Who Needs a Heart Transplant?
Who Is Referred to a Heart Transplant Center?
Most patients referred to a heart transplant center
have end-stage
heart
failure. Of these patients, close to half have heart failure as a result of
coronary
artery disease. Others have heart failure caused by hereditary conditions,
viral infections of the heart, or damaged heart valves and muscles due to
factors such as the use of certain medicines and alcohol, and pregnancy.
Most patients considered for a heart transplant have
exhausted attempts at less invasive treatments and have been hospitalized a
number of times for heart failure.
Who Is Eligible for a Heart Transplant?
The heart transplant specialists at the heart
transplant center will determine whether a patient is eligible for a
transplant. Specialists often include a:
- Cardiologist (a doctor who specializes in
treating heart problems)
- Cardiovascular surgeon (a doctor who performs the
surgery)
- Transplant coordinator (a person who makes
arrangements for the surgery, such as transportation of the donor heart)
- Social worker
- Dietitian
- Psychiatrist
In general, patients selected for heart transplant
have severe end-stage heart failure, but are healthy enough to receive a heart
transplant. Heart failure is considered end stage when all possible
treatmentssuch as medicine, implanted devices, and surgeryhave
failed.
Patients who have the following conditions might not
be candidates for heart transplant surgery, because the procedure is less
likely to be successful.
- Advanced age. Although there is no widely
accepted upper age limit for a heart transplant, most transplant surgery isn't
performed on patients older than 70 years.
- Poor blood circulation throughout the body,
including the brain.
- Diseases of the kidney, lungs, or liver that
can't be reversed.
- History of cancer or malignant tumors.
- Inability or unwillingness to follow lifelong
medical instructions after a transplant.
-
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs) that
can't be reversed.
- Active infection throughout the body.
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