Heart Transplants

Statistics 1000’s die every year waiting for a heart transplant 100,000’s of people diagnosed with heart failure every year Heart Failure can be managed with correct treatment and attention to lifestyle

Getting on the List Coronary Vessels must be sick beyond medicinal repair Heart given to recipient with best chance of survival Length of time on list Lack of transplantable hearts

Transplant team Cardiologist Cardiovascular Surgeon Transplant Coordinator Social Worker Dietician Psychiatrist

Preoperative Testing Chest X-ray Coronary Angiogram Echocardiogram Cardiopulmonary Study (stress/rest test) BUN Test Right Heart Catheterization Hemodynamic Study

Waiting List Time may vary from days to months  Blood group  How ill patient is  Viable heart availability May be temporarily taken off of list if condition worsens or other serious medical complications arise  Stroke  Infection  Kidney failure Pager

Where do Donor hearts come from? Brain Death from severe head trauma Similar height/weight Sex not an issue Ethnic background not an issue

When the call comes through Recipient expected at the hospital within 2 hours Recipient prepped for surgery  Tests performed on recipient and donor heart Surgery takes about four hours Open chest Replace heart Heart/Lung machine used to pump and oxygenate blood

Post Operative Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit  Close monitoring of new heart Regular Hospital Room Home  Pain medications for chest  Medications to insure body acceptance  Medications to control risk of infection

Avoid activities that increase the chance of infection  Cleaning cat littler box  Working with animals Gradually increase activities over 6 to 8 weeks Regular check-ups mandatory