Heart-and-lung transplant
Key points
- This surgery replaces a diseased heart and lungs with a healthy heart and lungs from a human donor.
- Heart-and-lung transplant operations have been performed since 1980 in the United States.
- Heart-and-lung transplants are not recommended for patients who have decreased kidney or liver function, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or other serious diseases.
- A heart-and-lung transplant prolongs the life of a patient who otherwise would die.
Alternative names
Transplant - heart and lungs
Definition
This surgery replaces a diseased heart and lungs with a healthy heart and lungs from a human donor.
Description
Heart-and-lung transplant operations have been performed since 1980 in the United States. In 1997, approximately 150 of these operations were performed. The donated heart and lungs are from a person who has been declared brain-dead, but remains on life-support. Tissue matches must be performed to assure the patient's best chance of not rejecting the transplanted organs.
While the patient is deep asleep and pain-free (general anesthesia), an incision is made through the breast bone (sternum). Tubes are used to re-route the blood to a heart-lung bypass machine. This keeps the blood oxygenated and circulating during the surgery.
The patient's heart and lungs are removed, and the donor heart and lungs are stitched into place.
Indications
Heart-lung transplant may be recommended for patients with:
- Severely diseased lungs, such as primary pulmonary hypertension
- Severely damaged heart
Heart-and-lung transplants are not recommended for patients who have decreased kidney or liver function, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or other serious diseases.
RISKS
Risks for any anesthesia are:
- Reactions to medications
- Problems breathing
Risks for any surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Infection
Additional risks of transplant includes:
- Failure of the transplanted organs
- Rejection of the transplanted organs
- Infection due to anti-rejection (immunosuppression) medications
- Blood clots (deep venous thrombosis)
- Stroke
Expectations after surgery
A heart-and-lung transplant prolongs the life of a patient who otherwise would die. The operation is done only when there is a very good chance of success. While long-term outcomes are unknown at this time, 5-year survival is approximately 40-50%.
Written and revised by
Andrey Nailor, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
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