1. Advances Still Being Made
Dr. Christiaan Barnard in Cape Town, South Africa performed the first adult cardiac transplant in 1967. The patient lived for 18 days. Since then, many advances make cardiac transplants more successful. In 1984, doctors performed the world's first successful pediatric cardiac transplant at Columbia University Medical Center on a four-year-old boy. He had to have a second transplant five years later. Doctors expect him to live a full and productive life well into adulthood. Researchers and surgeons are still working today to improve techniques and equipment used for cardiac transplants.
2. Get a New Heart
During a cardiac transplant, a heart taken from a clinically brain dead donor whose body is being kept alive by life support is placed into the body of a person with a diseased or damaged heart. The donor heart stays alive when placed in a special cold solution for transport. During surgery, the recipient of the donor heart stays alive through placement on a heart lung bypass machine to filter and circulate the blood. Patients must meet very specific criteria, including compatible blood types, in order for a donor and recipient to qualify for the heart transplant. Because of this, the wait time for a donor heart varies greatly for everyone waiting on the transplant list.
3. Recovery From a Heart Transplant
After a cardiac transplant, a person can expect to stay in a special cardiovascular intensive care unit for one to three days. Medications support the new heart to help with the shock of the transplant. Once he is released from the CICU, he will go to a regular room for anywhere from 10 to 14 days, on average. Once he is in a regular room, he will begin to learn to care for his new heart.
4. Complications Following Cardiac Transplant
Several complications can arise following a cardiac transplant. The most serious of which is organ or graft rejection. A cardiac transplant patient receives anti-rejection drugs or cyclosporine to help prevent rejection. While in the hospital, the patient undergoes testing regularly for organ rejection. Deep vein thrombosis, infection and unexplained fever are some of the other complications that can arise following a heart transplant.
5. The Beat Goes On
A person can usually lead a normal life after a cardiac transplant with one variation. After a cardiac transplant, the patient must take medication for the rest of her life. Some of these medications are anti-rejection or immunosuppressant medications, antibiotics or antivirals, vitamins and nutritional supplements, heart medication and blood pressure medications. Some patients may not need all of these, but every patient has to take the anti-rejection or immunosuppressant medication. Doctors also recommend a heart healthy diet and a cardiovascular rehabilitation program along with frequent medical screenings.
