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Heart transplant



Heart, section through the middle
Heart, section through the middle
Heart, front view
Heart, front view
Normal anatomy of the heart
Normal anatomy of the heart


Heart transplant

Definition:

Heart transplantation is a surgical procedure to remove a damaged or diseased heart and replace it with a healthy donor heart.


Alternative Names:
Cardiac transplant; Transplant - heart
Description:


Heart transplantis the fourth most common transplant operation in the U.S., with over 2,200 cases per year. Cornea, kidney and liver transplants are the most common. A healthy heart is obtained from a donor who is brain dead but on life-support. The healthy heart isput into a special solution that preserves the organ.

The patient is put into a deep sleep with general anesthesia, and acut is made through the breast bone. The patient's blood iscirculated througha heart-lung bypass machine to keep the blood oxygen-rich. The patient's diseased heart is removed and the donor heart is stitched in place. The heart-lung machine is disconnected. Blood flows through the transplanted heart.


Indications:

A heart transplant may be recommended for:

Heart failure caused by

Heart transplant surgery is not recommended for patients who have:


References:

Zipes DP, Libby P, Bonow RO, Braunwald E, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo; WB Saunders; 2005: 641-651.





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