For patients with severe untreatable heart conditions, heart transplant may be recommended as the best option. Heart transplant is a serious and life-saving surgical procedure involving the removal of an unhealthy heart and replacing it with a healthy heart from a donor. It is not a first line treatment. Heart transplant is reserved only for patients with the most advanced stage of heart disease, who can no longer be managed with even the most aggressive medications.
End-stage heart failure is diagnosed when severe dysfunction in the heart affects the muscle’s ability to pump blood throughout the body. While this final stage of heart failure sounds scary, a heart failure diagnosis does not mean your heart will soon stop working altogether. It simply means that the heart muscle is unable to pump blood, generally due to damage, extreme weakness, or a combination of both. A heart transplant is a source of renewed hope for patients with this condition.
At Westchester Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Institute, our expert surgeons have access to the leading-edge technology and procedures, including beating-heart transplants, where technology enables the donor heart to remain beating while it’s in transit. Your care team is among the best in the nation and will be there to walk you through the process every step of the way.
WMCHealth’s Transplant Center’s heart transplant program is one of the most established in New York. Our commitment to quality care and advanced, leading-edge surgical techniques consistently ranks our heart transplant center among the top 15% of programs worldwide.
Innovative “Heart-In-a-Box” Technology
WMCHealth’s Transplant Center at Westchester Medical Center is proud to be the first hospital in New York to transplant a heart with “heart in a box,” a portable medical technology that keeps the donor heart pumping blood after it is removed from the donor. This medical technology—also known as the TransMedics Organ Care System—keeps the heart beating and pumping blood during transport. A heart with circulating blood is more likely to stay healthy as it travels from the donor to the recipient.
In addition to pumping blood through the heart, this revolutionary technology pumps vital medications and nutrients,which extends its life. This means the heart can travel much greater distances to the heart transplant candidate, increasing the likelihood of a donor and patient match.
With fewer barriers for donor hearts, this technology increases the potential to save more lives.
Complex Heart Transplant Procedures
In addition to heart transplant surgery, surgeons at WMCHealth’s Transplant Center perform complex cases requiring multiple organ transplants for one patient. Our multispecialty team includes cardiothoracic surgeons and cardiologists. Cardiac specialists at WMCHealth also treat heart failure patients with implantable, artificial devices known as Left Ventricular Assist Devices.
WMCHealth participates in national and international research programs, providing our patients access to the latest medical therapy for heart failure and mechanical circulatory support for cardiogenic shock. Our heart transplant team also offers mechanical circulatory support care, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and ventricular assist devices (VAD).
Evaluation for Heart Transplant Surgery
The first step in preparing for heart transplant surgery is determining whether or not you are a candidate. Organ transplant is a complex process, with many variables to consider. Not everyone is ready for this process, and your transplant care team will lead you through each step of evaluation and assessment, including:
- Blood tests: Blood tests are necessary to help find your best donor match to improve the chances that the donor heart will not be rejected.
- Diagnostic tests: These include imaging, such as X-rays, ultrasound procedures, CT scans, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and dental exams.
- Vaccinations: Vaccines decrease the chances of developing infections that can affect the success of your heart transplant.
- Psychological and social evaluation: Stress, financial issues, and support from family or significant others are some of the psychological and social issues that are considered.
Transplant Recipient Meets Donor Family
When Bob and Marla lost their son, Rob, in a tragic workplace accident in 2017, they made the lifesaving decision to donate his organs, helping 15 people – including heart transplant recipient, Elisabeth. This is what happened when Elisabeth met Bob and Marla for the first time at Westchester Medical Center.
Donor Heart Waiting List
If you are a candidate for heart transplant surgery, your transplant coordinator will let you know that you have been placed on the national waiting list for a new heart. You will also receive a letter confirming your placement on the list.
Many factors determine whether a heart is right for you when it becomes available. The two main factors are that the donor must have a blood type compatible with yours and must be about the same weight as you.
At WMCHealth, we realize that the time spent waiting for your transplant can be stressful. It is normal to feel worried as you wait. But there are things you can do to help alleviate some of this stress and deal with your fears, such as:
- Talk about your concerns with your family or supportive friends
- Ask your transplant social worker to recommend a counselor
- Join a heart failure support group (WMCHealth can connect you)
Please remember that you are not alone. Your WMCHealth heart transplant care team is always here to help you navigate the uncertainty of the waiting period.