A heart transplant is a surgical procedure for replacing a failing or diseased heart with a healthy one received from a donor. A transplant is usually recommended when other treatments fail and the body needs a new, healthy organ to survive. Due to the limited availability of donor hearts, there are strict qualification requirements for a transplant. For instance, a key criterion is that the patient should be healthy enough otherwise to undergo the procedure.

Purpose
A heart transplant is usually the last resort for those with end-stage heart failure, which makes the heart extremely weak or suffer permanent damage. This makes it unable to pump an adequate amount of blood. Heart failure and, consequently, the need for a transplant may develop due to a variety of reasons, some of which have been listed below:

Valvular heart disease: This causes damage to the heart valves.

Congenital heart disease: This refers to a birth defect in the heart’s structure, which can result in end-stage heart failure.

Coronary artery disease: Artery blockages in the heart might result in a heart attack that causes irreversible damage to the organ.

Cardiomyopathy: This refers to any condition that damages the heart muscles. Some common causes for such conditions are genetic disorders and diseases; however, the precise cause may be unclear at times.

Depending on the overall health and severity of the condition, those up to 75 years of age can get a heart transplant.

Procedure
The heart transplant surgery typically lasts for four hours, during which a heart-lung bypass machine helps ensure proper blood circulation across the body. During the procedure, the surgeon removes the heart, leaving the left atrium’s back wall and pulmonary vein openings intact. Then, they sew the donor heart into place and connect the blood vessels for the new heart to start beating. Once the surgeon examines the heart and checks for leaks, they remove the tubes connected to the heart-lung machine. Typically, the new heart starts beating when the blood flow is restored. However, an electric shock can help trigger a heartbeat in some cases. The doctors then provide the required treatments and drainage tubes to remove the extra fluid from the chest cavity.

Recovery
After the procedure, the doctors will shift the patient to the intensive care unit for consistent monitoring. A day or two later, the doctors may move the patient from the ICU but ask them to stay in the hospital for a while, anywhere from one to three weeks, depending on the recovery pace. During the stay, doctors monitor the patient for any signs of infection and offer treatment options to ensure that the body does not reject the new organ. They may also recommend cardiac rehabilitation unit to help recover after a transplant. For most people, a full recovery may take six months.

Cost
The average cost of a heart transplant in the country is $1,664,800, inclusive of expenses related to pre-and post-transplant medical care, organ procurement, hospital charges, doctor fees, and associated treatments.

Like other surgical procedures, a heart transplant carries its own risks and benefits. So, it is important to discuss all the details with a doctor before undergoing the procedure. Further, after the procedure, one may require long-term care to lower the risk of complications associated with a transplant.