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Heart Tansplant

  • 23-09-2006 8:02pm
    #1
    EdgarAllenPoo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,686 ✭✭✭


    My grandfather had the first of many heart attacks back in 2003, he had a stent put in that that didn't help much then they gave him a pacemaker and he's still no better for it.

    The first heart attack he had damaged 40% of his heart. What I would like to know is in general what are the criteria for putting someone on a transplant list. I don't think his doctor has ever even mentioned it and even a bypass has barely come up for discussion. I was thinking of getting him to have a private consultation to see if they would say something different. He's only 66 and all they ever seem to do when he goes back into hspital is change or increase his medication.

    Would the anesthesia be a reason not to do a bypass or transplant?


Comments

  • #2
    Vas_Guy
    Closed Accounts Posts: 436 ✭✭Vas_Guy


    Sorry to hear about your grandfather.

    The conditions for being put on a traslplant list are:

    The person has end-stage heart failure, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or congenital heart disease.

    The person has less than a 50% chance of living as long as 1 year without a heart transplant.

    The person has no other serious medical conditions that would reduce his or her life expectancy.

    The doctor strongly expects that a heart transplant will increase survival and improve the person's quality of life.

    About 79% of all people who receive heart transplants survive for at least 1 year, while 75% survive 5 years and 60% survive 10 years.

    Its not without its risks one who receives a new heart has to take medication to suppress their immune system so that it does not reject the donor heart. This can lead to other side effects, eg cancer.

    I assume you spoke to a cardiologist the physicians have nearly made cardiac surgery a thing of the past with medication and stenting, but there are these few who need surgery, bypass and transplants. Now there is news of using stem cells to repair damaged heart muscle.

    If, during a heart attack, more than about 40% of the principal pumping chamber of the organ is damaged, it's not good sadly to say.

    Would the anesthesia be a reason not to do a bypass or transplant?

    Yes, as its also a risk

    I hope everything works out


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