When Is Heart Transplant Surgery Needed?
For advanced heart failure patients who are no longer effectively managed with medications, heart transplant surgery can be the key to improving quality of life and regaining the ability to enjoy each day and return to their favorite activities. Thankfully, residents of Arkansas don’t have to leave their home state to receive the procedure. This cutting-edge surgery offers patients who are healthy enough for a heart transplant a second chance at life.
Facing severe heart failure is overwhelming, and choosing the right care can be a life-changing decision. At Baptist Health, we’re well acquainted with the life-giving power of the heart transplant. Since the first heart transplant surgery in Arkansas performed at Baptist Health in 1989, we’ve continued our commitment to offering the most advanced heart care, and today, we’re still the only hospital in the state to perform adult heart transplants. From state-of-the-art organ transportation to the latest transplant technology to renowned providers, we take every measure to achieve the best possible outcome for our patients. Our expertise is paired with a compassionate approach to ensure you feel supported in your journey and confident in your treatment.
What Is Heart Transplant Surgery?
A heart transplant is a surgical procedure where a diseased heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart to restore normal cardiac output. This complex operation is considered when a patient suffers from severe heart failure or other heart conditions that haven’t responded to medication or other treatment. Heart transplant surgery comes with a long list of potential complications and requires consistent care afterward, but it offers a second chance at life for many patients.
Due to the intense and invasive nature of heart transplant surgery, potential recipients undergo a rigorous evaluation process to determine their candidacy, which is crucial for identifying suitable candidates and optimizing the chances of a successful procedure. This evaluation involves a series of tests and consultations with specialists, and considers various factors, including the patient’s overall health, age, and the severity of their heart condition. Additionally, the patient’s psychological and social well-being is assessed to ensure they can cope with the demands of the surgery and the lifelong care that follows.
The Heart Transplant Surgery Process
Pre-Surgery
A heart transplant journey begins with a provider evaluating if the patient is an appropriate candidate for the transplant – and if the patient has the support needed for the mentally, physically and emotionally taxing journey of waiting for, receiving and recovering from a heart transplant procedure. A patient should also consider their insurance coverage and make a plan for how to financially approach heart transplant surgery.
Some conditions may prevent eligibility, including:
- Any active cancer in the past five years
- Severe Type 1 (primary) pulmonary hypertension
- Poor lung function from severe COPD or restrictive lung disease
- A history of GI bleeding
- Severe arterial disease, including calcifications and plaque
Once approved, the patient will be placed on a waiting list for a donor heart.
A donor heart must be transplanted within four hours, and the process of travel for donation and transplantation is tightly coordinated with prime air and ground support.
At the donor’s hospital, doctors will reconfirm that the donor’s heart is a suitable match. If conditions are not ideal, the transplant may be postponed.
Heart Transplant Surgery
One of the most common questions from potential donor heart recipients is “How long does heart transplant surgery take?” This intense open-heart procedure takes several hours. To begin, the patient is put under general anesthesia and connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. Then, the diseased heart is removed, the donor heart is put into place and major blood vessels are connected. Once blood flow is restored, the donor heart often starts beating on its own, but electric shock may be needed to make the heart beat in some cases.
After surgery, the patient is given pain medication, is placed on a ventilator, and has chest tubes inserted to drain fluids from around the heart and lungs.
Recovery & Long-Term Care
Why Choose Baptist Health for Heart Transplant Surgery?
As the only hospital in Arkansas to perform adult heart transplants, Baptist Health has been a leader in heart transplant surgery since performing the state’s first heart transplant over three decades ago. With over 350 transplants performed, our patients benefit from the most comprehensive heart failure management protocols in the state.
Since performing the state’s first heart transplant more than 30 years ago, we’ve been committed to utilizing the best available technology for heart transplants. For example, we use the SherpaPak® Cardiac Transport System (CTS) from Paragonix Technologies to transport donor hearts, which represents a significant advancement in heart transplant procedures.
We are equipped to guide and support you through every step of the heart transplant surgery journey, from the initial heart failure diagnosis to the final heart transplant rehabilitation session and beyond. Our team is dedicated to treating any complications or side effects that may arise during this process, providing each patient with whole-person, individualized care for heart transplant surgery.
Find a Specialist at Baptist Health
If you’d like to know more about heart transplant surgery, heart failure or cardiac care from The Baptist Health Heart Failure and Transplant Institute, we’d love to hear from you. Under the leadership of our medical director, Dr. Patrick Campbell and surgical director, Dr. Karol Mudy, our transplant program has changed the lives of countless patients and their families. Learn more about our specialists, or learn more about the institute.
If you’d like to ask questions or connect with a specialist, call us at (501) 202-1500. We will help you through the process of determining the next step towards managing your heart failure and provide the support you need to pursue the full, healthy life you deserve.