Heart Transplants

What is a heart transplant?

A heart transplant is a surgical procedure where your heart is replaced with a healthy donor heart. If your heart is diseased or failing, you may be able to get a heart transplant. 

Heart transplant may be an option if you:

• Have advanced heart failure that isn’t controlled well with other treatment options
• Need to be in the hospital repeatedly for heart failure symptoms
• Have a poor quality of life because of your heart condition

Who may benefit from a heart transplant? 

A heart transplant could be the right choice for you if you:

• Have advanced heart failure
• Have intractable arrythmias, which are irregular heartbeats that don’t get better with other treatments and can be life-threatening
• Have coronary artery disease (CAD) that can’t be treated with other options 
• Have amyloidosis (a protein buildup that affects how your heart works) that can’t be managed with other treatments
• Have progressive heart failure or rhythm problems with congenital heart disease, which is heart disease you’re born with that’s getting worse 
• Already had a heart transplant and need re-transplantation

Learn what it takes to qualify for a heart transplant.

Conditions that could lead to a heart transplant

You may need a heart transplant if you have heart failure or end-stage heart disease. These conditions could be caused by:

• Cardiomyopathy: Weakened heart muscle
• Ischemic heart disease: When the heart doesn’t get enough blood or oxygen because the arteries that feed it are narrow or blocked, also called coronary artery disease (CAD)
• Damage from heart attacks
• Congenital heart disease: Heart disease you’ve had from birth
• Valvular heart disease: Abnormal heart valves
• Uncontrolled arrhythmias: Abnormal heart rhythms
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• Viral infections 

How does the heart transplant evaluation and testing process work?

The transplant evaluation and testing process includes several steps to make sure you’re a good candidate for a heart transplant and you’re ready for one. Once you have been added to the heart transplant list, the call for surgery can come at any time. To prepare, you’ll have:

• Medical evaluations: These may include blood tests, imaging and heart catheterization so health care providers have a good understanding of your current heart health.
• Mental health and social support assessments: These check whether you’re prepared for major surgery and recovery and whether you have loved ones or caregivers available to help you.
• Insurance and financial counseling: These help you understand what expenses are involved in the heart transplant process so you can prepare for them.

Learn more about preparing for a heart transplant.

What should you expect from transplant surgery?

Your health care provider will discuss what to expect during heart transplant surgery ahead of time. Once a donor heart becomes available, you’ll need to get to the hospital quickly so you can have surgery right away.

The surgery to remove your heart and replace it with a donor heart usually takes three to seven hours. After your heart transplant surgery is complete, your transplant team will monitor you closely. You can expect to stay in the hospital for about two to four weeks.

A heart transplant is major surgery and there are risks involved. These will be discussed with you during the initial consent process. 

The Banner transplant team is by your side throughout surgery and heart transplant recovery to help lower the risk of complications and help you overcome any challenges.

Life after a heart transplant

Your Banner Health team will work closely with you and your loved ones so you can live as well as possible following heart transplant surgery.

Your care team will make sure you understand your new medications and their side effects, especially the immunosuppressants you need to take to help prevent rejection.

You will need regular heart biopsies in the six months after your heart transplant to make sure your new heart is not being rejected. You should eat a balanced diet, avoid contact with those who are sick and continue a healthy lifestyle.

You may need to count on loved ones for support to help you run errands, take your medications on time, track symptoms and drive you to appointments.

As you recover, you will be able to be more active and will start physical therapy. You’ll also participate in cardiac rehabilitation, so you can keep your new heart healthy with exercise, diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Over time, you may be able to get back to your hobbies, work and exercise. You can count on Banner Health to help you after a heart transplant and support you as you begin your daily activities again.

Learn more about life after a heart transplant.

Mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices

If your heart needs help pumping while you’re waiting for a donor heart or you don’t qualify for a heart transplant, you may be able to use mechanical circulatory support (MCS).

Different types of MCS devices can support your heart in different ways, depending on how much heart damage you have, what parts of the heart need support, how long you expect to need support and other factors. 

Your health care team can review the options with you, so you understand the pros and cons of MCS.

Learn more about mechanical circulatory support.

Common questions about the transplant process

How long is the wait for a donor heart?

It’s hard to say exactly how long you might wait for a donor heart, since it depends on when a heart becomes available as well as your height and weight, blood type and geographical location. The average wait time is around four months. 

What are the risks of heart transplant surgery?

Like any surgery, heart transplant surgery brings a risk of infection or bleeding. There’s also a risk that your body will reject the new heart. Additionally, you will need to take immunosuppressants after a heart transplant, so there’s a risk of infection. You may also face emotional or psychological challenges.

Will I be able to live a normal life after a heart transplant? 

Recovering from a heart transplant takes several months. As you get stronger and healthier, you’ll be able to get back to many of the activities that you enjoy and that are important to you. With a new, healthy heart, you’ll likely feel better than you have in a long time.

Get answers to other common questions about heart transplant.

Why choose Banner Health for your heart transplant?

When you choose Banner’s transplant program for your heart transplant, you get care from a recognized leader in the field. We offer:

• Dedicated transplant coordinators and navigators to support you throughout the process, from evaluation to recovery.
• Behavioral health and social work support for help with the emotional and psychological challenges you may face.
• Cardiac rehabilitation to help you understand how to keep your new heart working as well as possible.
• Nutrition, medication management and education, so you’re well-equipped to take the right steps to stay healthy.
• Remote monitoring and telehealth in some cases, so you can get the care you need without leaving home.

Heart transplant care at Banner includes:

• Proven outcomes and survival rates
• Access to innovation, clinical trials and support services
• A commitment to caring for you as a whole person

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re exploring a heart transplant as a next step in your heart care, we’re here to help. Talk to your cardiologist about scheduling an evaluation with our transplant team.