Question 1

what are the advantages and disadvantages of heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

It varies: Heart transplant is an aggressive and often effective treatment for severe heart failure, when other treatment options are exhausted.  A transplant can dramatically improve a patient's quality of life, but the patient must take anti-rejection medication to prevent rejection of the transplanted heart by the immune system.  Complications of these medications include severe infections and cancer.

Question 2

are there advantages to a heart valve replacement over a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Heart valves are not rejected, and the patient does not require life long immunosuppression as with a transplanted organ.

Question 3

what is the latest technology of heart transplants?

Accepted Answer

Immunosuppression: Heart transplant surgery is actually relatively straightforward. The key to survival is the post-operative care, especially immunosuppression to make sure the heart is not rejected and monitoring for complications of immunosuppression to prevent exotic infections. The other key factor in heart transplant survival is how the other organ systems are doing (especially kidney and lung function).

Question 4

how many people with heart transplants make it through the surgery?

Accepted Answer

I am not an expert: But most people make it through the surgey if properly selected.  

This is a discussion you must have with yruo transplant surgeon.

Question 5

do you inherit the emotions in the new heart after getting a transplant?

Accepted Answer

Not documented: This is a very difficult question to develop a believable, authoritative response that you will believe. The simple answer is no. However, emotions are not that easy to measure or track. Plus, the newly transplanted recipient has many reasons to have altered emotions because of the major experiences that happen. Overall, the transplantation of emotions with the donor's heart is not documented.

Question 6

are heart transplants dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Risky: The surgery is not dangerous. The immunosupression is what poses the most risks. The heart can be rejected or vessels occlude which will also compromise heart function.

Question 7

how have heart transplants changed over time?

Accepted Answer

Heart transplant: The surgical procedure hasn't changed much. The medical treatment to prevent rejection has improved significantly with new drugs developed.

Question 8

how does one transport a heart to be transplanted?

Accepted Answer

Vary carefully: Organs are generally transported by specialized medical personnel under cooled conditions.  Quick delivery is essential to limit necrosis (cell death).

Question 9

can you get a pigs heart transplanted into a human?

Accepted Answer

Yes & No: Hearts from pigs used to be transplanted into some patients years ago but not much anymore.  There is too much risk from rejection, the need for a lot more meds than from a human transplant, and potential viral transmission.  However, heart valves from pigs & cows are transplanted into some patients (the other type of valve being metal).

Question 10

how common are heart transplants throughout the world?

Accepted Answer

Not very: Due to shortage of organs and donors, the majority of eligible patients expire prior to transplant.

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Advantages and disadvantages of heart transplants

A member asked:

What are the advantages and disadvantages of heart transplant?

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Are there advantages to a heart valve replacement over a heart transplant?

A member asked:

What is the latest technology of heart transplants?

A member asked:

How many people with heart transplants make it through the surgery?

A member asked:

Do you inherit the emotions in the new heart after getting a transplant?

A member asked:

Are heart transplants dangerous?

A member asked:

How have heart transplants changed over time?

A member asked:

How does one transport a heart to be transplanted?

A member asked:

Can you get a pigs heart transplanted into a human?

A member asked:

How common are heart transplants throughout the world?

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