Heart Transplant

------ Choose a topic: ------ What is a heart transplant? Am I a candidate for heart transplant? Is there a heart available for me? Success rates The transplant team Heart and lung combined transplant Cost and payment More information  

What is a heart transplant?

Heart transplant is the surgical procedure in which a heart from a donor is placed in the body of a patient who has irreversible heart failure. Heart transplant is the best treatment for patients with chronic heart failure when medical therapy is no longer effective. A heart transplant is not for everyone; there are some conditions for which transplant is not appropriate. But, for patients who are eligible, this procedure offers the opportunity for a healthier quality of life.

Our goal is to help you and your family learn more about heart transplantation and begin the decision-making process. We encourage you to contact the Heart Transplant Office toll free at
1-800-456-5287 or locally 859-323-4620 with additional questions. 
 
Patients who are referred to the UK HealthCare Heart Transplant Program usually have a condition generally referred to as a cardiomyopathy (a weakness of the heart muscle), causing heart failure due to:

• Viral infection

• Family history of heart disease

• Alcoholism

• Postpartum heart failure

• Coronary artery disease

• Birth and/or valve defect

• Failure of a prior bypass or transplant

Am I a candidate for heart transplantation?
Most patients evaluated for heart transplantation have heart failure. Heart failure is generally a long-standing problem, but may have been recently diagnosed. Heart failure develops when the pumping chambers of the heart contract poorly and do not supply adequate circulation to the vital organs. Frequently, heart failure is caused by blockages in the coronary arteries that caused a heart attack in the past. At other times cardiomyopathy develops as a result of a viral infection or other causes. Before heart transplantation is considered, your condition will be treated with every possible means to make your heart work better. Treatment usually involves medications, but sometimes bypass surgery, valve replacement or pacemaker insertion is helpful.

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Since transplant requires a lifelong commitment to taking medication and to having regular physician contact, patients also must understand and be willing to accept this responsibility.

Generally speaking, candidates for heart transplantation are patients who have no other medical or surgical alternative. Patients are usually placed on a waiting list for a donor heart when they:

• Are suffering from end-stage heart disease of any diagnosis

• Have a prognosis of less than one year

• Are severely limited in their daily activities

• Have a good potential for rehabilitation post-transplant

• Have not shown improvement on maximum medical therapy

• Are unable to exercise, as determined by a cardiopulmonary exercise test

Is there a heart available for me?
Only human hearts can be transplanted into humans, so each heart transplant involves a donated heart from a cadaveric donor.

Cadaveric donor – A cadaveric donor is a person with irreversible brain damage or one who has been declared brain-dead and whose family has agreed to donate the organs for transplantation. The distribution of cadaveric donor hearts is managed by regional organ banks, all of which are closely regulated by the United States government. Potential recipients are registered on both national and regional waiting lists. Recipients for donor hearts are selected based on the closest blood type and weight match, as well as length of time on the waiting list. There are many issues to consider in determining the best donor option for you. The transplant team will work with you to help assess your medical situation and tissue compatibility needs.

Patients referred to our Transplant Center undergo a complete medical assessment specific to their needs. This assessment may include:

• Medical imaging

• Chest X-ray

• Arterial/venous doppler studies

• Abdominal ultrasound

• Cardiac evaluation

• EKG

• Echocardiogram

• Heart catheterization

• Pulmonary assessment

• Pulmonary function test

• Laboratory tests

• GI workup

Patients are also screened for anticipated compliance, support system availability and emotional stability. Financial coverage for the transplant and aftercare is also confirmed.

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Success rates
The success of a heart transplant depends largely on your condition going into the surgery. If you are in fairly good condition, your chances for a successful outcome within 30 days are between 90 and 95 percent. Patients who are critically ill have lower chances for a good outcome.

Overall, the chance of living one year after heart transplantation is approximately 80 to 85 percent. After the first year, patients who consistently take their medication and visit their physician should continue to enjoy the benefits of transplantation for a long time.

The transplant team
Chand Ramaiah, MD, is the surgical director of the UK HealthCare Transplant Center's heart transplant program, and Thomas H. Waid, MD, is the medical director.

The transplant team consists of doctors, nurses, social workers, dietitians, pharmacists, financial counselors and other health care professionals working together to care for you throughout the transplant process.

For a listing of other members of the transplant teams, please go to the main University of Kentucky employee directory.

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Heart and lung combined transplant
The Transplant Center also offers combined heart and lung transplantation. The director of the heart/lung transplant program is Timothy W. Mullett, MD, and the medical director is
Thomas Waid, MD.

The combined heart/lung surgical procedure is similar to the heart transplant operation. This operation is more complex, however, and the one-year survival rate is approximately 60 percent.  

Cost and payment
The costs associated with transplantation, both for the procedure and for post-transplant care, can be a source of concern for potential recipients. There are a number of ways to cover the cost of a transplant, including private insurance, Medicaid, advocacy organizations and fundraising. A financial counselor is available at the UK HealthCare Transplant Center to assist you with resources available for you. It is important to discuss these issues prior to surgery. You can reach the finance counselor by calling 859-323-9347.

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More information
Heart transplant

See a list of online transplant resources.

To make an appointment or find a physician, please call UK HealthCare at 859-257-1000 or toll free 1-800-333-8874.
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Page last updated Monday, July 9, 2007 3:12 PM