Heart Transplant Process at University of Colorado Hospital
The heart transplant process at University of Colorado Hospital follows established best practices for organ transplantation and patient recovery.
Preliminary evaluations
Before you receive a heart transplant, you will undergo a series of tests to determine your current health.
After these tests are performed, various members of the heart transplant medical team will give you a thorough evaluation.
Following your tests and evaluation, a cardiologist presents your case to the Patient Selection Committee for Heart Transplantation. The committee, which meets weekly, is made up of transplant program doctors, surgeons, nurse coordinators, social workers, clergy and psychiatrists. They determine whether a heart transplantation is a safe procedure for you. They also will discuss an optimal plan of care for you after transplantation.
Your transplant coordinator will inform you of the committee’s decision and plan.
Once you are accepted for transplant, your information is entered on the active heart transplant waiting list, and the search for a new heart for you begins.
Screening while on the waiting list
Please note that every patient on the waiting list may be randomly screened for drugs or alcohol at any time. The screening test may be done using a blood or urine sample. Anyone who tests positive for alcohol or illegal drugs will be removed from the waiting list.
Your Heart Transplant Surgery
After you have received a call to come to the hospital for your transplant surgery, you are admitted to the transplant unit. This is where preparation for surgery begins.
Upon arrival to the transplant center you will:
- Meet with your doctors and surgeons
- Sign one or more consent forms
- Have a few routine tests such as chest X-ray, EKG and blood draw
- Be given medications important for the success of your transplant
Your surgery will not begin until the donor heart:
- Arrives at the Hospital
- Is examined by the transplant surgeon
- Is considered to be acceptable
Once the decision to proceed with the surgery has been made, you will be given an anesthetic to put you to sleep for the surgery.
Heart transplant surgery can be divided into four stages:
- Transfer of heart and lung function to bypass machine
- Removal of the old heart
- Replacement with the new heart
- Removal from bypass machine
Although there are several factors that may influence the difficulty of your surgery, the operation should last three to four hours.
Summary of procedure
An incision or cut is made in your chest. Special tubes are placed to connect you to a bypass machine. This machine does the work of your heart and lungs during the transplant. Your old heart is removed and replaced with the new organ. You will be disconnected from the bypass machine and your new heart will be connected to a pacer box and begin beating. The pacer box will control your heart rate and is usually only needed for a few days after surgery.