If you’re being seriously considered for a heart transplant or you’re on the list for one, it’s important for you to be ready physically, mentally, emotionally and logistically. This phase includes testing, education and lifestyle planning.
As part of preparing for a heart transplant, you will need to:
When you’re accepted as a candidate for a heart transplant, you’ll be placed on the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) waitlist.
Your status on the waitlist depends on how healthy you are. Status levels run from 1 to 6. People with status 1 or 2 have the top priority for receiving a heart transplant. Your status can change based on your health.
These factors can also affect how long you may wait for a heart transplant:
Your doctor and heart transplant team will stay in touch with you throughout your wait, so you feel informed throughout the process.
You’ll be monitored regularly while you wait. If you’re hospitalized, you’ll be monitored based on your condition. If you’re at home you’ll probably see your cardiologist every one to three months.
As you wait, you may need mechanical circulatory support, like a left ventricular assist device (LVAD), short-term devices like an Impella (catheter-based pump) or a temporary artificial heart to help pump blood to your body.
It’s common and normal to feel scared, anxious and uncertain while you wait. As part of heart transplant preparation, it can help to:
Discuss available support options with your transplant team.
You will need to have a dedicated caregiver before and after heart transplant surgery. You may need to count on this person for support such as:
At Banner Health, as part of our pre-transplant process, we provide caregiver education so they know what to expect and how they can best help you.
Your caregiver can work with Banner staff to create a home recovery plan, so you’re prepared with things like your bedroom setup and infection prevention strategies before you get the call that a heart is available for you.
When a heart becomes available, you’ll get a call from the transplant team. You’ll need to get to the hospital right away, so it’s important to plan transportation ahead of time and have emergency contacts lined up who can help at a moment’s notice. You need to get to the hospital within about four hours of the call.
You should stop eating and drinking as soon as you’re told a donor heart is available and follow your care team’s instructions about taking your medications and any other surgery prep for your heart transplant.
Have a bag packed and ready to go with:
Do not bring jewelry or large amounts of cash.
The wait time for a transplant varies based on your health, blood type, body size and where you live. The average wait time is about four months but can extend to years. Your care team can give you a better estimate based on your specific situation.
If you get sick while you’re waiting for a donor heart, tell your transplant team right away. They can evaluate your health and decide whether you should temporarily come off the list while you recover.
You should talk to your transplant team to discuss your options. Travel may be possible, but you will need to be able to get to the hospital within about four hours if a donor heart becomes available. And your transplant team needs to be able to reach you by phone at all times.
Learn more:
When you choose Banner Health, you get care from a recognized leader in heart transplants. You can count on:
If you’re on the heart transplant waitlist and have questions about preparing, we’re here to help. Contact your transplant coordinator for pre-surgery support.
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