Question 1

can you tell me how long to live after heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

Varies: 80% five year survival is quoted.
Many causes of failure br death.

Question 2

how is a open heart transplant performed?

Accepted Answer

Carefully!: Seriously though, the patient is placed on cardiopulmonary bypass, the donor heart is readied, the recipient heart is arrested and removed - usually the back walls of the atria are left behind, that is where the new heart is grafted. Immunosuppressant may be given and the patient is weaned off bypass and the donor heart takes over.

Question 3

how do they keep hearts alive for heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

: Traditionally, the donated heart, once harvested, is flushed with a cold solution and kept on ice while transported to the new recipient. New technology is being developed that hopes to reduce tissue damage/decay by keeping the heart warm and beating in a special device; while it is being fed by a steady stream of oxygenated blood and nutrients.

Question 4

can someone serve in the military with a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

No: Pts with a heart transplant require a great deal of care and are very fragile. They are suseptible to infections due to the medications there on . They also have to go for routine surviellence biopsies of their heart. Too high maintenance for the military.

Question 5

please tell me if it is possible to do a heart transplant?

Accepted Answer

YES: About 2200 heart transplants are done each year in the usa. I do not understand your question. It is expected that more americans will end up with a ventricular assist device as bridge to transplant or as destination therapy rescue from cardiogenic shock in the next 10 years. Currently about 70% 5 year survival for heart transplants.

Question 6

if you get a heart transplant, do your emotions and feels  change?

Accepted Answer

No and yes: The transplant is a huge pyschological ordeal.  And this would affect anyone.


But your emotions are from your brain and not your heart.

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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How long can you live after heart transplant

A member asked:

Can you tell me how long to live after heart transplant?

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How is a open heart transplant performed?

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How do they keep hearts alive for heart transplant?

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Can someone serve in the military with a heart transplant?

A member asked:

Please tell me if it is possible to do a heart transplant?

A member asked:

If you get a heart transplant, do your emotions and feels change?

A member asked:

Is there an age limit for heart transplant?

A member asked:

What happens in a heart transplant to the donor?

A member asked:

What are the risks of getting a heart transplant?

A member asked:

How dangerous of a surgery is a heart transplant?

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