Cardiac Transplantation:

A heart transplant is an operation wherein a diseased, bombing heart is supplanted with a better donor heart. Heart transplant is a treatment that is normally held for individuals whose condition hasn't improved enough with meds or different medical procedures.

While a heart transplant is a significant operation, your possibility of endurance is acceptable with suitable subsequent consideration.

Why Is This Cardiac Transplant Done?

Heart transplants are performed when different medicines for heart issues haven't worked, prompting heart disappointment. In grown-ups, heart disappointment can be brought about by:

  • A debilitating of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
  • Coronary corridor disease
  • Heart valve disease
  • A heart issue you're brought into the world with (intrinsic heart deformity)
  • Hazardous repeating irregular heart rhythms (ventricular arrhythmias) not constrained by different medicines
  • Disappointment of a past heart transplant

In kids, heart disappointment is regularly brought about by either an intrinsic heart deformity or cardiomyopathy. Another organ transplant might be performed simultaneously as a heart transplant (multiorgan transplant) in individuals with specific conditions at select clinical focuses.

Not Everyone Requires A Heart Transplant:

A heart transplant isn't appropriate for everybody, in any case. You probably won't be a decent contender for a heart transplant on the off chance that you:

  • Are at a higher age that would meddle with the capacity to recuperate from transplant a medical procedure
  • Have another ailment that could abbreviate your life, paying little mind to accepting a donor heart, for example, a genuine kidney, liver or lung disease
  • Have a functioning contamination
  • Have a new close to home clinical history of malignancy
  • Are reluctant or incapable to make way of life changes important to keep your donor heart solid, for example, not drinking liquor or not smoking

Gadgets For People Who Cannot Go Through Heart Transplant:

For certain individuals who can't have a heart transplant, another alternative might be a ventricular help gadget (VAD). A ventricular help gadget is a mechanical siphon embedded in your chest that assists siphon with blooding from the lower offices of your heart (ventricles) to the remainder of your body. VADs are usually utilized as impermanent medicines for individuals sitting tight for heart transplants. These gadgets are progressively being utilized as long-haul medicines for individuals who have heart disappointment yet are not qualified for heart transplants.

Description Percentage

For an indefinite period from date of hospital admission for cardiac transplantation

100

Thereafter:

Description Percentage

Chronic congestive heart failure, or; workload of 3 METs or less results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of less than 30 percent

100
Description Percentage

More than one episode of acute congestive heart failure in the past year, or; workload of greater than 3 METs but not greater than 5 METs results in dyspnea, fatigue, angina, dizziness, or syncope, or; left ventricular dysfunction with an ejection fraction of 30 to 50 percent

60
Description Percentage

Minimum

30

 

 

Cardiac Transplantation: 

A heart transplant is a medical procedure that involves replacing a failing heart with a healthy heart from a donor. The process is seen as a last resort for treating heart conditions and is generally recommended by doctors when other treatments haven’t been fruitful. These treatments are surgeries, and they use medications to treat heart problems.

Heart failure is a condition where the heart is not working as efficiently as it usually should. Your entire body needs blood to perform all the necessary functions. When the blood flow becomes insufficient, due to the heart being unable to pump blood adequately, then disruption occurs; this makes your heart weak. Heart failure can affect any side of your heart, or it can affect both sides of your heart at the same time.

Why it's done?

Heart transplants are performed when other treatments for heart problems haven't worked, leading to heart failure. In adults, heart failure can be caused by:

  • A weakening of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart valve disease
  • A heart problem you're born with (congenital heart defect)
  • Dangerous recurring abnormal heart rhythms (ventricular arrhythmias) not controlled by other treatments
  • Failure of a previous heart transplant
  • In children, heart failure is most often caused by either a congenital heart defect or cardiomyopathy.
  • Another organ transplant may be performed at the same time as a heart transplant (multiorgan transplant) in people with certain conditions at select medical centers.

A heart transplant is not right for everyone, however. You might not be a good candidate for a heart transplant if you:

  • Are at an advanced age that would interfere with the ability to recover from transplant surgery
  • Have another medical condition that could shorten your life, regardless of receiving a donor heart, such as a serious kidney, liver or lung disease
  • Have an active infection
  • Have a recent personal medical history of cancer
  • Are unwilling or unable to make lifestyle changes necessary to keep your donor heart healthy, such as not using recreational drugs, not smoking and limiting alcohol use

Diagnosis

Your healthcare provider checks your overall health by running several different tests. Some, but not all, of the possible tests are listed below.

Lab testing includes blood and urine tests that examine your:

  • Blood composition: Your provider checks the levels of red blood cells, platelets and other components in your blood. They also analyze your blood chemistry to look for signs of other conditions that might affect your ability to have a heart transplant.
  • Immune system: Your provider uses the findings from an immune system analysis to predict how well your immune system can tolerate a donor organ.
  • Kidney function: A urinalysis shows how well your kidneys are working.
  • Use of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs: Testing for alcohol, tobacco and drugs is an important part of your preparation. You must avoid alcohol, tobacco products (including vaping) and recreational drugs (including marijuana) for an extended time before your transplant.

Imaging tests you may need include:

  • X-rays.
  • Computed tomography (CT) scans.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
  • Echocardiogram.

Diagnostic tests check the function of your heart, respiratory and circulatory systems. These may include:

  • Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG).
  • Exercise stress testing.
  • Pulmonary (lung) function testing.
  • Heart catheterization.
  • Holter monitor.

Testing for specific diseases is also possible, especially the following:

  • Tuberculosis.
  • HIV.
  • Hepatitis B.
  • Hepatitis C.
  • Toxoplasmosis.
  • Herpes simplex virus.
  • Varicella-zoster virus (the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles).

Transplant recipients need to be up-to-date on vaccines before transplantation. An infectious disease specialist helps with this process.

Psychological and neurological evaluation

Part of the selection process includes psychological and neurological testing and evaluation. That’s because maintaining a healthy heart transplant is stressful and at times challenging. People who receive a transplant also face an increased risk of depression. Neurological tests check for issues that might cause you additional problems.

Dental evaluation

Your oral health, especially the condition of your teeth, can play a big role in your heart health. It’s common for oral infections from cavities to spread to your heart and cause damage there.

Social and financial evaluation

A heart transplant is a difficult, intensive process. People with the best chance of success also have a good support system around them, including family and friends. The transplant team will talk with you about your situation and learn what resources you might need to get through the process.

Note: A rating of 100 percent shall be assigned as of the date of hospital admission for cardiac transplantation. One year following discharge, the appropriate disability rating shall be determined by mandatory VA examination. Any change in evaluation based upon that or any subsequent examination shall be subject to the provisions of §3.105(e) of this chapter.

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