Heart Transplant
Patients with advanced heart failure who do not respond to medical and surgical therapies may be eligible for a heart transplant. Candidates are evaluated and undergo a battery of tests to ensure the benefits of a heart transplant outweigh the risks.
Those who qualify receive care from a multidisciplinary team. This starts with pretransplant monitoring and extends through post-surgical care. In addition to preparing patients and their families for the physical and emotional issues associated with a heart transplant, the team also educates patients on how to transition into a post-transplant lifestyle.
The multidisciplinary heart transplant team includes:
- Transplant cardiologists
- Cardiovascular surgeons
- Anesthesiologists
- Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation specialists
- Nurses
- Dietitians
- Pharmacists
- Social workers
- Transplant coordinators
- Infectious disease specialists
- Psychiatric services
- Support groups