Heart Transplant

• The cost of Heart Transplant in India ranges between USD 50000 to 65000.
• The hospital stay is of 14 days and 20 outside the hospital. There can be a waiting period of 3 weeks to 3 months depending upon the availability of a well matched donor.
• There is a pre-transplant work done before the transplant which includes Blood and Urine Testing, EKG and Chest X-Ray, Cardiopulmonary Stress Test, Echocardiogram, MUGA Scan, Heart Catheterization, Carotid Doppler Studies, Abdominal Ultrasound and Pulmonary Function Testing.
• The cost of pre transplant workup is around 5000 USD in India.

Treatment Cost

More About Treatment

Heart transplant or cardiac transplant is a surgical condition which involves replacing dysfunctional heart with healthy heart .It is not considered to be a cure for heart disease, but a life-saving treatment.It is adviced when there is end stageheart failure and medical treatments are not helping. The patient's heart is removed and replaced with the donor, occasionally the diseased heart is left in place to support the donor heart .

Conditions that may eventually require a heart transplant include:

• Congestive Heart Failure -as the heart muscle gets weaken so it fails to pump blood efficiently.
• Coronary heart disease –a build-up of fatty substances in the arteries supplying the heart, which block or interrupt blood flow to the heart
• Cardiomyopathy–where the walls of the heart have become stretched, thickened or stiff
• Congenital heart disease–birth defects that affect the normal workings of the heart

• Cardiologist determines the eligibility for heart transplant whether you are suitable for one, also your Psychological and social evaluation
• Based on your assessment, you may be considered suitable for a transplant and then you will be put onto the transplant waiting list.
• Blood test- this will help to determine a good donor match.
• Diagnostic test- it will help to access the overall health of the recipient.
• Test such as x-ray, ultrasound, CT scan, pulmonary function test and dental examination.
• Others- several immunizations to prevent infections.

• A heart transplant operation usually takesbetween 4-6 hours
• Once a donor heart becomes available, a surgeon surgically removes the heart from the donor's body. The heart is stored in a special solution. The transplant surgery is performed at the earliest, after the donor heart becomes available.
• The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia
• During the surgery, the patient is placed on a heart-lung machine
• The surgeon makes incision in sternum to get access to heart.
• Diseased heart is removed, the donor’s heart is placed in the patient’s body and blood vessels connected.
• When the transplant procedure is completed , the heart will be restarted .
• When heart begins to take over pumping and condition is stable, the heart-lung machine will be turned off.
• Tube will be attached to drain fluid from the heart.
• The sternum will be joined and sutured together with wires.

• After the operation you will be moved to the intensive care unit .
• Ventilator attached so that breathing will be assisted.
• Blood samples will be taken frequently to check the status of the new heart.
• Immunosuppressant medicine will be given and monitored closely.
• You will have a wound along sternum
• Important to keep the surgical area dry and clean.
• Advised to avoid strenuous activities until sternum is fully healed, which can take up to three or four months.
• There will be follow- up after the surgery which may include blood test, X-Ray other tests
• Attend all your appointments – this allows doctors to monitor your health and alter medications if needed.
• Take your prescribed medication.
• Adviced to make lifestyle changes -Don’t smoke – this will help to keep your heart healthy, Do regular physical activity , Eat a healthy, balanced diet, control cholesterol and blood pressure, maintain healthy weight.
• Maintain personal and food hygiene to avoid infection.

You may be interested in:Why is heart transplant done?

A heart transplant is a complex and risky procedure. Possible complications include:

• Rejection by immune system
• Graft failure -the donated heart fails to work properly
• narrowing of the arteries supplying the heart
• Side effects from the immunosuppressant medication
• Infection
• Bleeding after the surgery
• Blood clot that can cause heart attack, stroke or lung problem
• Breathing problem
• Kidney failure

For those people who are fortunate enough to receive a transplant, the long-term outlook is good . 75% are alive after five years.Quality of life is usually good.

Helpful:Prognosis of Heart Transplant

Following are the factors which will affect the treatment cost:

• The hospital patient is opting for.
• Operating room, recovery room charges
• Fee for the team of doctors (Cardiologists, Anaesthetist, etc )
• Medicines and sterile dressings
• Standard test and diagnostic procedures
• Cost of follow up care

FAQs

Q: What is heart transplant?
A: Heart transplant is a surgical condition wherein a diseased heart is replaced with a healthy heart .

Q: What are the steps in Heart transplant surgery?
A: Heart Transplant procedure consists of three stages:

• The first stage is harvesting the heart from the donor.
• The second removing the recipients damaged heart
• And lastly is implantation of donors heart.

Q:What are the Contraindication for heart transplant?
A: Contradictions are:

• Insulin-dependent diabetes with severe organ dysfunction
• Recent thromboembolism such as stroke
• Advanced kidney, lung, or liver disease
• Metastatic cancer
• Life-threatening diseases including acute infection or systemic disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus, sarcoidosis
• Vascular disease
• Other serious conditions

Q: How is matching done for heart transplant?
A: When checking whether a heart is a good match, the team will look at the quality of the heart, the size, and how well it matches blood and tissue type.

Q:What are the risks associated with Heart Transplants?
A: The most common causes of death following a transplant are infection and rejection. With the exception of having to take lifelong medication to keep the body from rejecting the new heart.

Q: What are the warning signs after surgery?
A: Warning signs are:

• Fever or chill
• Redness /swelling/bleeding
• Increased pain around incision
• Difficulty in breathing

Q: What are heart transplant Rejection Symptoms?
A: General symptomsof heart transplant rejection are-

• Fever
• Fluid collection in lungs
• Decreased oxygen level in blood
• Shortness of breath
  

Q: How long is the heart transplant procedure?
A: A heart transplant operation usually takes between 4-6 hrs.

Q: What is the prognosis of heart transplant?
A: Many heart transplant patients lead a long and productive life.

Q: How is the functioning of heart assessed?
A:Functioning of heart is assessed by:

• Echocardiogram -measures the Ejection Fraction or EF which is a measure of how well the heart is contracting.
• NT-pro BNP -a hormone that rises in the blood as a response to a failing heart

Q: Can heart failure be prevented?
A: Yes, with lifestyle modifications like avoiding smoking, avoidance of heavy drinking, control of sugars and BP, exercise and a healthy diet, helps prevents heart failure.

Q: Why is heart failure a serious diagnosis?
A: Once the heart starts malfunctioning, other organs will start getting damaged as well. Advanced heart failure has a 70-80% chance of death if untreated.

Q: What are the eligibility requirements for a medical visa to India?
A: If you have a valid passport and visa and are seeking medical treatment in a recognized and reputed hospital in India then you can apply for a medical visa to India. Up to 2 attendants who are blood relatives can accompany the patient under separate attendant visas.

Q: Do I need to carry a yellow fever vaccination certificate when I travel to India?
A: Yes, you need to carry a valid yellow fever if you are travelling from areas where yellow fever is found. Also, all travellers from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia and Israel must carry an Oral PolioVaccination (OPV) Certificate which must be taken not earlier than 6 weeks before entry. This rule applies to both adults and children.

Q: Can I get visa on arrival if I travel to India for my treatment?
A: Yes, if you are from the following countries, Japan, Cambodia, Finland, Indonesia, Philippines, Luxembourg, Myanmar, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Vietnam. Travellers from Bhutan, Nepal and Maldives (up to 90 days) can enter India without a visa.

Q: Are the hospitals in your panel internationally accredited?
A: At Vaidam, we are proud to associate with several Joint commission international (JCI )accredited Indian hospitals in our panel. Also Vaidam is the first and only online medical facilitator in India accredited by NABH. This recognition is an acknowledgment to the quality of care being provided to patients, safety standards and services.