Heart failure? A correct transplant procedure can help you!
Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of death worldwide. Currently, more people die each year from this type of illness than from any other reason. According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012 alone, 17.5 million people died, representing 31% of deaths worldwide.
Data on these diseases are increasing in recent years, and it is estimated that of the 16 million people under 70 who die worldwide attributed to noncommunicable diseases, 82% come from countries with lower economic levels, and 37% of this percentage is due to cardiovascular diseases.
One of the diseases related to the heart with the highest incidence in the population is heart failure, and this condition occurs when the heart cannot pump the amount of blood suggested for the proper functioning of the human body. However, this does not mean that the heart stops, but that its capacity for functionality is poor, which causes in the medium term that one or both sides of the heart are affected.
In this sense, the most common causes that cause heart failure are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes. These conditions occur mostly in people over 65, overweight, and people who have had a heart attack before, men being more prone than women.
The diagnosis of this heart disease is made through a physical and heart study, and the treatments include medicines and in a case of advanced disease, a heart transplant.
What should a person with heart failure know to have a heart transplant?
When talking about performing a heart transplant, in general terms, it refers to the removal of an injured or diseased heart, which will be replaced by a healthy one. The healthy heart comes from a donor who passed away.
In this case, the transplant area of the academic medical institute, Cleveland Clinic, suggests a series of information on the Scientific Registry of Transplant Receptors (SRTR), which gives patients a more rewarding experience.
Getting the call
If a patient is approved to be placed on a waiting list for a heart transplant, he or she should wait for a donor to be available. If a heart is available, and the patient is not in the hospital, they are immediately contacted by their “Heart Transplant Coordinator.” In some cases, the coordinator may arrange for transportation to Cleveland Clinic Florida or tell them to wait for further instructions.
It is imperative that the patient notify the Transplant Coordinator if they update their contact or address information.
Once the patient is called, they cannot eat or drink anything and must keep their telephone line open. They should also bring a one-day supply of medications and their transplant notebook with them.
Arriving at Cleveland Clinic Florida
Upon arrival, the patient will be admitted to the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU), and a physical examination will be performed. A chest x-ray and blood test will be shown. These tests are routine and help determine the patient’s condition before surgery. The patient will be asked to sign the consent for surgery, blood products, and solid organ transplantation. They will be asked to remove dentures, contact lenses, makeup, and nail polish.
The donor’s heart
A team of transplant staff will evaluate the donor’s heart. Once the team has seen and determined that the donor’s heart is satisfactory, they will contact the transplant surgeon. At this time, the surgeon will receive details about when the donor’s heart will arrive. Then proceed to surgery.
Heart Transplant Surgery
Once the patient is in the operating room, the actual heart transplant procedure can take four to 12 hours or more.
Cross Tests
Because we only have a few hours to perform a transplant, the patient undergoes a virtual “crossmatch” before and after the operation. This involves comparing the blood of the patient and that of the donor. This test is useful in post-transplant patient care. This will help determine your risk of rejection.
It is normal for the patient’s new heart to beat faster at rest. When the patient wakes up from surgery, he will be in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU). A team of specially trained doctors and nurses will monitor patient care and help them recover safely and quickly.
For more information on Cleveland Click heart transplant treatments and programs, visit clevelandclinicflorida.org
About Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit academic medical center with several specialties that integrates clinical care and hospital care with research and education. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, the clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned doctors with the vision of providing medical care to the patient based on the principles of cooperation, compassion, and innovation.
Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical advances, including coronary revascularization surgery and the first face transplant in the United States.
U.S. News & World Report frequently rates Cleveland Clinic as one of the best hospitals in the nation in its annual survey “The best hospitals in the United States.” Among the 49,000 Cleveland Clinic employees, there are more than 3,400 doctors and researchers working full-time salary and 14,000 nurses, all of whom are dedicated to 120 medical specialties and subspecialties.
The Cleveland Clinic health system includes a 165-acre main campus located near downtown Cleveland, nine community hospitals, more than 150 outpatient clinics in northern Ohio – even 18 full-service health centers for family and three health and wellness centers– and facilities in Weston, Florida; The Vegas, Nevada; Toronto Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2015, there were 6.6 million outpatient visits, 164,700 hospital admissions, and 208,807 surgical cases throughout the Cleveland Clinic health system.
Patients arrived to receive treatment from all states of the country and 180 countries. Visit us at www.clevelandclinic.org.
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