One Heart, Two Lives: How Heart Transplants Save Lives

1. One Heart, Two Lives: How Heart Transplants Save Lives A heart transplant may sound scary to some. After all, this is one of the most revered organs after the brain. A heart transplant is a complex procedure but it saves countless lives all across the globe. Moreover, a heart transplant in Hyderabad is needed every day. There are a number of heart hospitals in Hyderabad that perform heart transplant. As with any other organ transplant, a heart transplant involves replaced a damaged heart with a healthy donor heart. What Is A Heart Transplant? A heart transplant is a surgical procedure to replace a failing or damaged heart with a healthy heart from a recently deceased donor. Heart transplants may be needed in patients with severe heart failure who cannot be treated with other medical means. This severity of heart failure is called ‘end-stage’ since at that point, all treatments have failed and the only option left is a heart transplant. While it is a complex procedure, the survival rates are good and modern medicine is continuously improving the outcomes of transplant surgeries. Who Needs A Heart Transplant? A heart transplant may be indicated in the following cases: ● ● Cardiomyopathy- a group of conditions causing enlargement and weakening of the heart Severe coronary artery disease- accumulation of fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart. Congenital heart defects Fatal or life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular arrhythmias. Failure of a previous heart transplant. ● ● ● However, there are cases in which a heart transplant is contraindicated including: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ● Late-stage kidney, liver, or lung diseases. Age over 65 Tobacco, alcohol, or drug use Cancer and life-threatening systemic diseases. Recent stroke Insulin-dependent diabetes Severe obesity Vascular disease

2. People who do not qualify for a heart transplant have other treatment options such as Ventricular Assist Devices and artificial hearts. How Can You Donate A Heart? In India, organ donation is governed by the Transplantation of Human Organs Act of 1994. Generally, to donate a heart the donor must be declared brain dead, should be less than 65 years old with no history of heart disease or trauma to the chest and no communicable diseases (hepatitis, HIV, etc.). A person can register to donate organs while they are alive which authorizes the harvesting of their organs after death, or their first-degree relatives can give consent for donation after death. What Are The Possible Complications Of Heart Transplant Surgery? As with all surgical procedures and organ transplants, there are potential risks and complications associated with heart transplant surgery. These complications may be: ● ● ● ● ● ● Post-surgical sepsis Infection of the surgical site Excessive blood loss Rejection of the donor heart Failure of the donor heart Complications associated with medications Anybody who undergoes an organ transplant will have to be on medications for the rest of their lives to suppress their immune system (immunosuppressants). This is because the immune system naturally identifies the donor organ as a foreign entity in the body and attacks it. This can cause rejection and failure of the donor organ. To prevent this, immunosuppressants are needed. Immunosuppressants have side effects such as increased risk of cancer, thickening of blood vessels, weight gain, kidney problems, and increased risk of infections. What Is The Prognosis Of Heart Transplant In Hyderabad? In the past, a heart transplant was a risky and dangerous procedure with a low survival rate. Thankfully, this is not the case anymore. Heart transplants have a good outcome with 70-75% of people living for over 5 years after a transplant. The one year survival rate is 80-90%.

3. The success of a heart transplant depends on the general health of the patient, the expertise and experience of the surgical team, and many other factors.