HEART TRANSPLANT

NORMAL ANATOMY

The heart is the most powerful organ in the circulatory system it is located in the chest cavity, or thoracic cavity between the lungs slightly towards left. It pumps blood from the lungs to the rest of the body.

INDICATION

A heart transplant may be recommended for heart failure caused by coronary artery diseases (thickening of the heart walls)heart valve disease with congestive heart failure severe congenital heart disease Heart transplant surgery is not recommended for patients who have:kidney, lung, or liver disease insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDEM)other life-threatening diseases

PROCEDURE

Heart transplants are the third most common transplant operations in the U.S. (over 1,500 cases per year). A healthy heart is obtained from a donor who has suffered brain death but remains on life-support. The healthy heart is transported in a special solution that preserves the organ. While the patient is deep asleep and pain-free ,an incision is made through the breast bone (sternum). The patients blood is re-routed through tubes to a heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood oxygen-rich and circulating. The patients diseased heart is removed and the donor heart is stitched in place.

AFTERCARE

Heart transplant prolongs the life of a patient who otherwise would be died. About 80% of heart transplants are alive two years after the operation. The main problem, as with other transplants, is graft rejection. If rejection can be controlled, then survival can be increased up to 10 years or more. immunosuppressive drugs must be taken indefinitely.the major problems are the same all major organ transplants face:a shortage of donor hearts rejection of the transplanted heart cost of the surgery and post-operative care.