Heart transplantation consists of replacing the heart with another, from an individual who is brain-dead and compatible with that of the patient who has a potentially fatal heart problem.
In this way, the surgery is only done in cases of serious cardiac diseases and that endanger the life of the patient and is performed in the hospital, requiring hospitalization for 1 month and care after discharge so that organ rejection does not occur .
How is the surgery done
Heart transplantation is performed by a specialized medical team within a properly equipped hospital because it is a complex and delicate surgery, where the heart is removed and replaced by a compatible one, but there is always some part of the cardiac patient's heart.
The surgery is done following the following steps:
- Anesthetize the patient in the operative block;
- Make a cut in the chest of the patient by attaching it to a heart-lung machine, which during surgery will help to pump blood;
- Remove the weak heart and place the donor's heart in place, suturing it;
- Close the chest, making a scar.
The heart transplant takes a few hours and after transplantation the individual is transferred to the intensive care unit and must remain in the hospital for about 1 month to recover and to prevent infections.
Indications for transplantation
There is an indication for a heart transplant in the case of severe heart disease in advanced stages, which can not be solved by taking medications or other surgeries, and which jeopardize the life of the individual, such as:
- Severe coronary disease;
- Myocardiopathy;
- Congenital heart disease
- Heart valves with severe changes.
Transplantation can affect individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, however, the indication for heart transplantation will also depend on the state of other organs such as brain, liver and kidneys, because if they are severely compromised, the individual may not benefit from the transplant.
Contraindications for transplantation
Contraindications for heart transplantation include:
| Patients with AIDS, hepatitis B or C | Blood incompatibility between recipient and donor | Insulin-dependent diabetes or difficult to control diabetes mellitus, morbid obesity |
| Irreversible hepatic or renal insufficiency | Severe psychiatric illness | Severe pulmonary disease |
| Active infection | Activity peptic ulcer | Pulmonary embolism less than 3 weeks old |
|
Cancer | Amyloidosis, sarcoidosis or hemochromatosis | Age greater than 70 years. |
Although there are contraindications, the doctor always evaluates the risks and benefits of the surgery and, together with the patient, decide whether surgery should be done or not.
Risks of heart transplantation
The risks of heart transplantation involve:
- Infection;
- Rejection to the transplanted organ, especially during the first 5 years;
- Development of atherosclerosis, which is the clogging of the cardiac arteries;
- Increased risk of developing cancer.
Despite these risks, the survival of transplanted individuals is large and most live more than 10 years after transplantation.
Heart transplant price
Cardiac transplantation can be performed at SUS hospitals in some cities, such as Recife and São Paulo, and the delay depends on the number of donors and the number of people who need to receive this organ.
Recovery after heart transplant
Some important care that the transplant must have after heart transplantation include:
- Take immunosuppressive medicines as directed by your doctor;
- Avoid contact with people who are sick, polluted or very cold, as the virus can trigger an infection and lead to organ rejection;
- Make a balanced diet by eliminating all raw foods from the diet and by choosing only cooked foods to reduce the risk of infection.
This care must be followed for a lifetime, and the transplant may have a practically normal life, and even perform physical activity. Learn more at: Cardiac Surgery Post Operative.
