How do I know if I need a transplant?
Patients with serious heart disease may be helped by receiving a transplant. Your cardiologist (doctor who treats heart conditions) or pulmonologist (doctor who treats lung conditions) may recommend that you visit a transplant center for an evaluation. The purpose of the evaluation is two-fold:
· to assess the severity of the disease and whether other traditional treatments are available, and
· to ensure that you will be able to withstand the transplant procedure and that you will be able to have a good long-term outcome after the transplant.
How will a transplant change my life?
A transplant will significantly improve the symptoms caused by heart disease. Many patients who have received a heart transplant are able to resume activities that they enjoyed prior to developing heart disease. All transplant recipients must commit themselves to a lifetime of receiving drugs and care to ensure that the transplanted heart is healthy and functioning properly.
Is the evaluation very difficult?
The evaluation for transplant is very comprehensive. A number of tests will be performed to ascertain the status of all of your major organ systems, check for any infections or cancers, and assess how well you and your family can handle the intensity of a transplant. Many of these tests, including the complex ones, are standard and can be done in the community, although some require an inpatient hospitalization for a short while.
Every potential recipient must make at least one trip to RELA INSTITUTE AND MEDIACL CENTRE to meet with the transplant doctors, coordinators, and the social worker. Most of the testing can be completed within a week or so.
The transplant team meets every week to review all cases and to discuss therapy options. Patients who are deemed to be appropriate candidates are placed on the national waiting list for a transplant.
How long is the waiting list?
Unfortunately, the waiting list for hearts is very long, often taking more than 3 months. All patients on the waiting list must come to our transplant center for an outpatient visit every month or so.
While many of our waiting list patients can stay at home while waiting for a heart to become available, occasionally, they must come into the hospital to be evaluated in order to maintain their health status.
What happens when an organ is available?
When the transplant team feels that a particular donor heart is an appropriate match for one of our waiting list patients, our transplant coordinator will notify the patient as soon as possible. Since we do not know when a heart will become available for one of our patients and since the window for recovering the heart is very small, it is critically important that we are able to contact the patient and notify him/her promptly and that the patient is able to arrive at the hospital in a timely fashion.
Is the surgery very complicated?
This depends on your particular situation. The transplant surgeon will go over this with you during your initial consultation. You will also be briefed on surgical risks and what to expect afterwards.
How long will I be hospitalized after the transplant?
This depends on your situation. The general rule is that most patients require at least one month in the hospital after heart transplantation. Most patients are usually discharged after about one month, although some patients require longer hospitalization.
Do I have to stay near the hospital after the transplant?
Yes. We ask that all our patients be within 30 minutes driving distance from our hospital during the first six (6) weeks following discharge from the hospital. This is because during the first six weeks after transplant patients require frequent laboratory tests and physician visits. This can sometimes be challenging, especially if you live far away. The social worker may be able to help you find temporary guest house in the community.
Will I have pain after the surgery?
Most patients do not have much pain after heart transplant. The incision can be uncomfortable, especially when coughing, but we will give you pain medications and provide instructions to make you as comfortable as possible.
Can my family stay with me?
Your family members can stay with you until you go into surgery. They cannot stay with you while you are in the ICU. If you need help finding a place to stay, a social worker can help you.
We have very liberal visiting hours and policies and encourage you to have your family and friends spend as much time with you as possible. However, to avoid exposing you to germs and organisms that can make you sick, we discourage sick people from visiting. For instance, if a family member has a cold or the flu, we ask that they not come to the hospital.
What will my scars look like?
The incision is in your chest and runs from your noch (or top of your breastbone just below your neck) to just below the tip of your breastbone. It is quite noticeable right after surgery, but it fades eventually to a very faint, barely visible line.
What medications will I take after the transplant surgery?
After heart transplants, patients generally take three immunosuppressant (or anti-rejection) medications. In addition to those, you will need to take various medications to help prevent infections.
When can I drive?
You can drive after your sternum (the breastbone in the center of your chest) has healed, which is about six weeks after transplant.
When can I return to work?
You can return to work 3 to 4 months after your transplant surgery.
How long does it take to fully recover?
To fully recover from heart transplant you need about 3-6 months depending on your overall health and any other medical conditions you may have.
Will my insurance pay for the transplant and follow-up care?
We have a financial counselor who will help determine what your insurance covers and who will help authorize your transplant as well as all of your post-transplant follow up care.
Is there a support group for patients going through this?
Yes, we have support groups for waiting list patients and post-transplant patients. These are usually held monthly and you will be notified of the topic in advance.
