What Is a Heart Transplant and When Is It Recommended?

A heart transplant is a life-saving surgical intervention used when a person’s heart is so damaged or weak that it can no longer pump effectively, even with medications or treatments to support it. This procedure involves the replacement of a failing heart with a healthy heart from a patient who has been determined to be brain dead yet still has viable organs.

A heart transplant is the last option after all other treatments have been attempted. For patients with severe heart disease, a transplant can lead to a significantly improved prognosis and quality of life.

Why Is a Heart Transplant Needed?

Heart failure does not occur overnight. It will often happen over time as the heart fails to maintain the body’s demands. There are many factors that might impact the heart and lead to heart failure: coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defect, and severe valve disease, etc.

When medications, lifestyle changes and implanted devices like pacemakers or defibrillators are no longer supporting the workload of the heart and symptoms of shortness of breath, fluid retention or fatigue begin to interfere with basic daily tasks, the condition would classify as end-stage heart failure when the heart transplant became an option.

When Do Doctors Recommend a Heart Transplant?

Not every heart disease case is appropriate for transplant. There are several factors to consider when making this decision. Most importantly, one of the factors considered is the patient’s heart function. If the tests indicate there is an extremely low ejection fraction (the percentage of blood your heart pumps out with each heartbeat), coupled with persistent worsening of symptoms, this would trigger discussion of options, which could mean considering transplant if maximum medical therapy doesn’t provide other options.

Another factor is the patient’s ability to be healthy enough to undergo the complex surgery and recovery after transplant from surgery. The transplant team will also assess the functioning of other organs, look for infections or cancers and assess that there is a strong social and emotional support system in place all of which will affect potential success after transplant.

What Happens After the Transplant?

Getting a heart is just the start! Once the surgery is complete, the patient is put on medication for life so his or her body doesn’t reject the donor heart. Frequent monitoring is also necessary through blood tests, biopsies and follow-up appointments with the transplant team.

Each patient recovers at different rates, but many go on to lead active, enriching lives with proper medical management. However, there are lifestyle changes and commitments, medications for life, heart healthy habits, and regular medical care are all a way of life after transplant.

A heart transplant is a last-resort procedure, meaning it is typically offered only as a treatment option after all other possibilities have failed. However, if recommended at the right timing, it can provide hope, renewed vitality and years of additional life to patients suffering from end-stage heart failure.

If you or someone you care about is living with a complex cardiac condition, consulting a heart specialist can help clarify what options are available. At Sugam Hospital, as the best  cardiology hospital in Chennai, our multidisciplinary cardiac team offers in-depth, evaluative examinations, up-to-date treatment plans, and personalized interventions at every level of care from evaluation through transplant.