Heart Transplants

How long have heart transplants been performed?

1967 in South Africa

How does heart transplant surgery work?

-aorta, vena cavas, and pulmonary blood vessels cut and reattached to new heart.

- while surgery is done, machine replaces heart and lungs

Why would someone need a heart transplant?

-Heart defects (including valves)

- clogged coronary arteries

- viruses

How do you get on transplant list?

-Team of surgeons, nurses, dieticians, and social workers determines your need and chance of success

How long until an organ becomes available?

- Over 4,000 U.S. patients currently waiting for a heart (79.000 waiting for any organ)

- Each day, 16-17 people die waiting for their new organ

-Depends on blood type:

-Type A 2 months

-Type O 2-3 years

Where do the organs come from?

-Organ Donors (newborn to 65 years old or more)

- Recently deceased (only have 5 hours to begin surgery)

-Rarely a perfect genetic match

-6 different genetic sites

-Usually 4 or 5 of 6 are good matches

How successful are the surgeries?

-After 1 year, 86% are still living

-After 5 years, 71% are still living

-Because not a perfect genetic match, most patients are on drugs to suppress the immune system

-Higher risk for getting sick

-Higher risk for staying sick

By signing a Uniform Donor Card, an individual indicates his or her wish to be a donor. However, at the time of death, the person's next-of-kin will still be asked to sign a consent form for donation.

It is important for people who wish to be organ and tissue donors to tell their family about this decision so that their wishes will be honored at the time of death.

It is estimated that about 35 percent of potential donors never become donors because family members refuse to give consent.

If you signed the donor statement on your driver’s license, take

note . . .