In many instances, the heart becomes weakened and is not able to function at a consistent basis. This may be related to a heart disease, which does not provide strength to the heart. In other instances, this may be linked to heart failure, where the heart does not have enough blood that can be pumped to and from the heart. If the heart reaches a stage where it can not be repaired, known as an end stage to the heart treatment, then a heart transplant is used to implement a new change to the heart.
When is Heart Transplant Required
Typically, heart transplants occur when there are no other options for saving or recovering a heart that is failing from different circumstances. When this occurs, the heart that is failing is replaced with another heart to help keep the individual alive. This is done through a donor heart individuals can receive so their heart can be replaced with another one. On average, 2,000 individuals in the United States receive a heart transplant from a donated heart.
After an individual receives a heart transplant, there are other considerations that must be taken care of. For the heart to function at a normal pace, it is essential for medications and other applications to be processed. For instance, there may be arrhythmias, or changes in pace of the heart. If this is not taken care of, and if the heart is not able to provide a continuous pace to pump blood in and out of the heart, then it could lead to cardiac arrest.
Complications of Heart Transplants
Even though heart transplants are used as a necessary ends for those who have diseases and difficulties with their heart, which has led to heart failure, there are also complications that may occur after the transplant surgery has occurred. Often times, the body won't recognize the new heart and the immune system may begin to fight back as the heart is a foreign device. This is noticed if you feel fatigued, a shortness of breath, fever or have instant weight gain. To monitor this, doctors often supply medications that stop the immune system from rejecting the heart into the system.
There are also other complications that may occur after a heart transplant. For instance, infections, failure of the heart, cancer and moving back into lifestyle habits that cause the heart to not become stable all may cause heart failure to move back into the main heart. While most of these can not be monitored, taking extra cautions and allowing the heart to become stable through medications allow for a better functioning heart and a longer lifeline from the donor heart. |