A heart transplant refers to the process where the diseased or damaged heart of the patient is replaced with that of a donor’s healthy heart. The donor must be a person who has died and whose family has consented to the donation of the donor’s organs. Ever since the first such surgery took place in 1967, the practice has become as an established treatment for advanced heart disease. It had started out as an experimental operation and now saves so many lives. Heart transplants in India could save many more lives if donors were readily available to match the demand.
There are reasons why the procedure is chosen over others since it is quite an important operation. The process of a heart transplant is considered if heart failure is so severe that no other therapy can evoke a response, and considering that the person’s health otherwise is fine. A few reasons for people to receive heart transplantations include Dilated cardiomyopathy, severe coronary artery disease with scarred heart tissue from a heart attack, or birth defects of the heart. While the surgery is quite efficient, it is necessary to note that there are several other new innovations that can be used for the treatment of heart failure. New drugs, pacemakers, and new surgical therapies have proved to be reliable techniques that can be used in place of heart transplants in certain suitable cases.
To determine the best treatment option for you, consider visiting the best hospital in Hyderabad or the nearest city. Ensure that you are evaluated by a doctor who has specialized in heart failure. While deciding who can be considered a candidate for a heart transplant, certain factors are kept in mind. Firstly, people who have advanced or end-stage heart failure but are otherwise healthy can be candidates for the same. Whether or not the surgery would be performed on you will be determined on the basis of certain questions or factors.
Whether or not other therapies have been tried and excluded will be one aspect. Whether you are likely to die if you do not receive the transplant is another important question. How your general health is apart from the heart issue, and your lung health may also matter. Whether you can adhere to lifestyle changes involving complex drug treatments, frequent exams and other changes after the transplant is also checked.
Additional medical problems such as severe chronic illnesses, diseases, active infections, severe obesity, and other factors will also be taken into account.
