Heart Transplant-revisions111324
Exceptional Outcomes for Heart Transplant Patients since 1984
The heart transplant program at Loyola Medicine is committed to excellence in the care and education of patients with advanced heart failure and heart transplantation. Through academic distinction and research, we continuously evolve to provide cutting-edge therapies. We aim to improve our patients' length and quality of life.
The highest level of integrated, multidisciplinary care is offered to advanced heart failure patients who are in need of a heart transplant. Our cardiology and cardiovascular surgery care teams are known for taking on the most challenging cases and delivering specialized, advanced treatment. Our heart team, including our subspecialists who are experts in a variety of health conditions, are ready to help you.
Advanced Cardiac Transplantation Technology and Expert Team
Our heart transplant team uses the latest technology and advancements in organ procurement and preservation to maintain the integrity of the donor's heart. These advancements help improve our patients' short term and long term recovery.
At Loyola, you will have an entire team on your side, including:
- Your cardiologist
- Transplant surgeon
- LVAD specialists
- Nurse coordinators
- Procurement coordinators
- Infectious disease specialists
- Nurse practitioners
- Anesthesiologists
- Transplant chaplains
- Physical therapists
- Dietitians
- Financial coordinators
- Clinical pharmacists
- Social workers
- Psychologists
Loyola Medicine Welcomes Patients Seeking Second Opinions
When a patient seeks a second opinion, they're looking for a fresh interpretation of a given diagnosis or treatment plan from a different doctor.
Getting a second opinion is a normal part of finding treatment and can increase your confidence in your diagnosis and treatment plans. It also ensures you choose a physician you have a comfortable rapport with. New clinical trials or treatments are also only being performed by certain physicians.
Loyola's specialist offices are located throughout Chicago’s western and southwestern suburbs and are open for second opinion consultations. For an in-office or virtual second opinion, call 888-584-7888 or schedule an appointment online.
What are the Different Types of Heart Transplants?
Heart patients can benefit from three kinds of transplants:
- Heart transplant — A surgery that removes a diseased or damaged heart and replaces it with a donor heart.
- Heart-lung transplant — A surgery that is performed for unsalvageable dual cardiac and pulmonary failure.
- Heart-kidney transplant — A surgery that is performed when both cardiac and renal organs are in end-stage failure.
Alternatives to Cardiac Transplantation
Your Loyola surgeon may suggest the following treatments as an alternative to cardiac transplantation or as a bridge to transplant surgery:
- LVAD implantation — Loyola’s internationally recognized team of cardiothoracic surgeons specializes in using left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) to treat patients with heart disease or advanced heart failure.
- Medical management — Your Loyola doctors may prescribe a medication change or increase in dose to properly manage your condition while waiting for a suitable organ match.
- Myocardial revascularization — For patients with ischemic heart disease who are not good candidates for a balloon or stent placement in the heart vessel, or for coronary artery bypass surgery, this procedure may reduce pain and eliminate the need for medication.
- Temporary VAD implantation — Loyola also offers the Impella® and Cardiohelp® short-term ventricular assist devices (VAD) for patients with advanced heart disease.
What Diseases are Treated with Heart Transplant?
Loyola’s cardiologists and transplant surgeons are well versed in every type of heart disease and failure. Your healthcare team will explore conservative treatments first and foremost. If your condition is not well controlled with other treatments, a heart transplant may be the best medical option. Some heart conditions that may require a heart transplant include:
- Advanced heart disease
- Cardiomyopathy
- Complex adult congenital heart disease or defect
- Coronary artery disease
- Dilated cardiomyopathy
- Heart failure and advanced heart failure
- Heart valve disease
- Life-threatening arrhythmias, or abnormal heartbeats or rhythms, that do not respond to other treatments
- Restrictive myopathy
- Severe angina that can no longer be treated with medications or other surgeries
- Valvular heart disease
Evaluation for Advanced Therapies
Your cardiologist may recommend an evaluation of advanced therapy options for the treatment of your heart failure. Our advanced heart failure cardiology team will work with you to confirm your diagnosis of end-stage heart failure and start your VAD evaluation. The evaluation has several steps and we will guide you through the process.
Depending on your condition, the advanced heart failure cardiologist may request additional testing in addition to our routine evaluation to gain a comprehensive representation of your past and present health history. A routine evaluation includes:
- Review of health history with the medical team
- Extensive cardiac testing
- Imaging
- Blood work
- Cancer screening
- Psycho-social consultation
- Palliative care consultation
Some conditions are barriers to VAD implantation, including alcohol and substance abuse problems, an inability to comply with treatment (such as following a complex medication plan), a lack of social and financial support, and uncontrolled or untreatable mental illnesses.
The Medical Review Board will discuss your case and decide whether a heart transplant would be a treatment option available for you. Loyola offers behavioral health treatments that can help you meet the requirements for a heart transplant.
Heart Transplant Requirements
The Loyola Medicine Heart Transplant Program carefully assesses patients with advanced heart failure to determine if they are good candidates for a heart transplant. Ideal candidates for a heart transplant typically:
- Are physically capable of undergoing heart surgery
- Have a high potential to strongly recover after heart surgery
- Are able to take care of themselves after heart surgery
- Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Treatment
If you are given approval as a heart transplant candidate, you will be placed on the national waiting list with the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). Your wait time for a donor heart depends on many factors, including your medical urgency, compatibility to the donor and geography (organs are matched within the same region whenever possible). Your heart transplant team will keep you up to date on all tests and treatments. We will also work with you on your exercise and nutritional plans so that you are ready for surgery once a suitable donor heart is available. Your care team will prepare you for the day that a donor match arrives.
It is extremely important during this time that you keep your scheduled appointments with your medical team and keep them informed of any changes in address, insurance, phone number or vacation plans. Your transplant team must be able to reach you within a moment’s notice if your donor heart becomes available.
A strong partnership with good communication is the key to a successful transplant surgery and recovery. Your care team will guide you through this journey, ensuring you receive all necessary health care testing and appointments needed while waiting for a donor heart to become available.
Life after Heart Transplantation
Heart transplantation is a major open chest surgery and recovery time may vary. Patients will come directly out of the operating room and recover in the cardiovascular intensive care unit, located next to the operating room.
As the patient progresses, they will transition out of the intensive care unit to our cardiothoracic step-down unit. Members of our multi-disciplinary team will be working with the patient and caregivers to prepare everyone for a successful discharge from the hospital.
Our multi-disciplinary care team will work with the patient and family with any roadblocks that may come across while preparing for discharge, such as:
- Learning how to care for your new heart
- Learning how to manage your medication
- Tips to prevent rejection of the new heart
- How to prevent infection
- Rehabilitation needs that promote a healthy lifestyle and create the pathway to full recovery
Your Transplant Team
Loyola's transplant team will continue to care for you and your new heart after surgery to ensure the best quality of life possible. Your team may include:
- Transplant physician
- Transplant nurse coordinator
- Transplant pharmacist
- Transplant dietitian
- Transplant social worker
- Transplant psychologist
- Rehabilitation services
Heart transplantation requires a strong commitment and close follow-up from the patient. Our heart transplant team remains a strong partner in your post-transplant lifestyle and is here to collaborate with you each step of the way.
Loyola’s Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine houses one of the top-rated cardiovascular programs in the country. This dedicated facility on the Loyola University Medical Center campus brings Loyola’s cardiology and heart transplant specialists together under one roof, helping our doctors better collaborate on patient care and treatment options. We also facilitate lifestyle changes and genetic counseling for family members who are at risk for heart disease.
As a patient at Loyola, you will enjoy improved access to cardiac testing areas, as well as heart and vascular specialists. We provide a comprehensive range of services, including:
- Cardiac surgical procedures
- Diagnostic angiography
- Initial screenings and evaluations
- Non-invasive diagnostic exams
- Non-surgical and minimally invasive treatments
- Vascular testing
In addition to convenience, Loyola facilities offer state-of-the-art technology and procedures for all of your treatment needs including:
- Cardiovascular interventional lab
- Electrophysiology lab
- Hybrid operating room
- World-class cardiovascular imaging
Ongoing Clinical Trials to Advance Heart Transplant Research
Loyola is conducting research today that will lead to the treatments of tomorrow. As an academic medical center, Loyola can offer groundbreaking treatments through ongoing national trials and clinical research.
Our program currently is participating in multicenter clinical trials for disease treatment, LVAD registry, medication usage and clinical outcomes. Loyola patients will be granted access to the latest medications and therapies through our clinical trials.