipients quickly and get them into the hospital in a timely fashion.

Is the surgery very complicated?

This will depend on each patient's specific situation. The transplant surgeon will review the details and risks of the surgical procedure, and the expected recovery after surgery during the evaluation interview.

What Happens Immediately After The Transplant?

After the transplant the patient will be moved to the intensive care unit same as after the routine cardiac surgery. The patient will continue breathing with the help of a ventilator machine for at least several hours until their condition is stable. Many patients wake up the following morning while others may take a little longer. Patients will be moved out of the intensive care unit quite quickly. If all is well they will be moved within a few days to a high dependency or 'step down' ward.

Some transplant patients are nursed in special areas. Often these areas will be on the same wards as for the patients who have had routine cardiac and thoracic surgery. Usually the transplant patients are kept in separate rooms or bay for number of visitors to be restricted. If there is a particularly high risk of infection then the visitors will be asked to wear gloves, masks and gowns.

How long will I be hospitalized after the heart transplant?

This will depend on your specific situation. Patients can sufficiently recover after the heart transplant and can be discharged within 10 days. However, they need to be hospitalized for two weeks or more.

Do I have to stay near the hospital after the transplant?

All transplant patients are required to be within 30 minutes driving distance of the transplant center for the first six weeks post discharge. During this interval, the frequency of follow-up visits and lab tests can be a problem for patients who live far away.

Will I have pain after the surgery?

Generally, most patients do not report a lot of pain after the heart transplant surgery. Though the incision may cause pain or discomfort while you cough. We will provide you with pain medications and specific instructions for reducing the pain.

Can my family stay with me?

Your family can accompany you until you go into the transplant surgery. While you are in the intensive care unit, family members may not stay in your room. Family members can spend the time with the patients during the visiting hours. However, to protect you from infection, anyone who is ill with a cold or flu should not visit.

What will my scars look like?

The scar is down the center of the chest which starts at the noch, or top of the sternal bone, just under your neck, and ends just past the end of the sternal bone. Initially the scar is more prominent but it will fade to a very light, thin line over time.

What medications will I take after the transplant surgery?

Patients are required to take three main immunosuppressive or anti-rejection medications after the transplant surgery. Along with this you will also need to take several medications which help protecting your body from infection.

When can I drive?

You can drive when your sternum, or breastbone, is fully healed after the heart transplant which will take about six weeks.

When can I return to work?

You may return to work two to three months after the heart transplant surgery.

How long does it take to fully recover?

Generally it takes about three to six months to fully recover from the heart transplant surgery. However the recovery period may prolong due to age or previous medical problems.

How long will I be in the hospital?

The average length of stay for most recipients is 6-10 days. Your transplant team will visit you daily. The transplant coordinator will facilitate the organization of all services required for transition from hospital to home before discharge. Further, the transplant coordinator will provide information about all the aspects of post-transplant care such as clinic visit schedule, medications, and daily activities.

What are the risks associated with Heart Transplants?

The most common causes of death following a transplant include infection and rejection. With the exception of having to take lifelong medication in order to keep the body from rejecting the new heart, many heart transplant recipients lead a long and productive life.

What is the long-term outlook?

The long-term outlook is very good now for those people who are fortunate enough to receive a heart transplant. Around 85% and 90% of transplant patients live for at least a year after the transplant, 75% patients are alive after five years and nearly 50% to 60% are alive after ten years.

Usually the quality of life is good, especially if the side effects of the immunosuppressant drugs can be kept to a minimum. They will be able to return to work or go back to further education or school. Many transplant patients can take part in sporting activities.