What does it mean to qualify for a heart transplant?
To qualify for a heart transplant, you have to be eligible. That means you must have advanced heart failure that can’t be managed with medications or other treatments. You also need to be medically, physically and emotionally able to receive a transplant and benefit from it.
There are different steps you need to take to qualify, not just one test. Banner Health's heart transplant team will work closely with you to make sure you know all your options and are informed throughout your heart transplant journey.
If you meet the heart transplant qualifications, you can be added to the heart transplant waitlist.
Why would you be referred for a possible heart transplant?
You may be considered for a heart transplant if you have symptoms or factors such as:
- Severe shortness of breath when you’re resting or only exerting yourself slightly
- Being hospitalized often for advanced heart failure
- Poor quality of life despite medications and devices
- Low ejection fraction (<25%), which is a measure of how well your heart is pumping
- Refractory arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats that don’t get better with treatment)
- Cardiogenic shock (when your heart suddenly can’t supply enough blood to your body)
- A mechanical heart pump (LVAD) as a bridge-to-transplant
Who may benefit from a heart transplant?
You may benefit from heart transplantation if you:
- Have advanced heart failure
- Have life-threatening arrythmias and other treatments haven’t worked
- Have coronary artery disease (CAD) that’s not treatable
- Have amyloidosis (protein build-up in the heart) that doesn’t respond to other options
- Have already had a heart transplant and need re-transplantation
What’s involved in the transplant evaluation process?
A team of health care professionals work together to see if you meet the heart transplant criteria and if a transplant may be right for you. The team includes a cardiologist, surgeon, social worker, nutritionist and behavioral health specialist.
They will review the results of testing and evaluations that include:
- Lab work and imaging such as blood tests, echocardiogram, cardiac catheterization and chest X-ray to evaluate the extent of your heart failure
- Lung function tests, since if your lungs aren’t working well your risk of complications after heart transplant is higher
- Kidney function tests, since a heart transplant can affect how well your kidneys work
- Screening for infectious diseases
- Mental health counseling
- Social support evaluation, to make sure you have caregivers who can help you during recovery
- Financial counseling so you are prepared for the costs of a heart transplant and follow-up care
The evaluation is designed to make sure you are ready for surgery and recovery and that a heart transplant is safe for you. The team wants to make sure you will benefit from a heart transplant and that you don’t have any other health conditions that might interfere with transplant success.
What factors might affect whether you qualify for a heart transplant?
Your evaluation team will consider several factors that could impact your transplant candidacy.
Medical factors
- Having an active infection
- Recently being diagnosed with cancer
- Having severe liver or kidney conditions - if so, you may be a candidate for a heart-liver or heart-kidney transplant
- Age and frailty - these are considered on a case-by-case basis
Lifestyle factors
- Smoking
- A history of substance abuse
- Not taking medication as directed in the past
- Having untreated mental health disorders
- Body weight
How do you get evaluated?
A cardiologist or heart failure specialist may refer you for an evaluation. If you’ve received an LVAD, you might be evaluated after that.
If your provider has told you that your heart disease is getting worse, ask them about being evaluated for a heart transplant.
FAQs and links
What is the average age for a heart transplant?
It’s possible to get a heart transplant at any age, from early childhood to late adulthood. People most often get heart transplants in their 50s and early 60s.
How long does the heart transplant evaluation take?
A heart transplant evaluation typically takes one to three months. If you are hospitalized and very sick, it can be streamlined and done in five to seven days.
What if I don’t qualify for a heart transplant now?
Talk to your care team to see if you might qualify for a heart transplant in the future. If not, you may be able to get a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Or you may qualify for other surgeries that help your heart work better, such as valve surgery or coronary artery bypass graft.
Learn more:
Why choose Banner Health for your heart transplant evaluation?
When you choose to have a heart transplant evaluation at Banner Health, you get:
- Dedicated transplant coordinators to guide you through the process
- A personalized, compassionate approach, because we understand that advanced heart failure and heart transplantation is different for everyone
- Educational tools and pre-evaluation consultations so you’re well-informed about every aspect of heart transplant surgery, recovery and living with your new heart
- Behavioral health, nutrition and caregiver support to make sure you’re as healthy as possible
- Help with understanding the financial impact and navigating the insurance
If you choose to have a heart transplant at Banner Health, you can count on having:
- An experienced transplant team that’s recognized nationally for its success
- Access to advanced therapies, clinical trials and long-term care
- Team-based support throughout the process, from diagnosis through recovery
Ready to begin the transplant evaluation process?
If you or a loved one is considering whether a heart transplant is the right choice, the Banner Heart transplant team is ready to help.
Talk to your cardiologist about scheduling a consultation with us.
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