Description of Procedure – The surgeon cuts through skin and breastbone, opens the chest and connected to a heart-lung machine. This machine takes over the functions of the heart and lungs during the operation. Doctors remove all but the back wall of the upper chamber of the heart. The upper chambers of the donor heart are opened, and the donor heart is sewn into place. Then, connect the blood vessels and the blood starts to flow and warms the heart. The new heart starts beating on its own or doctors administered an electrical shock to get it started. For safety, you will also have a temporary pacing wire connected to the heart. Once doctors are sure that the heart is beating fine and no further problems are anticipated, the blood is rewarmed and disconnect the heart-lung machine, catheters are placed in the chest cavity to drain any residual blood that may collect. The surgeon closes the chest with stainless steel wires and the skin is closed with absorbable sutures.
After Procedure – be closely monitored in an intensive care unit, with the help of the following devices:
- Heart Rate Monitor
- Cables used to help control heart rate
- Tubes connected to a machine that helps drain excess blood and air
- Breathing through hoses until you can do independently
How Long Will It Take ? 4-6 hours
Hurt? Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery. You may experience pain while recovering but will receive drugs to relieve the discomfort.
Possible Complications
- Infection
- Rejection of the new heart
- Coronary Artery Disease (half of all transplant patients develop coronary artery disease)
- Pneumonia
- Phlebitis (blood clots in a vein)
- Excessive bleeding
- Neurological deficits, stupor, coma, decreased intellectual function
- Renal dysfunction
- Heart palpitations
- Problems related to anesthesia
- infection or cancer related to taking immunosuppressive medications
Approximate time of stay in the hospital – two weeks if no signs of rejecting the new heart
Tags: absorbable sutures., Coronary Artery Disease, functions of the heart, heart-lung machine., heart.
