Question 1

what are the pro's and con's of getting a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Heart transplant: If indicated then a HUGE pro Is that the recipient gets to live! A con is the matter of regular compliance with detailed and meticulous follow up for the rest of your life

Question 2

what are the effects of a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Age Matched Activity: A transplanted heart that is working well will replace the functions of the failed heart.  The recipient can do most things that others his/her age can do.  There is something called the transplant olympics, and some recipients perform amazing things; you would be quite surprised at the number that have run marathons.

Question 3

what were the outcomes of heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Heart transplant: Cardiac transplant survival is increasing especially in centers that have a very active heart transplant program. The anti-rejection medications have improved, so people are living years more than they would have if they did not have transplant. This procedure is for end-stage heart failure with a poor short term survival predicted.

Question 4

what are disadvantages of a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Immunosuppression: Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of heart transplantation is the requirement for immunosuppression and the yearly surveillance with right heart catheterization and biopsies.  However, when a patient qualifies for the transplant, their need for it outweighs the above mentioned disadvantages.

Question 5

what is the criteria for receiving a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Heaert transplant: End stage heart failure that is not responding to medications with other qualifiers such as ability to be able to take multiple medications to prevent rejection.

Question 6

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 7

is there an age limit for heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Yes and no: Criteria for transplantation, including age, vary by transplant center.  Most centers don't have an absolute age cutoff, but instead consider a patient's "physiologic' age.  Having said that, transplants are relatively uncommon in those over 65, due to multiple co-morbidities (other illnesses), increased risk of bad outcomes after transplant in older patients, and limited supply of donor hearts.

Question 8

what happens in a heart transplant to the donor?

Accepted Answer

Donor dies: Well the donor is someone who is brain dead and has no chance of recovery. The donor would die when the heart is removed.

Question 9

what are the risks of getting a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Lots: Talk with the transplant team. Biggest concern is organ rejection.

Question 10

how dangerous of a surgery is a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Better than altern.: Heart transplant recipients can now days expect nearly a 90% 1 yr survival and 75% at 5 years. This therapy is for patients with end stage heart failure who otherwise have a poor quality of life and limited prognosis without transplant or lvad.

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Heart transplant pros and cons

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What are the pro's and con's of getting a heart transplant?

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What are the advantages and disadvantages of heart transplant?

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